Robert Colvile

Robert Colvile is the critically acclaimed author of ‘The Great Acceleration’ and one of Britain’s sharpest writers and commentators on technology and politics. His particular focus is on how the great trends that start in Silicon Valley are impacting on our lives and businesses – how technology is changing and challenging our way of life, and the dangers and opportunities that this creates.

Colvile began his career at The Daily Telegraph, where he helped launch the paper’s technology section, edited the science and news review pages, worked as a columnist and leader writer, and ultimately ran the comment and opinion department both in print and online. He then moved to BuzzFeed, where as its first UK news director he helped establish it as a respected news organisation, including overseeing its coverage of the 2015 general election. These experiences gave him an expert understanding of the modern media environment, and how it is being transformed by changes in technology.

Today, Colvile writes about technology, politics and ideas for a wide variety of publications. His work has appeared in every one of the UK’s broadsheet newspapers, notably The Telegraph and Financial Times, as well as the Spectator, New Statesman and Economist. He is a regular contributor to Politico, and has written for Aeon and the Wellcome Trust among others.

As well as writing, Colvile is an accomplished public speaker and panellist, who has spoken at the Hay Festival, the OECD Forum, the Cambridge Science Festival and other high-profile events. He is also an experienced commentator on TV and radio, appearing on Newsnight, Start the Week, Sky News and many others.

As a speaker, Colvile is an invigorating and hugely knowledgeable presence, able to draw on the latest ideas, trends and scientific studies and – crucially – translate them into terms that his audience can understand and relate to. He can speak not just about the latest devices or buzzwords but how they connect to our essential biological appetites, or wider cultural trends. His specific topic areas include the accelerating pace of life – the topic of ‘The Great Acceleration’ – and what this means for individuals, businesses and our economy and society.

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