I would like to talk to you about the future a future I feel we could have
future a future I feel we could have
future a future I feel we could have with a lot of help you see at the start
with a lot of help you see at the start
with a lot of help you see at the start of my career I like most people and if
of my career I like most people and if
of my career I like most people and if I’m honest probably all of us in this
I’m honest probably all of us in this
I’m honest probably all of us in this room I had no idea where to start
room I had no idea where to start
room I had no idea where to start and that really frustrated me because I
and that really frustrated me because I
and that really frustrated me because I thought after graduating from this
thought after graduating from this
thought after graduating from this university I would just go into my job
university I would just go into my job
university I would just go into my job and I’d be fine and it would be great
and I’d be fine and it would be great
and I’d be fine and it would be great and didn’t happen so about a year went
and didn’t happen so about a year went
and didn’t happen so about a year went by and I kept thinking what’s going on
by and I kept thinking what’s going on
by and I kept thinking what’s going on here so after that frustration I thought
here so after that frustration I thought
here so after that frustration I thought let’s stop this let’s think about things
let’s stop this let’s think about things
let’s stop this let’s think about things slightly differently and I chose to
slightly differently and I chose to
slightly differently and I chose to think about things from a point of view
think about things from a point of view
think about things from a point of view of instead of what do I want to do let’s
of instead of what do I want to do let’s
of instead of what do I want to do let’s think about things from a different
think about things from a different
think about things from a different point of view why do I want to do
point of view why do I want to do
point of view why do I want to do whatever it is I’ll end up doing and
whatever it is I’ll end up doing and
whatever it is I’ll end up doing and importantly for me who do I want to be
importantly for me who do I want to be
importantly for me who do I want to be I’m very aware that a picture of Ironman
I’m very aware that a picture of Ironman
I’m very aware that a picture of Ironman has just appeared on the screen I of
has just appeared on the screen I of
has just appeared on the screen I of course want to be Ironman he’s the
course want to be Ironman he’s the
course want to be Ironman he’s the coolest superhero but I’m 5 foot 5 and I
coolest superhero but I’m 5 foot 5 and I
coolest superhero but I’m 5 foot 5 and I looked like this not Robert Downey jr.
looked like this not Robert Downey jr.
looked like this not Robert Downey jr. thank you for laughing I appreciate that
thank you for laughing I appreciate that
thank you for laughing I appreciate that but what you have there in Ironman is
but what you have there in Ironman is
but what you have there in Ironman is someone with a purpose and that’s what I
someone with a purpose and that’s what I
someone with a purpose and that’s what I really wanted to be so instead of
really wanted to be so instead of
really wanted to be so instead of thinking about what is this that I want
thinking about what is this that I want
thinking about what is this that I want to do I thought let’s not worry about
to do I thought let’s not worry about
to do I thought let’s not worry about that let’s concentrate on why I’m doing
that let’s concentrate on why I’m doing
that let’s concentrate on why I’m doing it and who I want to be and I was an
it and who I want to be and I was an
it and who I want to be and I was an emerging environmental scientist at the
emerging environmental scientist at the
emerging environmental scientist at the time so I was obviously into
time so I was obviously into
time so I was obviously into environmentalism and conservation and
environmentalism and conservation and
environmentalism and conservation and animals as a giant hippie inside and I
animals as a giant hippie inside and I
animals as a giant hippie inside and I wanted to go around the world saving all
wanted to go around the world saving all
wanted to go around the world saving all the animals that’s the job I wanted
the animals that’s the job I wanted
the animals that’s the job I wanted I remember saying just before I
I remember saying just before I
I remember saying just before I graduated to a friend and they asked me
graduated to a friend and they asked me
graduated to a friend and they asked me what do you want to do next and I said
what do you want to do next and I said
what do you want to do next and I said so if there’s an oil spill and
so if there’s an oil spill and
so if there’s an oil spill and everything gets oily because I was that
everything gets oily because I was that
everything gets oily because I was that good a student at the time oily I would
good a student at the time oily I would
good a student at the time oily I would I want to fly there and save it that’s
I want to fly there and save it that’s
I want to fly there and save it that’s the job I wanted that is not really a
the job I wanted that is not really a
the job I wanted that is not really a real job but that’s what I wanted to do
real job but that’s what I wanted to do
real job but that’s what I wanted to do so I thought ok let’s just open my mind
so I thought ok let’s just open my mind
so I thought ok let’s just open my mind and just talk to people under these
and just talk to people under these
and just talk to people under these ethics
ethics
ethics I have says environmentalism
I have says environmentalism
I have says environmentalism sustainability just ethics doing good
sustainability just ethics doing good
sustainability just ethics doing good and that is the best thing I have ever
and that is the best thing I have ever
and that is the best thing I have ever ever done because since then over those
ever done because since then over those
ever done because since then over those years so much good has happened now we
years so much good has happened now we
years so much good has happened now we do have conservation projects all around
do have conservation projects all around
do have conservation projects all around the world and four different continents
the world and four different continents
the world and four different continents ethical products a sustainable coffee
ethical products a sustainable coffee
ethical products a sustainable coffee range and the future is looking really
range and the future is looking really
range and the future is looking really big and bright we’ve got documentaries
big and bright we’ve got documentaries
big and bright we’ve got documentaries coming in urban sustainable farms loads
coming in urban sustainable farms loads
coming in urban sustainable farms loads of great stuff just by talking to people
of great stuff just by talking to people
of great stuff just by talking to people instead of having that idea of I’m doing
instead of having that idea of I’m doing
instead of having that idea of I’m doing this it doesn’t matter what you do if
this it doesn’t matter what you do if
this it doesn’t matter what you do if you have those core ethics that all
you have those core ethics that all
you have those core ethics that all culminated to me at the start of this
culminated to me at the start of this
culminated to me at the start of this year thanks to a nomination by this
year thanks to a nomination by this
year thanks to a nomination by this University actually and eventually the
University actually and eventually the
University actually and eventually the u.s. embassy
u.s. embassy
u.s. embassy I got nominated to go to America for
I got nominated to go to America for
I got nominated to go to America for three weeks I ended up going for four at
three weeks I ended up going for four at
three weeks I ended up going for four at the start this year on a trip and I did
the start this year on a trip and I did
the start this year on a trip and I did I had to fight my biggest fear on day
I had to fight my biggest fear on day
I had to fight my biggest fear on day one which was no fun at all and that is
one which was no fun at all and that is
one which was no fun at all and that is flying I don’t know how you all deal
flying I don’t know how you all deal
flying I don’t know how you all deal with flying but I do not do well at all
with flying but I do not do well at all
with flying but I do not do well at all but I did it I did it with the help of
but I did it I did it with the help of
but I did it I did it with the help of two beautiful wonderful just really
two beautiful wonderful just really
two beautiful wonderful just really really amazing bottles of wine next
really amazing bottles of wine next
really amazing bottles of wine next thing I know I’m in Washington DC with a
thing I know I’m in Washington DC with a
thing I know I’m in Washington DC with a hangover and that’s it I’m in America
hangover and that’s it I’m in America
hangover and that’s it I’m in America and I’m meeting these wonderful people
and I’m meeting these wonderful people
and I’m meeting these wonderful people people from all over the world and were
people from all over the world and were
people from all over the world and were the same ethics and beliefs as me
the same ethics and beliefs as me
the same ethics and beliefs as me environmentalism sustainability Urban
environmentalism sustainability Urban
environmentalism sustainability Urban Development things like that and we
Development things like that and we
Development things like that and we traveled across America for three weeks
traveled across America for three weeks
traveled across America for three weeks with the US State Department and a
with the US State Department and a
with the US State Department and a wonderful company called Meridian and
wonderful company called Meridian and
wonderful company called Meridian and the whole point of the tour was to let
the whole point of the tour was to let
the whole point of the tour was to let us meet other people who thought like us
us meet other people who thought like us
us meet other people who thought like us that is such a great opportunity to be
that is such a great opportunity to be
that is such a great opportunity to be in amongst people like you meeting other
in amongst people like you meeting other
in amongst people like you meeting other people like you it is the most inspiring
people like you it is the most inspiring
people like you it is the most inspiring time because the discussions that come
time because the discussions that come
time because the discussions that come out of it
out of it
out of it are just amazing especially when you
are just amazing especially when you
are just amazing especially when you have the same ideas about life but the
have the same ideas about life but the
have the same ideas about life but the trip was more than that to me personally
trip was more than that to me personally
trip was more than that to me personally because I went at quite a turbulent time
because I went at quite a turbulent time
because I went at quite a turbulent time for America I arrived in Washington DC
for America I arrived in Washington DC
for America I arrived in Washington DC with that giant hangar
with that giant hangar
with that giant hangar just a few hours after the exchange of
just a few hours after the exchange of
just a few hours after the exchange of power in the White House so which I’m
power in the White House so which I’m
power in the White House so which I’m sure you’ve all heard of in one way or
sure you’ve all heard of in one way or
sure you’ve all heard of in one way or another so America was not quite America
another so America was not quite America
another so America was not quite America it was quite different and I got a
it was quite different and I got a
it was quite different and I got a front-row seat to all of that so I spent
front-row seat to all of that so I spent
front-row seat to all of that so I spent three weeks traveling America meeting
three weeks traveling America meeting
three weeks traveling America meeting people who in to be honest were really
people who in to be honest were really
people who in to be honest were really inspiring I know lots of I could be very
inspiring I know lots of I could be very
inspiring I know lots of I could be very bad things are happening at the moment
bad things are happening at the moment
bad things are happening at the moment in the world when it comes to this
in the world when it comes to this
in the world when it comes to this situation but what I saw for three weeks
situation but what I saw for three weeks
situation but what I saw for three weeks were literally tens of thousands of
were literally tens of thousands of
were literally tens of thousands of futurists I saw people who genuinely
futurists I saw people who genuinely
futurists I saw people who genuinely cared about their future and were trying
cared about their future and were trying
cared about their future and were trying to do something about it whether it was
to do something about it whether it was
to do something about it whether it was just talking to be bullish as I say I
just talking to be bullish as I say I
just talking to be bullish as I say I feel is the most important thing there
feel is the most important thing there
feel is the most important thing there is or they were doing something about it
is or they were doing something about it
is or they were doing something about it and that was the best thing I could have
and that was the best thing I could have
and that was the best thing I could have ever seen because I’d a front-row seat
ever seen because I’d a front-row seat
ever seen because I’d a front-row seat from Washington DC to New York all the
from Washington DC to New York all the
from Washington DC to New York all the way to California and I saw thousands
way to California and I saw thousands
way to California and I saw thousands upon thousands of people who cared about
upon thousands of people who cared about
upon thousands of people who cared about their future and many of which were
their future and many of which were
their future and many of which were putting their personal touch about in it
putting their personal touch about in it
putting their personal touch about in it like this guy here so I came back quite
like this guy here so I came back quite
like this guy here so I came back quite recently as a few weeks ago with the
recently as a few weeks ago with the
recently as a few weeks ago with the help of more wine and I’ve decided to
help of more wine and I’ve decided to
help of more wine and I’ve decided to make my biggest project even bigger
make my biggest project even bigger
make my biggest project even bigger you see I’m designing a city a whole
you see I’m designing a city a whole
you see I’m designing a city a whole city
city
city everything from the recreation space the
everything from the recreation space the
everything from the recreation space the waste waste is not fun but it’s
waste waste is not fun but it’s
waste waste is not fun but it’s important the architecture the office
important the architecture the office
important the architecture the office space absolutely everything with a group
space absolutely everything with a group
space absolutely everything with a group of well a very large group who are
of well a very large group who are
of well a very large group who are growing every day of architects
growing every day of architects
growing every day of architects designers environmentalist s– artists
designers environmentalist s– artists
designers environmentalist s– artists just the the group is growing every
just the the group is growing every
just the the group is growing every single day and its really great to see
single day and its really great to see
single day and its really great to see so why would I design a city why would I
so why would I design a city why would I
so why would I design a city why would I do something which is arguably going to
do something which is arguably going to
do something which is arguably going to fail
fail
fail chances are you this city will not be
chances are you this city will not be
chances are you this city will not be built what I noticed a few years ago was
built what I noticed a few years ago was
built what I noticed a few years ago was if you talk about a concept you talk
if you talk about a concept you talk
if you talk about a concept you talk openly issues I always had with trying
openly issues I always had with trying
openly issues I always had with trying to get people to be honest was they
to get people to be honest was they
to get people to be honest was they would put their framework on it so if I
would put their framework on it so if I
would put their framework on it so if I was talking about a building which was
was talking about a building which was
was talking about a building which was right next to me and I said well what
right next to me and I said well what
right next to me and I said well what we changed the slope it here the person
we changed the slope it here the person
we changed the slope it here the person I was talking to would often go oh well
I was talking to would often go oh well
I was talking to would often go oh well you know this fits already here or
you know this fits already here or
you know this fits already here or that’s gonna cost money which is fine
that’s gonna cost money which is fine
that’s gonna cost money which is fine that’s what we do but that’s not what I
that’s what we do but that’s not what I
that’s what we do but that’s not what I was thinking of because I have the goal
was thinking of because I have the goal
was thinking of because I have the goal of changing things for the better I
of changing things for the better I
of changing things for the better I don’t necessarily mind how much it’s
don’t necessarily mind how much it’s
don’t necessarily mind how much it’s going to cost so if I’m putting a
going to cost so if I’m putting a
going to cost so if I’m putting a concept there what I found is the people
concept there what I found is the people
concept there what I found is the people I’m talking to get really excited they
I’m talking to get really excited they
I’m talking to get really excited they get really happy to talk about what they
get really happy to talk about what they
get really happy to talk about what they think should be there and the
think should be there and the
think should be there and the discussions are amazing and therefore we
discussions are amazing and therefore we
discussions are amazing and therefore we make change so lots of discussions come
make change so lots of discussions come
make change so lots of discussions come into place that I never thought would
into place that I never thought would
into place that I never thought would happen a good example is if you live in
happen a good example is if you live in
happen a good example is if you live in a city chances are your air is not what
a city chances are your air is not what
a city chances are your air is not what it should be which isn’t a good thing
it should be which isn’t a good thing
it should be which isn’t a good thing but it’s something we need to talk about
but it’s something we need to talk about
but it’s something we need to talk about and often people don’t
and often people don’t
and often people don’t how dare your air not be good for you
how dare your air not be good for you
how dare your air not be good for you how dare your water be dirty how dare
how dare your water be dirty how dare
how dare your water be dirty how dare you be sold products that aren’t good
you be sold products that aren’t good
you be sold products that aren’t good for you and arguably shorten your life
for you and arguably shorten your life
for you and arguably shorten your life that is not what life should be but it
that is not what life should be but it
that is not what life should be but it gets even deeper than that when you get
gets even deeper than that when you get
gets even deeper than that when you get people talking in such an honest way the
people talking in such an honest way the
people talking in such an honest way the 40-hour workweek for example is
40-hour workweek for example is
40-hour workweek for example is something I’m very interested in
something I’m very interested in
something I’m very interested in research so is it’s not good for you but
research so is it’s not good for you but
research so is it’s not good for you but in the UK most of us do Monday to Friday
in the UK most of us do Monday to Friday
in the UK most of us do Monday to Friday 9:00 to 5:00
9:00 to 5:00
9:00 to 5:00 but is it really just 40 hours when you
but is it really just 40 hours when you
but is it really just 40 hours when you look at it properly let’s face it the
look at it properly let’s face it the
look at it properly let’s face it the average commuter time I think is about
average commuter time I think is about
average commuter time I think is about half an hour now which that’s an extra
half an hour now which that’s an extra
half an hour now which that’s an extra hour a day so that’s 45 hours a week but
hour a day so that’s 45 hours a week but
hour a day so that’s 45 hours a week but then on a Sunday you might get asked to
then on a Sunday you might get asked to
then on a Sunday you might get asked to do something that you really want to do
do something that you really want to do
do something that you really want to do but you’ve got to prepare for Monday
but you’ve got to prepare for Monday
but you’ve got to prepare for Monday whether doing it or just thinking about
whether doing it or just thinking about
whether doing it or just thinking about it it actually is about a 60 to 70 hour
it it actually is about a 60 to 70 hour
it it actually is about a 60 to 70 hour work week and that is not good you
work week and that is not good you
work week and that is not good you should be able to do more than that so
should be able to do more than that so
should be able to do more than that so designing the city has enabled us to
designing the city has enabled us to
designing the city has enabled us to open openly discuss and that is great so
open openly discuss and that is great so
open openly discuss and that is great so even if all that happens is one day in
even if all that happens is one day in
even if all that happens is one day in 2050 I’m sat outside a restaurant on a
2050 I’m sat outside a restaurant on a
2050 I’m sat outside a restaurant on a beautiful spring day with my intelligent
beautiful spring day with my intelligent
beautiful spring day with my intelligent caring gorgeous wife
caring gorgeous wife
caring gorgeous wife because I’m still holding on to hope
because I’m still holding on to hope
because I’m still holding on to hope that I will have a wife thank you and I
that I will have a wife thank you and I
that I will have a wife thank you and I see something in that city that is
see something in that city that is
see something in that city that is slightly different because of the way my
slightly different because of the way my
slightly different because of the way my group has managed to sway that city and
group has managed to sway that city and
group has managed to sway that city and that’s it
that’s it
that’s it I’ve won but I don’t think that’s all
I’ve won but I don’t think that’s all
I’ve won but I don’t think that’s all that’s going to happen I think if enough
that’s going to happen I think if enough
that’s going to happen I think if enough of us have those frameworks and those
of us have those frameworks and those
of us have those frameworks and those ethics and instead of thinking about
ethics and instead of thinking about
ethics and instead of thinking about what you’re doing you think more about
what you’re doing you think more about
what you’re doing you think more about why you’re doing it or who you are in my
why you’re doing it or who you are in my
why you’re doing it or who you are in my case
case
case Iron Man Robert Downey jr. then I think
Iron Man Robert Downey jr. then I think
Iron Man Robert Downey jr. then I think that entire city will change for the
that entire city will change for the
that entire city will change for the better too
better too
better too you see the biggest lie in the entire
you see the biggest lie in the entire
you see the biggest lie in the entire world I believe is that our opinion
world I believe is that our opinion
world I believe is that our opinion doesn’t make a difference and I think in
doesn’t make a difference and I think in
doesn’t make a difference and I think in the future everything we plan everything
the future everything we plan everything
the future everything we plan everything we do everything we should we think of
we do everything we should we think of
we do everything we should we think of it should be designed to do no harm to
it should be designed to do no harm to
it should be designed to do no harm to this planet but should also do something
this planet but should also do something
this planet but should also do something good for us as humans why would you
good for us as humans why would you
good for us as humans why would you design something otherwise so that’s why
design something otherwise so that’s why
design something otherwise so that’s why I’m a futurist and you can be too thank
I’m a futurist and you can be too thank
I’m a futurist and you can be too thank you
you
you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] you
”
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