Ben Hammersley

Technologist and futurist Ben Hammersley helps people understand the modern world and where it is taking us – by writing, talking, and making things. He is also one of the Prime Minister's Ambassador's to Tech City in East London.

As a trend analyst, he invented the term ‘podcast’, and expounds his wisdom to audiences at every level, on complex technological and sociological topics.

In 2014 Ben delved into the dark world of hacking; looking at the world of alter egos, darknets and cryptocurrencies, for BBC World and BBC News series Cybercrime With Ben Hammersley.

He’s also the principal of Onwards, Friend - a programme to develop science and launch platforms for high-altitude and low-earth-orbit science.

He’s an Innovator in Residence at the Centre for Creative and Social Technologies at Goldsmiths, University of London and a non-executive director of Digital Jersey Ltd.

He is a Fellow at The Brookings Institute in Washington DC, a fellow at the Robert Schuman School of Advanced Study at the European University Institute in Florence, Italy, and Innovator-in-Residence at the Centre for Creative and Social Technologies, Goldsmiths, University of London. He is also a Member of the High Level Group on Media Freedom at the European Commission.

Ben is the author of five books, including the acclaimed 64 Things You Need To Know Now For Then, which is a guide to the new concepts of the modern world. He writes regularly for the international media including The Financial Times.

In addition to fellowships from the United Nations, the Royal Geographical Society and the Royal Society of Art, Ben was the UK Prime Minister’s Ambassador to Tech City, the East London district which aims to be Europe’s centre of innovation and the location of choice for tech and digital companies and investors. He also sits on the Tech City Advisory Board.

He was also previously Head of Digital at SIX Creative where he was responsible for creating, building and managing an international team dedicated to bringing cutting-edge internet strategy, design, and production to leading fashion and beauty brands worldwide.