David Rowan

Founding UK Editor-in-Chief of WIRED Magazine, Best-Selling Author

  • 2023 – Began writing a book on how business leaders use culture to attract and motivate talent in the AI era.
  • 2020 – Launched the VOYAGERS Climate-Tech and Health-Tech venture funds to back early-stage startups.
  • 2019 – Published “Non-Bullshit Innovation: Radical Ideas from the World’s Smartest Minds”, an Amazon #1 Business Best-seller.
  • 2018 – Invested in early-stage tech companies, including 8 that became billion-dollar unicorns.
  • 2008 – Became founding UK Editor-in-Chief of WIRED magazine.
  • 1998 – Joined The Guardian as an editor after training as a journalist at The Times.

Discover David Rowan’s biography of published work below.

Non-Bullshit Innovation: The Book Book Cover
Non-Bullshit Innovation: The Book

When David Rowan is booked for events, they are known to discuss the following speaking topics:

What AI Means For Us Humans
On Non-Bullshit Innovation

David Rowan is a globally respected cyber security and technology speaker, renowned for his ability to demystify emerging technologies and their profound impact on business. As the Founding UK Editor-in-Chief of WIRED magazine, David has spent over a decade at the frontline of innovation, gaining first-hand insights from the founders of game-changing companies like WhatsApp, LinkedIn, Google and Spotify. With over 700 keynote speeches delivered worldwide, and a client list that includes the World Economic Forum, global governments, and Fortune 500 companies, David is widely regarded as a leading voice on how leaders can navigate and harness technological disruption — particularly within the cyber security space.

David’s best-selling book, “Non-Bullshit Innovation: 17 Proven Ways to Transform How You Work”, encapsulates his extensive research across 20 countries, offering pragmatic strategies to future-proof businesses in an era of rapid change. His expertise in cyber security is grounded in his deep understanding of the evolving threat landscape and the role of exponential technologies, from artificial intelligence to quantum computing. A prolific investor in early-stage tech ventures, including eight billion-dollar “unicorns”, David runs venture funds focused on health-tech and climate-tech, where safeguarding digital assets is paramount. His thought leadership makes him a sought-after speaker on the intersection of innovation, risk management, and cyber resilience.

At the core of David’s presentations is a journalist’s commitment to clarity and relevance. He tailors every talk to his audience, breaking down complex concepts like generative AI and AI-powered cyber threats, and demonstrating their real-world implications through compelling stories and live examples. David is frequently invited to address sectors including finance, healthcare, insurance, and critical infrastructure — industries where cyber security is not just a necessity but a strategic advantage. Whether discussing how AI agents are reshaping the workplace or why organisational culture is the ultimate defence against cyber threats, David equips leaders with the tools to stay ahead in a volatile digital world.

For an insightful, engaging and highly relevant keynote or event moderation on cyber security and beyond, hire David Rowan via The Cyber Security Speakers Agency.

Official Testimonials

David Rowan is regularly booked to engage audiences at events, read their latest feedback below:

“The team was blown away and they are a hard group to impress.”

Google

“You set the tone for the day perfectly, engaging the audience and steering the presenters through a very full agenda. The feedback from the day has been overwhelmingly positive, which is largely due to your dynamism, good humour and professionalism.”

David Cameron, G8 Innovation Conference

“Your contribution at the event was terrific. The content was highly relevant & extremely interesting. Your talk received the highest audience review on the feedback application. The level of your professionalism is unrivalled.”

Mercer

“David was fantastic. The content was perfect. The talk was fast paced, interesting, relevant and accessible. It set up the innovation session of our agenda really well and I was delighted with the result.”

Sky

“David has a way of making people stop, to sit up and take notice. This means comments he delivers have had a high level of impact and really got the audience talking and thinking deeply.”

Huawei

To enquire about David Rowan for your event or corporate function, simply contact us via agent@cyber-security-speakers.com or call a booking agent on 0203 0070 318.