Stephen Yarwood

Stephen Yarwood is a renowned Futurist, highly respected Urbanist and the Former Lord Mayor of Adelaide. Serving as a catalyst for change for both corporate and community organisations, his passion extends beyond envisioning the future; he actively educates, motivates and empowers people to shape it.

Highly immersed in the evolution of AI, he is dedicated to exploring its profound impact on individuals and organisations. Offering valuable insights into the trajectory of AI and its influence on communities and corporations, he is at the forefront of shaping a future where technology integrates and enables organisational and industry goals and strategies.

With a strong skill set in cross-disciplinary strategic foresight, Stephen is deeply fascinated by the dynamic interplay between people, places, technology, and change. Recognised as an international thought leader on “the future citizen,” Stephen is committed to collaborative leadership that aids corporate and community leaders in navigating the rapidly changing and complex social, environmental, and economic landscape, allowing them to explore possible futures and create preferred outcomes.

More about Stephen Yarwood

Stephen has a Bachelor of Arts in Planning, Graduate Diplomas in Regional & Urban Planning and Environmental Studies, an MBA from Adelaide University and is an award-winning Fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia.

He has a wealth of international experience working around Australia and in NZ, Asia the Middle East and North America. He has been on a global advisory board for Airbnb, worked on mega projects in Saudi Arabia and provided keynote presentations to over 150,000 people in the last 10 years in several countries.

His consultancy specialises in providing expertise in governance, strategy and policy that is innovative, future-focused and outcome orientated. It is valuable to cities, communities and corporations who understand that the future looks nothing like the past and aspire to be more prepared, connected and empowered.

city2050 is for global corporations, industries and peak bodies, national, regional and city governments, boardrooms and educators that want to understand and maximise the opportunities offered by the rapid transformation happening in the world today and its implications for the future.

During his time as Lord Mayor (2010-2104), his emphasis on collaboration with the private sector and State Government delivered many outcomes and saw Adelaide recognised internationally as an innovative destination by Lonely Planet, National Geographic and The New York Times.

Prior to being Lord Mayor, Stephen worked in the South Australian Government and Parliament, in Local Government and internationally as a planner, researcher, educator and speaker. His planning experience is exceptionally diverse; from strategy to implementation on many large projects dealing with most land use types and a diverse range of environment, economic, community, design and development issues.

Stephen Yarwood talks about:

• Understanding the Future Citizen – Implications for your lives today and tomorrow both professionally and personally.
• AI Unleashed – implications for business, industries, communities & corporations.
• Advanced Urbanism and City Futures – Planning tomorrow, today.
• Innovation & excellence in Governance, Corporate Planning & Strategic Planning.
• Social, Economic, Environmental, Transport & Infrastructure Futures – how it affects you and your industry.