Phoebe Tickell

Phoebe Tickell is a scientist, systems thinker and social entrepreneur recognized for pioneering work in Moral Imagination Activism, an approach that bridges activism, governance innovation, regenerative design, ethics and systemic change. She is the founder of Moral Imaginations, where she develops methodologies that help individuals, organizations and communities reimagine their roles in building more equitable, regenerative and interconnected systems, and embed those insights into new forms of organizational governance.

Tickell began her career in the sciences, earning a degree in biological natural sciences from the University of Cambridge. She worked as a molecular biologist researching genetic network engineering and biotechnology at institutions including Imperial College London and the Scripps Research Institute. Disillusioned by narrow techno-solutionism, she shifted her focus to the deeper drivers of global challenges, including governance structures, cultural mindsets and the role of imagination in systemic change.

Drawing on a background in complexity science and futures thinking, Tickell is now a sought-after advisor and speaker across government, education, philanthropy and corporate innovation. She coined the term “Imagination Activism” in 2022, reframing activism as a practice grounded in vision, ethics and collective possibility. Often described as “the voice of the emerging future,” Tickell is known for blending intellectual rigor with humor, imagination and practical action to address the defining challenges of our time.