Nicholas Davis is a Professor of Practice at Thunderbird School of Global Management and the Managing Partner at SWIFT Partners, a Geneva-based consultancy focused on helping companies harness emerging technologies to create sustainable value.
From 2015 to 2019, Nick was Head of Society and Innovation and a member of the Executive Committee at the World Economic Forum. He led the Forum’s thought-leadership on the concept of “The Fourth Industrial Revolution”, oversaw engagement with civil society communities and managed teams across the information technology, telecoms and media industries. With Klaus Schwab, the Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, he is the co-author of Shaping the Fourth Industrial Revolution, published in January 2018.
Originally from Sydney, and previously a commercial lawyer, Director at Oxford Investment Research and the World Economic Forum’s Head of Europe, Nick is a Certified Professional Facilitator and a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts (FRSA) in the UK. He is currently a Visiting Professor at UCL’s Department of Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy, an Associate Fellow at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy, an Adjunct Professor at Swinburne University and sits on the board of the IMPROVE European Innovation Management Academy. He holds degrees in Arts and Law from the University of Sydney as well as a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Oxford.
Areas of expertise:
- The Fourth Industrial Revolution
- Agile governance
- Innovation strategy
- Entrepreneurship and early-stage growth strategies
- Artificial intelligence / machine learning
- Cybersecurity
- BA, University of Sydney
- LLB, University of Sydney
- MBA, University of Oxford
Shaping the Future of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (co-author with Klaus Schwab), Crown, Oct 2018
The Fourth Industrial Revolution (Klaus Schwab), (key contributor), Random House, January 2016
“The Geopolitics of Artificial Intelligence” (with J M Rickli). Input paper for the project “The Effective and Ethical Development of Artificial Intelligence”, Australian Council of Learned Academies, July 2019
“Transitioning Industries”, Chapter 3 of Industry Insights: Globalising Australia, Department of Industry, Innovation and Science of Australia, July 2018
"The Future Relationship Between Technology and Inequality", Chapter 7 of How Unequal? Insights on inequality, The Committee for Economic Development of Australia, April 2018
“The Fourth Industrial Revolution: Shaping a New Era” (with Thomas Philbeck), Journal of International Affairs. Vol 72, No. 1 Fall/Winter, 2019
“TEN Youth: Unlocking Enterprise Growth by Focusing on the Fortune at the Bottom of the Talent Pyramid”, (with Hansmeyer, Minic, Prakash and Rangan), Innovations, MIT Press, September 2013
“Does Investment Promotion Work?” (with Andrew Charlton) The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy: Vol. 7: Iss. 1, Article 42, 2007
Global Technology Governance: A Multistakeholder Approach (with Thomas Philbeck), World Economic Forum, November 2019
Artificial Intelligence: governance and leadership (with Farthing, Santow and Webber Corr), Australian Human Rights Commission, January 2019
Civil Society in the Fourth Industrial Revolution: Preparation and Response (with Sangokoya, Magnoni and Declercq), World Economic Forum, January 2019
Values, Ethics and Innovation: Rethinking Technological Development in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (with Philbeck and Engtoft Larsen), World Economic Forum, August 2018
Agile Governance: Reimagining Policy-making in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (with Broekart, Elmi, Engtoft-Larsen), World Economic Forum, April 2018
Advancing Human-Centred Economic Progress in the Fourth Industrial Revolution: A Leadership Agenda for G20 Governments, (with Richard Samans), G20 Insights, June 2017
Collaborative Innovation: Transforming Business, Driving Growth (with Lilia Planjyan), World Economic Forum, June 2015
The Future Availability of Natural Resources: A New Paradigm for Global Resources (with Van der Elst, Hatour, Bishop et al), World Economic Forum, November 2014
Enhancing Europe’s Competitiveness: Fostering Innovation-driven Entrepreneurship in Europe, (with Jelinek, Kiessler, Ruppert et al), World Economic Forum, June 2014
The Future Role of Civil Society (with Jennie Oldham), World Economic Forum, January 2013
Sustainable Health Systems: Visions, Strategies, Critical Uncertainties and Scenarios, (with Atwood, Lovric and Van der Elst), World Economic Forum, January 2013
Scenarios for the Mediterranean Region (with S Mergenthaler), World Economic Forum, October 2011
Global Risks 2011, Sixth Edition (Co-Editor with Kristel Van der Elst), World Economic Forum, Jan 2011
The GCC Countries and the World: Scenarios to 2025, World Economic Forum, October 2008
“Why cybersecurity matters more than ever during the coronavirus pandemic” (with Algirde Pipikaite), Forum Agenda, March 2020
“Five Trends to Tap Into”, Company Directors Magazine, Vol 35, Issue 11, December 2019
“How satellites can solve Africa's eco-challenges, from deforestation to illegal mining” (with Anne Marie Engtoft Larsen), Forum Agenda, September 2019.
“A world of change in the modernising workforce”, The Australian, Op Ed, 4 December 2018
“The power of trust and values in the Fourth Industrial Revolution” (with Simon Mulcahy), Forum Agenda, October 2018
“Hope and fear surround emerging technologies”, (with Aleksander Subic), The Conversation, May 2018
“Learning from Martin Luther About Technological Disruption”, Project Syndicate, October 2017
Courses
2021 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| TGM 549 | Global Leadership |
2020 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| TGM 549 | Global Leadership |
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Custom Programme Lecturer (co-lead on multiple 5 day modules): “Oxford Scenarios Programme”, Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, 2019
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Lecturer on Advanced Foresight Approaches (instructor for multiple MBA and Executive Education Programmes) Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, 2020
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Course Co-Director (7 day module): “Systems Leadership in the Fourth Industrial Revolution”, Saïd Business School Executive Education Module, University of Oxford, March 2019
- Windeyer Dibbs Solicitors, Sydney, Australia - Solicitor admitted to the Supreme Court of New South Wales
- Oxford Investment Research, Oxford, UK - Director, Research and Consulting
- World Economic Forum, Geneva, Switzerland - Head of Society and Innovation, Member of the Executive Committee
- Masters in Global Leadership, World Economic Forum Executive Education with INSEAD, LBS, IMD, Wharton School
- Global Leadership and Public Policy for the 21st Century. Executive Education Program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University