Ben excels at explaining complex technological and sociological topics to lay audiences, and both governments and blue chip businesses value him as a high-level advisor on these matters.
He is an author, futurist and technologist, specialising in the effects of the internet on the world’s political, cultural and social spheres.
Ben 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 is contributing editor of WIRED Magazine and 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.
Amongst Ben’s unusual achievements is that he invented the word “Podcast”. He has spoken for festivals, universities, think tanks and corporations all over the world including regularly at 10 Downing Street (UK Prime Minister), Deutsche Telekom, European Commission, Brookings Institute, and the Royal Institution.
Living Better As A Cyborg: How to live a better life with modern technology. As we live with (both surrounded by, and using) modern networked stuff, we find ourselves changing. We have new abilities, super-powers even, given to us by our devices, but we're also assailed by the new information overload, always-on, always-connected workstyle. Ben explores how we can best live and work with modern technologies, and how companies and the executives themselves can use the latest technology to prosper in the modern world.
The New Networked Society: The effects of the internet on society at large, specifically about its effects on geopolitics - touching on Occupy, Beppe Grillo in Italy, cyberwarfare, the financial markets, and the rapid dissolution of the state.
Whole Organisation Innovation: How the most successful and powerful organisations in the world innovate so well. How they empower their employees, transform their processes, and perceive the world, and how you can too.
"Just wanted to say a BIG thank you for your Keynote at Google@SMG on Tuesday! The feedback has been extremely positive, your session went down a treat and left our guests motivated and inspired. It's been a pleasure working with you." - Sade Salami, Google, May 2013
"We were delighted with his speech and people's feedback was excellent. I would highly recommend Ben and would rate him 10/10." - Ronan Murphy, CEO, Smarttech, May 2012
"Ben was fantastic, everyone loved him. Some feedback on him in our evaluation form:
- Ben H was incredibly inspiring and insightful
- Surprising speakers, especially Ben Hammersley, very inspiring and unexpected. In general inspiring and mind opening.
- I particularly loved the outside perspective of Ben Hammersley. He was great, and just being about to step out of our industry was very beneficial.
- Good variety of speakers, Inspiration with Ben!
- The humble ‘characters’ (Alison, John, Troy, Ben, Craig and Andrew) of these giants are really engaging and overwhelming.
- Ben Hammersley was stimulating curiosity about all things from our business and I can apply them."
- Jo Salmon, BBDO Europe Mifddle East and Africa, November 2011
"Thank you very much for the fantastic presentation you did yesterday! Everybody loved it!" - Anna Sbotinova, Saxo Bank, Copenhagen, April 2011
"Just a quick note to say thank you so much for Chairing Warc's Online Research event last week. Feedback has been very positive and over all the event was really well received. Thanks again for your great questions and for keeping the whole day on track. It was great to meet you" - Claire Farrow for WARC, London - February 29th, 2012