How do we increase our capacity to adapt, to a world of accelerated change?
Rocky Scopelliti is a world-renowned futurologist whose purpose is to ‘create confidence in our future’. His pioneering behavioural economics
research on the confluence of demographic change and emerging technologies, have influenced the way we think about our social, cultural, economic, and technological future.
His best-selling AI book series includes The Conscious Code, which explores the implications of artificial consciousness; Synthetic Souls, which examines the impact of machines becoming conscious; and his forthcoming Perceptive Machines, which investigates how the digitalisation of human senses and machine intuition will transform human experience. His other best-seller, Disruptive Decarbonisation, is the first major study of its kind into how Australia’s industries, organisations, and leaders can increase their capacity to adapt to a world in accelerated climate change. He has also authored Australia 2030!, based on a major study of Australian professionals’ attitudes toward the decade ahead, and Youthquake 4.0, which has been published in Chinese, Vietnamese, Indonesian, and Korean.
As a media commentator, his unique insights have featured on SKY Business News, The Australian Financial Review, ABC Radio National, The Economist, Forbes, Bloomberg and many others. As a highly sort after international keynote speaker, his presentations have captivated audiences across Asia Pacific, the USA and Europe including Mobile World Congress. As a thought-leader, over 100 boards and leadership teams, including Fortune 100 corporations, seek his advice each year on strategy, emerging technologies, and their future impact.
A distinguished author, his 25+ thought leadership research publications have become internationally recognised for their influence including by the World Economic Forum.
He is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Technology Business School. Formerly, a director on the board of Community First Bank, a technology advisory board member for REST Super and board member of the Australian Payments Council.
Educated in Australia and trained in the USA at Sydney and Stanford Universities respectively, he has a Graduate Diploma in Corporate Management and an MBA. He is also a graduate and member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Talking Points
The Conscious Code — Leading in the Age of Artificial Consciousness
Based on the research in Rocky’s book The Conscious Code, this keynote unpacks the strategic, ethical, and societal implications of artificial consciousness. Leaders gain a practical framework for governance, risk, value creation, and human agency—enabling them to implement AI responsibly while staying competitive.The Conscious Code — Leading in the Age of Artificial Consciousness
Audience Takeaways
- A clear understanding of artificial consciousness and its strategic implications.
- A governance framework for AI that balances ethics with innovation.
- Practical insights on how leaders can create value in a conscious-AI world.
Ideal Formats: Keynote (45–60 mins), Executive Briefing, Boardroom Workshop
Synthetic Souls — What Happens When Machines Become Conscious?
Drawing on the research in his book Synthetic Souls, Rocky explores how synthetic consciousness could redefine identity, industry, and the social contract. Audiences gain foresight into the ethical, economic, and policy choices that will shape a co-authored human–machine future.Synthetic Souls — What Happens When Machines Become Conscious?
Audience Takeaways
- An understanding of how synthetic consciousness differs from current AI.
- Scenarios for the future of work, society, and governance.
- A framework for ethical and policy debates that leaders must prepare for.
Ideal Formats: Keynote, Fireside Chat, Panel Contribution
The Augmented Workplace — Reimagining the Future of Work with AI and Humans
Building on his ground-breaking research in The Conscious Code and Youthquake 4.0, Rocky explores how artificial intelligence, and human ingenuity will co-exist to define the workplace of the future. Far from replacing people, AI will augment human potential reshaping roles, redefining skills, and reengineering organisational cultures. This keynote offers leaders a powerful vision of how to build workplaces where creativity, empathy, and human judgment flourish alongside machine intelligence.The Augmented Workplace — Reimagining the Future of Work with AI and Humans
Audience Takeaways
- A foresight-driven understanding of how AI-human collaboration will transform industries
and jobs.
- Strategic guidance on reskilling and redesigning roles to unlock augmented performance.
- Insights into building trust and culture in workplaces where humans and intelligent machines co-create value.
Ideal Formats: Keynote, Executive Leadership Forum, Future of Work & HR Summit, Strategic
Offsite
Awakening the Sixth Sense — How AI’s New Senses Will Transform Human Experience
Drawing on new research from his upcoming book Perceptive Machines, Rocky explores how the digitalisation of smell, taste, and touch—together with machine intuition—is ushering in the era of the Internet of Senses.Awakening the Sixth Sense — How AI’s New Senses Will Transform Human Experience
Audience Takeaways
- A preview of sensory AI technologies already in development.
- Strategic opportunities in healthcare, education, and customer experience.
- New risks and ethical considerations organisations must manage.
Ideal Formats: Keynote, Innovation Workshop, Sector-Specific Conference
Adapting to Accelerated Change — Building Confidence in the Future
In an era of compounding disruption, adaptability is the ultimate meta-skill. Blending foresight with behavioural economics, Rocky equips leaders to turn uncertainty into opportunity and to build resilient, future-ready cultures.Adapting to Accelerated Change — Building Confidence in the Future
Audience Takeaways
- Tools to reframe disruption as opportunity.
- Strategies to increase organisational resilience and adaptability.
- Practical methods for building cultures of confidence in times of change.
Ideal Formats: Closing Keynote, Leadership Development Program, Executive Retreat
AI-Native Generations — Gen Z, Gen Alpha, and the Future They Will Create
For the first time in history, entire generations are being shaped from birth in a world where artificial intelligence is not just a tool but a constant companion. Drawing on insights from The Conscious Code, Synthetic Souls, and his forthcoming Perceptive Machines, Rocky reveals how Gen Z and Gen Alpha—the world’s first AI-native generations—will transform the way we live, work, and relate to intelligent machines. This keynote challenges leaders to understand their values, anticipate their impact, and prepare for a society co-created with AI.AI-Native Generations — Gen Z, Gen Alpha, and the Future They Will Create
Audience Takeaways
- A deep understanding of Gen Z and Gen Alpha as the first truly AI-native generations.
- Insights into how their values, behaviours, and relationship with technology will disrupt work, leadership, and society.
- A foresight framework for engaging and empowering these generations to shape a positive human–machine future.
Ideal Formats: Signature Keynote, Future of Work Summit, Education & Youth Forums,
Leadership Development Programs
Video
Industry 4.0: Technology for enterprises | Rocky Scopelliti
Rocky Scopelliti (Director, Center for Industry 4.0, Optus) talks about technologies for enterprises in the new digital economy at the Mindfields Automation Summit 2018.Youthquake 4.0 | Rocky Scopelliti | Curious Thinkers 2018
Observations on the different characteristics millennials have from other generations which informs everything they do and the opportunities and threats that this presents for organisations that align their businesses to this influential new generation.I have had the pleasure to work with and observe Rocky’s work over the last decade. Rocky has always understood the deep impact that technology and innovation has on industries, and the way ... keep reading CSIRO
Rocky is a rare breed of futurologist who can combine a very strong data-driven approach with an almost intuitive ability to be able to see things that others can’t that in many cases are right in front of them. Combine that with a powerful communication style and desire to genuinely help others and you have the perfect storm for being able to accurately predict and ultimately respond quickly to a very fast-changing environment. His insights and predictions for the next 10 years have never been more important to be across.
Rocky has a deep, globally-based understanding of the zeitgeist of the moment. He knows what to look for when separating important events from noise. He has an inclusive approach to data gathering and an understanding of current and potential changes in the work environment, especially as they relate to Industry 4.0 and the transformative role 5G networks can play.
I have known Rocky a long time, and whether I am listening to his speeches or reading his research and predictions. I always feel confronted in a good way. Whether you agree with his views or not, he makes you think and think differently!
Rocky always wants to know more, to dig deeper and to see things differently. This gives him a perspective that is not easily attained by those of us whose days are taken up by keeping the wheels turning. Passionate and enthusiastic, Rocky brings fresh air to any discussion about what the future holds.
When we looked for a keynote speaker for our annual Summit which opened with the theme of how Millennials invested and spent money, Rocky Scopelliti was an obvious choice. Rocky's work on demographic changes being wrought on the world by this new group of digital natives called Millennials was ground-breaking, and we used it to inform the large audience of mainly fund managers, superannuation, life insurance and advice professionals, with some FinTech super fund pioneers thrown in for good measure. Rocky is a convincing speaker whose work is professionally informed by granular and prescient data
