Adah Parris is a highly sought-after keynote speaker, polymath, anti-disciplinary artist, tech futurist, and activist who is dedicated to inspiring individuals and organisations to embrace new ways of thinking and doing. She has a unique blend of expertise in multiple fields, including living systems, technologies (digital and ecological) and systems design. Her perspective on innovation, transformation, and technology is both empathetic and subversive, challenging the status quo and helping people to recognise and bridge the gap between their external stories and internal behaviours.
Adah is the Chair of Mental Health First Aid England and the advisory group for the Centre for Cultural Value, and she has also been recognised as a TED Talks Global Emerging Innovator. Her work explores the anatomy of transformation and innovation, and she focuses on changing how we experience the world by asking the question, “What type of Ancestor do you want to be?” Her cutting-edge philosophy, Cyborg Shamanism™, merges ancient wisdom, living systems, traditional ecological knowledge and practices, and digital technologies, and she provides individuals with the tools and practices to bridge the gap between where they are and where they want to be through her consulting and her Ancestors Retreats.
Adah has over 20 years of experience in transforming cultures to nurture decentralised innovation environments and has worked with some of the world’s leading organisations and institutions, including Natwest Bank, Google, Unilever, Sainsbury's, Oath, Ogilvy Labs, The British Council, The EU Council, The Tate Modern, the British Film Institute (BFI), The Union Chapel, Burning Man Camp: Playground, ArabNet Dubai, Innovate Finance, Wayra UK, The Friday Club, The University of The Underground, and Shambala Festival to name a few.
Her work with individuals and organisations helps them to expand their perspectives, develop a deeper understanding, and take action towards a more sustainable future. Adah encourages businesses to embrace the idea of being a good ancestor, prioritise long-term thinking, inclusivity, and sustainability, and to create immersive experiences that prioritise well-being and ethical responsibility. By adopting this holistic approach, businesses can foster deeper connections with their employees and customers, drive innovation, and leave a positive legacy.
Adah is a visionary and catalyst for change, inspiring individuals and organisations to create a more sustainable future based on community, kinship, and living ecosystems. With her unique blend of expertise, she helps businesses embrace new ways of thinking and doing and encourages innovative solutions to global challenges. By considering the impact of our actions on future generations, adopting sustainable practices, and creating inclusive environments, businesses can drive innovation, foster deeper connections and leave a positive legacy.
ChatGPT says that she’s “the tech shaman who channels ancient wisdom and makes immersive and wearable art on the side”.