James Woudhuysen is Professor of Forecasting and Innovation at De Montfort University, Leicester.

James helps clients to master new trends of all sorts, the better to develop and see through major innovations. so as to implement major shifts in corporate strategy, marketing, branding and design. He frequently broadcasts about the future of the workplace on Radio 4's You and Yours, and writes a regular column for IT Week (London) and Novo (Frankfurt). He is also on the editorial boards of New Design and the Journal of Consumer Behaviour.

Conference speaker. Physics graduate, journalist, occasional broadcaster. Board member, The Housing Forum; editorial board, Journal of Consumer Behaviour; professor of forecasting and innovation, De Montfort University, Leicester.

A St Pauls School scholar, James went to Sussex University, where he studied under Chris Freeman and Keith Pavitt at the Science Policy Research Unit. His first job was technology editor, then editor of Design magazine, a glossy colour monthly.

A few years later, James became head of research at the international designers Fitch, before leading consultancy in IT at the Henley Centre, part of the WPP Group. At Henley he also advised major UK cities – London, Birmingham, Glasgow and Manchester – on international competitiveness. He then went on to manage worldwide market intelligence for Philips consumer electronics in the Netherlands, and to work as a director of the product designers Seymour Powell. He went independent in 2001.

James helps clients to master new trends of all sorts, the better to develop and see through major innovations. so as to implement major shifts in corporate strategy, marketing, branding and design. He frequently broadcasts about the future of the workplace on Radio 4's You and Yours, and writes a regular column for IT Week (London) and Novo (Frankfurt). He is also on the editorial boards of New Design and the Journal of Consumer Behaviour.

Article on chemical weapons for The Economist, 1978; editorEinstein: the first hundred years (Pergamon, 1980); co-author, Robots (Boilerhouse Project, 1984). The future of cities, report for Glasgow Development Agency, andTeleshopping, a multi-client study on e-commerce, both for Fitch, 1988. Proposed internet TV, 1993; Atticus Award, WPP, 1994. Books: Why is construction so backward? (John Wiley, 2004); Energise! A future for energy innovation (Beautiful Books, 2009); Big Potatoes: the London Manifesto for Innovation (Cadmium Five, 2010).

(1) Facilitating and speaking at events for your own clients

James works with you to prepare, firstly, the right title, programme and targets for your event. 

To do this, he spends  a good deal of time reading up on and listening to you, as well as probing your objectives. Then he either chairs / facilitates the event, speaks at it, or does both.

James say's "Facilitation is, if anything, more exacting than speaking – you have to stay alert and listening every second of the proceedings".

His speeches can be anything from 20 minutes to an hour long. They are

• broad but deep
• funny but serious
• very visual but very numerate
• highly topical but with forecasts and historical depth.

They cover the technology, economics, politics and sociology of innovation in energy, IT, retailing and cities. They are polemical, controversial, and – above all – they make people think. They are never ‘death by Powerpoint’. Also, they show courtesy and good sense by relating his remarks to what other speakers have said on the day (a dying art).

(2) Writing articles and major reports for you

First he researches your organization and its business context. Then he writes to your specifications, but, as far as possible, in his own critical, independent style. His articles are highly topical and angular, with unexpected connections made, and a strong sense of the ‘what’s next’.

They can also come with scholarly references on what to read next. This adds tone, and makes them more powerful as an argument and more useful in practice.

(3) Consulting on your overall editorial approach and brand-building

Here helooks at your website, ads and other marketing materials, and suggest or personally develops new ways of enlivening them – both in words and in design.

‘The kudos goes to you: it was my absolute pleasure to hear you speak, and your session was, the feedback shows, extremely well received. I look forward to our paths crossing again.’

James McClelland, Senior Global Director Industry Marketing - Energy & Utilities, SAP Americas , April 2011

‘Excellent job, James, truly inspiring! Many thanks! Very good feedback from delegates.’

Jaimie Brown, Head of Communications, Novartis Oncology, February 2011

‘Our congratulations and warm thanks to you for the successful Millennium Technology Prize media function. Your professional style of moderating the roundtable discussion highlighted the innovation areas of the Prize 2010 Laureates very appropriately.’

Ainomaija Haarla, President and CEO, Technology Academy Finland (TAF), April 2010