+10 000 Books sold
+100
Keynotes & Facilitation
Dozens
Of major Scenario projects
Several
Published journal articles
Mitch Ilbury is a strategist and best-selling author whose work reshapes how leaders think in times of uncertainty.
He has led major scenario projects that help organisations navigate geopolitical uncertainty and rethink their strategic horizons, drawing on a heritage that blends rigorous foresight with intelligence-led analysis.
Recently, his work has crystallised into the design of several leadership development programmes for the leaders of Dubai as well as global giants such as Volkswagen and Citi, translating complex signals into frameworks leaders can actually use.
With published scholarship in strategic communications and a background in intelligence studies, he offers audiences a rare synthesis of intellectual depth, practical foresight, and real-world strategic impact.
His talks bring this strategic insight to life through engaging, practical storytelling that helps leaders make better decisions when it matters most.
LATEST TALK
Every decision we make relates to the future in some way. But how effective are we at thinking about the future?
In trying to understand what the future holds, we look to flashy trend analyses or bold predictive forecasts, but such methods often miss those big strategy-invalidating tipping points that shape our world, and provide little in the way of building an ongoing capacity to think the future more effectively day in, day out. Put simply, we outsource the task of thinking the future; in turn, we become reliant on the flawed forecasts of others while we have to own the decisions we make.
No more.
Drawing on insights generated at the coal-face of strategic decision-making with boards and executive teams, as well as from a globally unique provenance of legendary scenario planners, from Herman Kahn to Pierre Wack to Clem Sunter, Mitch Ilbury will empower you to think the future for yourself.
His latest talk distills profound lessons from his book co-authored with Clem Sunter, Thinking the Future: New Perspectives from the Shoulders of Giants. Building off seminal concepts though up by some of history’s greatest thinkers, Mitch highlights the do’s and don’ts when thinking the future, and helps create awareness of the common cognitive traps that trip up even the most astute leaders.