Scott Smith
Managing Partner, Changeist
Scott Smith has spent two decades designing strategic foresight strategies, research, and tools for organizations navigating uncertainty. He founded Changeist in 2007 and leads the firm's research practice from Barcelona, working with governments, cultural institutions, international agencies, and global brands to build capacity for thinking about what comes next.
His work spans the full arc of applied foresight — from horizon scanning and scenario development through to exhibitions, simulations, and leadership programs. He developed the foundational foresight framework for Dubai's Museum of the Future over a four-year engagement with the Dubai Future Foundation and Tellart, facilitating more than a hundred artists, designers, and subject matter experts through collaborative concepting. He created and led the Strategic Foresight program at Dubai Future Academy, and teaches at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Center for Leadership Development, where he has built capacity for emerging UAE leaders.
Scott is the author of How to Future: Leading and Sense-making in an Age of Hyperchange (Kogan Page, 2020) — a #1 New Release in Business Management on Amazon at launch — and co-author, with Susan Cox-Smith, of Future Cultures: How to Build a Future-Ready Organization Through Leadership (Kogan Page, 2023). His writing has appeared in The Atlantic, Quartz, WIRED UK, and How We Get to Next. His work has been featured in BIG BANG DATA (CCCB Barcelona, 2014) and the Vienna Biennale (2017).
Selected engagements
Government and institutions — UNICEF, UNDP, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, The Royal Society, Nesta, UK Government Office for Science, European Commission, International Women's Development Agency.
Gulf — Dubai Future Foundation, Dubai Future Academy, Mohammed Bin Rashid Center for Leadership Development, Executive Office of Dubai, ADCB, TEO, Aldar, Khalifa Fund.
Financial and professional services — JPMorgan Chase, AXA, Comcast, ING, SWIFT.
Technology and media — Samsung, BBC, BBC R&D, The New York Times Company, X The Moonshot Factory, Google.
Architecture and cultural — Aedas, Buro Happold, Arup, Therme, MOD. Adelaide, The National Gallery X, CCCB Barcelona, ArtScience Museum Singapore.
Teaching and affiliations
Fellow, Royal Society of Arts, Visiting Research Fellow, University of South Australia Visiting Lecturer, Program Creator — Futures & Innovation, IED Barcelona Instructor, Mohammed Bin Rashid Center for Leadership Development Co-leader and project leader, 10F Consortium.
Selected speaking
Media Evolution (Malmö) · FACT 2025 (ACMI Melbourne) · Marató DHub 2024 (Disseny Hub Barcelona) · UNDP Futures Series · Dubai Future Forum · Turing Institute London · CPH:DOX Copenhagen · ArtScience Museum Singapore · Unfinished NYC · SXSW · The Next Web · Oxford Futures Forum · Sibos · FutureFest London · Sónar+D Barcelona · France24 Tech24 · Architectural Association London · meConvention Frankfurt · JPL Pasadena · A/D/O Brooklyn · Open State Adelaide · IAM Barcelona · Impakt Festival Utrecht · Lift Basel.
Contact
To discuss a project, email Scott at ssmith@changeist.com or see what we do.