Keynote Speakers and Nature-inspired Workshops
Richard James MacCowan
Founder and Biofuturist of Biomimicry Innovation Lab and every year, helps business leaders globally clarify their innovation strategy.
Bringing nature-inspired innovation to the forefront of conversations from NASA and Foster + Partners through to GMIS, he has engaged with diverse audiences in the academic, corporate, and public spheres.
What we offer:
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Offering stimulating and insightful keynotes, I bring a wealth of knowledge on biomimicry, innovation, and sustainable design to the stage. My talks are tailored to inspire, educate and motivate your audience, drawing from my experiences presenting at global platforms such as the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit in Dubai and NASA BIOCENE in the USA.
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Interactive, engaging, and thought-provoking, my workshops offer participants hands-on experiences that transform their understanding of biomimicry and its applications. These sessions foster creativity, critical thinking, and solution-oriented perspectives. My "Biomimicry in Circular Design" workshop was a standout engagement at the Cambridge Institute of Sustainable Leadership in the UK. Equally impactful was my workshop on "Sustainable Design and Biomimicry" at the University of Westminster, promoting sustainability in the design industry.
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Leveraging my expertise and influential voice in biomimicry and sustainability, I offer thought leadership and expert commentary for media outlets. I've been featured on several reputable platforms, including BBC Countryfile, Wired Magazine, and Forbes. Particularly noteworthy was my participation in the BBC World Service, exploring the intersections of nature and innovation on 30 Animals that Made us Smarter. I am also available for podcast appearances, having previously contributed to The Happy Healthy Home Show and other programs.
Whether you’re planning a ticketed event or would like to host Richard to speak to your organisation, you can view our can view our presentations catalogue, or simply fill out the form below so we can get back to you quickly.
Booking requirements:
As a speaker, I choose to only participate in events that abide by a Code of Conduct. Moreover, I will decline to speak at any event with a record of not enforcing its Code of Conduct.
I require event organisers to cover travel expenses. I will not pay for travel related to any event where I am engaged to speak.
Designing, editing, and practising a presentation takes 30-40 hours, therefore I only accept paid speaking engagements.
Notable Speaking Engagements
Past talks
Biomimetics and what we can learn from nature
Keynote: Education and Training Foundation Industry Insights - United Kingdom, 2024
Responsible Procurement and Supply Chains.
Facilitator - The Purpose of Business - University of York, United Kingdom, 2023
Energy Transformation for Regenerative Cities
Panelist - The Open Eyes Economy Summit, Poland, 2023
Horizon scanning: the next sunrise sectors.
Panelist - The Purpose Summit - United Kingdom, 2023
Biomimetics: inspiration & technological developments
Keynote: The “Effective Scientist” conference run by Academya, - Poland, 2023
Biomimicry and AI
Keynote: YorkTech, - United Kingdom, 2023
Biomimicry in Circular Design
Workshop: Cambridge Institute of Sustainable Leadership - United Kingdom, 2023
Biomimicry and Innovation
Keynote: The School of Humanity - Dubai, 2023
Pine needles as an energy source in Madagascar
Keynote: Pivot Projects - Global, 2023
Coastal Management & Complexity
Presented at: Utrecht University - Netherlands, 2023
Modern-day problems that can be solved by taking inspiration from nature
Keynote: Downe House School - United Kingdom - 2022
Biomimicry and what we can learn from Nature
Podcast: The Happy Healthy Home Show - 2022
Biomimicry and learning from nature
Interview: The Voice of Islam Radio - United Kingdom - 2022
Sustainable Design and Biomimicry
Workshop: University of Westminster - United Kingdom - 2022
Regenerative Design
Keynote: Xynteo, The Leadership Vanguard - United Kingdom - 2022
The State of Nature-inspired Innovation
Keynote: Biomim’ Expo - France - 2022
The Future of Materials and Materials of the Future
Keynote: BIOCENE - USA - 2022
Biomimicry: an introduction
Workshop: Graham Packaging - Portugal - 2022
The State of Nature-inspired Innovation
Keynote: Heriot-Watt University - United Kingdom - 2022
Biomimicry and Innovation
Keynote: FastForward2030 - Lebanon - 2022
Biomimicry and Ecosystem Services
Keynote: TEDxIITGuwhati - India - 2022
Urban Futures
Keynote: Frogeex - Switzerland - 2022
Bio-Futures for Transplanetary Habitats
Panellist: Hub for Biotechnology in the Built Environment - United Kingdom - 2022
Sustainable Design and Biomimicry
Workshop: University of Westminster - United Kingdom - 2021
Additive Manufacturing and Industry 4.0
Panellist: GMIS Dubai - United Arab Emirates - 2021
The State of Nature-inspired Innovation
Keynote: Green 2021, Biomimicry Weekend - Spain - 2021
Biomimicry + Ecological Network Analysis
Keynote: Complexity Weekend - Global - 2021
The State of Nature-inspired Innovation
Keynote: York Design Week - United Kingdom - 2021
Biomimicry and Ecosystem Services
Keynote: Frontiers, The Royal Academy of Engineering - United Kingdom - 2021
The State of Nature-inspired Innovation
Keynote: Federation of Small Businesses, Industry + Academia - United Kingdom - 2021
Biomimicry, manufacturing and FMCG
Panellist: BioAsia Pacific - Thailand - 2021
Future Food Systems
Panel Host: York Environment Week - United Kingdom - 2021
Biomimetics and Urban Futures
Keynote: Pivot Projects - Global, 2021
Biomimetics and Urban Futures
Keynote: SEEDS - United Kingdom - 2021
Biomimicry: An Introduction
Workshop: Capgemini - Global - 2021
Biomimicry and Circular Design
Keynote: GIZ - Global - 2021
Biomimicry and Circular Design
Keynote: Circular Economy Festival - United Kingdom - 2021
Biomimicry and Innovation
Keynote: The Hague University of Applied Science - Netherlands - 2021
Biomimicry and Innovation
Keynote: York Design Week - United Kingdom - 2020
Future Food Systems
Panel Host: York Environment Forum - United Kingdom - 2020
Circular Economy for Cities
Workshop: Circular Economy Club (CEC) York - United Kingdom - 2020
Biomimicry and Innovation
Keynote: SpinUp Innovation Summit - Global - 2020
Biomimicry and Innovation
Keynote: BluMorpho Impact Week - France - 2020
The Future of Textiles and Fabrics
Panellist: Central St. Martins Innovation Management - United Kingdom - 2020
Biomimicry and Innovation
Keynote: York St John University - United Kingdom - 2020
Biomimicry and Innovation
Keynote: The International Council on Systems Engineering - USA - 2020
Biomimicry and Food Systems
Interview: Agritecture Lockdown interviews - USA - 2020
Sustainable Design and Biomimicry
Workshop: University of Westminster - United Kingdom - 2020
Complexity and Biomimetics
Workshop: Complexity Weekend- virtual - 2020
Nature and Engineering
Keynote: InvestIN - United Kingdom - 2020
Nature-inspired Manufacturing
Panellist: GMIS - Russia - 2019
Empower suppliers to help deliver new climate goals
Panel Host: Responsible Business Summit - United Kingdom - 2019
30 Animals That Made Us Smarter
Panellist: BBC World Service - United Kingdom - 2019
Nature-inspired Innovation
Panellist: Circularity TV - United Kingdom - 2019
Biomimicry and Product Design
Workshop: International Hellenic University - Greece - 2019
What Role Does Biomimicry Play in a Circular System?
Workshop: The Royal Society - United Kingdom - 2019
Nature-inspired Innovation
Keynote: Biomimicry Weekend - Spain - 2019
Biomimicry and Innovation
Keynote: York St John University - United Kingdom - 2019
Biomimicry and Innovation
Panellist: Edinburgh Science Festival - United Kingdom - 2019
Biomimicry and Sustainability
Keynote: Green Alliance - United Kingdom - 2019
Biomimicry and Circularity
Panellist: The Disruptive Innovation Festival, Ellen McArthur Foundation - United Kingdom - 2019
The State of Nature-inspired Innovation in the UK
Keynote: Innovate UK, Nature-inspired Solutions KTN - United Kingdom - 2019
Biomimetic Cities
Keynote: York Design Week - United Kingdom - 2019
Biomimetic Toolkit
Keynote: NASA - USA - 2019
The Challenges of Commercialisation of Biomimetics
Keynote: EPSRC Workshop - United Kingdom - 2019
Biomimetic Product Design
Keynote: Leeds School of Arts - United Kingdom - 2018
Biomimetic Textile Innovation
Workshop and Keynote: Textile Transitions II - United Kingdom - 2018
Biomimetic Textile Innovation
Keynote: York Fashion Week - United Kingdom - 2018
Nature as a Positive Disrupter
Keynote: Social Enterprise Yorkshire and Humber - United Kingdom - 2018
Behaviour Change and Biomimicry
Keynote: Welsh School of Architecture - United Kingdom - 2018
The Circular Economy
Workshop: Royal Academy of Engineering - United Kingdom - 2018
Innovation and what makes a great business
Keynote: The Prince’s Trust - United Kingdom - 2018
The New Normal - Nature as the Technology of the Future
Keynote: Specifi - United Kingdom - 2018
Biomimicry and Biophilia for Innovative Businesses
Panellist: The Crowd - United Kingdom - 2018
Biomimicry and Innovation
Keynote: PechaKucha York Central - United Kingdom - 2018
Urban Futures
Workshop: Biomimicry UK/Biomimicry SA - United Kingdom - 2018
Biomimicry, Architecture + Engineering
Keynote: Foster+Partners - United Kingdom - 2018
How Nature Views the World
Keynote: TEDxYork - United Kingdom - 2018
Biomimicry and Engineering
Workshop: Future, Engineers, York Railway Museum - United Kingdom - 2018
Organic Day - Biomimicry
Workshop: Ecotone UK - United Kingdom - 2018
Why look to nature for innovation?
Workshop: Erasmus + Smart Systems and Sensors - Hungary - 2017
Biologically-inspired Urbanism
Keynote: Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences - Germany - 2017
Taking inspiration from nature
Workshop: Royal College of Art - United Kingdom - 2017
What is learning from nature?
Keynote: One Planet York - United Kingdom - 2017
Rethinking the Natural World
Keynote: Vellore Institute of Technology - India - 2017
Re-Thinking Nature for the Workplace
Keynote: Workplace Trends - United Kingdom - 2017
Biomimetic Product Design
Workshop: Leeds School of Arts - United Kingdom - 2017
Biological Problem Solving
Keynote: European Environment Agency - United Kingdom - 2017
Why look to nature for innovation?
Keynote: University of Dundee - United Kingdom - 2017
What is learning from nature?
Keynote: Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures and Commerce - United Kingdom - 2017
Biologically-inspired Packaging
Keynote: FuturePlanet - United Kingdom - 2017
Biologically-inspired Packaging
Keynote: Milan Design Week - Italy - 2016
Biologically-inspired Product Design
Keynote: Central Saint Martins - United Kingdom - 2016
Circular Economy and Biomimicry
Panellist: The Disruptive Innovation Festival, Ellen McArthur Foundation - United Kingdom - 2016
Building Information Modelling and Biomimicry
Keynote: GreenBIM - United Kingdom - 2015
Re-thinking Nature
Keynote: Green Vision - United Kingdom - 2015
Bio-inspired Materials
Keynote: Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining - United Kingdom - 2015
Biomimicry and Innovation
Keynote: eBay - United Kingdom - 2015
Biologically-inspired Yacht Design
Keynote: Living Machines, Nature-inspired Manufacturing - Spain - 2015
Biologically-inspired Yacht Design
Workshop: SuperYacht Design Week - United Kingdom - 2015
Living and Nature
Keynote: FutureBuild - United Kingdom - 2015
Nature: time for a Re-Think
Keynote: EAUC - United Kingdom - 2015
Biologically-inspired Urbanism
Keynote: European Biomimicry Alliance - Spain - 2015
Biologically-inspired Urbanism
Panel Host: Festival of the Future City - United Kingdom - 2015
Biomimicry and working with Nature
Workshop: Green World Montenegro - Montenegro - 2015
Biomimicry and Innovation
Workshop: Dundee Science Festival - United Kingdom - 2014
Biomimicry
Panel Host: Biomimicry UK launch - United Kingdom - 2013