Dr. Kate Barker

Dr. Kate Barker is an award-winning, globally-recognized executive advisor, consulting leader, keynote speaker, executive coach, board member and an authority in leadership and digital transformation in the age of GenAI. She currently serves as the Chief Futurist at NEOM, the $500 billion future city.

Featured in CBS, CNBC, FOX and CNN, Dr. Barker has had a career spanning three decades, working to advance Fortune 500 companies and governments around the world to have confidence in their future, to stay competitive and minimize risk.

By applying leading strategies from her ‘Future of Work’ insights, leadership for the 21st century, digital transformation, human-centric organizational cultures and innovative D&I strategies, Dr. Barker has earned successful partnerships with C-suite executives, international royalty and government leaders. As an executive coach, she furthers some of the most significant industry trends that impact the future of work.

Dr. Barker has distinguished herself in a range of high-impact leadership roles, including Chief Futurist for NEOM’s $500 billion Future City 2050 initiative in Saudi Arabia, Executive Strategy Advisor to His Highness in the United Arab Emirates, and global Consulting Partner at PwC (Asia) and Ernst & Young (USA). She frequently speaks at CXO Summits and Executive Roundtables around the world. She was invited to attend Harvard’s Women in Leadership Program and completed her DBA in Leadership in the GenAI era.

Fusing postgraduate studies in psychology, leadership and business with an intuitive understanding of how society responds to the new digital era, Dr. Barker is both a dynamic, engaging speaker and insightful expert advisor. She has led real-world results with clients such as Microsoft, Virgin, GE, Unilever, HSBC, PepsiCo, Amazon, Deloitte and Google. Also a senior advisor to Ernst & Young and McKinsey & Company, she is a seven-time marathoner.