Richard van Hooijdonk

Richard van Hooijdonk is a globally recognised futurist and trendwatcher, known for translating emerging technologies into practical strategies for business and society. He is the author of more than 2,000 articles, over 60 white papers, and several books exploring the impact of technology on work, life, and the future of organisations.

As CEO of Futurezone.ai, his future intelligence agency, van Hooijdonk leads an international team of researchers analysing emerging trends and turning them into actionable insights for businesses, governments, and institutions worldwide. His work focuses on transformative technologies such as generative AI, robotics, autonomous systems, quantum computing, biotechnology, and augmented reality, innovations that create new opportunities while also introducing complex societal and organisational challenges.

Van Hooijdonk began his career as a marketing director in the banking, publishing, and technology sectors, where he held strategic advisory roles, served on management teams, and sat on multiple boards of directors. This background enables him to bridge visionary thinking with real-world decision-making.

His insights have shaped innovation roadmaps for leading global brands, ministries, and cities adopting smart technologies and new economic models. Connecting the stage with the boardroom, he regularly speaks at major international summits and follows up with hands-on workshops, executive briefings, and sector-specific reports. To date, he has inspired more than 3,000 organisations worldwide, including governments, Fortune 500 companies, and top universities. His clients include Nike, Microsoft, Heineken, Unilever, IBM, Google, Vodafone, Huawei, Deloitte, PwC, Interpol, Dubai Police, and the European Commission.