Elina Hiltunen
Futurist Elina Hiltunen delivers sharp, science-based insights on weak signals, megatrends and the futures shaping business, society and defence.
Why book Elina Hiltunen for your next event
- Brings complex futures thinking to life with clear tools, engaging stories and science-based insight.
- Combines engineering, business research and deep foresight expertise for practical, future-ready strategies.
- An experienced speaker who has delivered hundreds of talks in Finland and abroad for organisations seeking clarity on what’s next.
Non-binding request for Elina Hiltunen
Global futurist, bestselling author and expert on weak signals and foresight.
Elina Hiltunen is a futurist with a rare blend of scientific depth and practical foresight experience. With a PhD in Business and a Master’s in Engineering, she has spent her career helping organisations understand weak signals, emerging technologies and the forces shaping tomorrow. Elina has delivered hundreds of lectures worldwide, written 14 books and is recognised among the most prominent female futurists globally. Her work guides organisations seeking clarity in a fast-changing world.
Elina Hiltunen – a leading voice in future thinking
Elina Hiltunen is one of the most prominent futurists in today’s international foresight field. Her academic background spans a PhD in Business (Organisation and Management) and a Master’s degree in Engineering, specialising in polymer technology, technical chemistry, environmental protection and International Design Business Management (IDBM). Her scientific range gives her a strong foundation for exploring the intersections of technology, society and organisational futures.
Her first PhD thesis, completed in 2010, focused on weak signals in organisational future learning, a theme that has become central to her work. Elina is now completing a second PhD at the National Defence University, where she studies how science fiction can be used in defence organisations’ foresight. This dual academic path reflects her consistent interest in the ways organisations detect early changes, prepare for uncertainty and imagine alternative futures.
Elina is recognised on several international lists, including Forbes’ 50 leading female futurists and the top 25 female futurists in the world. She has also been named among Finland’s 100 IT influencers, reflecting her strong voice in future technology and digital development.
Impact through speaking, research and foresight work
Elina has delivered hundreds of keynote speeches and trainings in Finland and abroad. Her speaking style is clear, energising and heavily grounded in research. She translates complex patterns and megatrends into practical tools that organisations can use to navigate change.
Her professional foresight background includes roles at Nokia, Finpro, and the Future Research Centre, where she gained hands-on experience in corporate and national-level future work. She has also served as an executive in residence at Aalto University ARTS, contributing to academic foresight and design-driven innovation.
Today, Elina works as an entrepreneur through her company, What’s Next Consulting Oy, where she supports organisations with foresight, trend analysis and strategic future work. She is also the founder and owner of Saagel, a publishing house established in 2021 that publishes her own works.
Author of 14 books and a versatile communicator
Elina has written 14 books, alone or in collaboration. Five of these explore futures research in depth, covering topics such as foresight methods, emerging technologies, consumer trends, megatrends and the future of Finland. Her ability to combine scientific rigor with accessible storytelling has made her a respected author across audiences.
Her writing extends far beyond academic and business literature. Elina has created children’s books and published her first sci-fi prose work, Sinä Päivänä 20X9 (On That Day 20X9), in 2021—an example of how fiction can push the boundaries of future thinking.
As a columnist and freelance journalist, Elina’s pieces have appeared in Yhteishyvä, Talouselämä, Taloussanomat, Blue Wings, Tekniikan Welta and more. She currently writes for Mikrobitti magazine. Her media presence also includes appearances on YLE’s Prisma Studio and expert contributions to YLE’s Aamun Nachkikaronka.
Awards, recognitions and nominations
Elina’s influence is widely acknowledged. In 2025 she was nominated as one of MySpeaker’s most influential speakers of the year. Earlier recognitions include:
The Future Prize from the Society for Futures Studies (2011) for her work on weak signals
The Foresight Work of the Year Award (2021), especially for future graphs
The Finnish Security Award Future Prize (2023)
She has also received several significant nominations:
Business Book of the Year 2018 finalist for What the Future Customer Wants
Science Book of the Year 2019 finalist for Coming Tomorrow
MySpeaker of the Year 2022 finalist
Speakersforum Speaker of the Year 2024 finalist
Book Elina Hiltunen for your event
Organisations book Elina when they want sharp, research-based guidance on the forces shaping the future. Her deep expertise in weak signals, megatrends, emerging technologies and the role of science fiction in foresight creates a keynote experience that is both practical and imagination-driven.
Whether talking about technological shifts, societal transformation or long-term strategic thinking, Elina offers frameworks that help leaders anticipate change and act before others see what is coming.
Keynotes
Keynote by Elina Hiltunen:
Ten Megatrends That Are Shaping Our Future
Are you struggling to understand which global forces will truly shape your organisation’s future and how to prepare before they disrupt you?
In her keynote “Ten Megatrends That Are Shaping Our Future,” futurist Elina Hiltunen turns overwhelming complexity into clear, actionable insight. Drawing on decades of research, she reveals the major technological, societal and environmental shifts already steering tomorrow’s markets.
Elina gives leaders a practical roadmap: which trends matter most, how they interact, and what strategic moves create resilience and new opportunities. Her keynote equips teams to anticipate change instead of reacting to it, transforming uncertainty into a competitive edge.
If you want clarity, confidence and direction in a fast-changing world, this keynote delivers it.
Keynote by Elina Hiltunen:
Three keys to the future: anticipation, innovation, and communication
Are you finding it hard to steer your organisation toward the future when change feels faster than your ability to respond?
In her keynote “Three Keys to the Future,” futurist Elina Hiltunen gives leaders the essential toolkit for foresight. She breaks down anticipation, innovation and communication into practical methods that any team can apply immediately.
Elina shows how to spot early signals, turn ideas into action and build a shared understanding of what’s ahead. Her approach strengthens strategic thinking, improves decision-making and helps organisations navigate uncertainty with confidence.
If your team needs clarity and alignment in a rapidly shifting world, this keynote delivers it.
Keynote by Elina Hiltunen:
Future jobs and skills: what skills will we need and how will work change?
Are you unsure which skills your organisation should invest in when the future of work seems to shift every month?
In “Future Jobs and Skills,” Elina Hiltunen maps out the forces transforming work and explains the capabilities people and organisations must build now. Based on deep foresight expertise, she highlights emerging roles, human–AI collaboration, and the behavioural skills that will define future competitiveness.
Elina turns long-term uncertainty into a clear development agenda, helping organisations prepare their workforce for new demands instead of falling behind them.
If you want to secure talent readiness and stay ahead of workplace change, this keynote provides the blueprint.
Keynote by Elina Hiltunen:
AI, people and the future: threats and opportunities
Are you overwhelmed by the speed of AI and unsure how to separate real opportunity from hype and risk?
In “AI, People and the Future,” Elina Hiltunen explains what AI means for organisations, society and everyday work. She offers a grounded, human-centred perspective, clarifying key concepts, highlighting practical applications and addressing the ethical and strategic challenges leaders must understand.
Elina helps audiences identify where AI can create value today and how to prepare for the disruptions still on the horizon. Her keynote empowers teams to act with foresight rather than fear.
If you want balanced, actionable guidance on navigating the AI era, this keynote delivers exactly that.
Forum "Steering Education: From Engagement to Empowerment" | Elina Hiltunen
Watch Elina Hiltunen in action!
