Speakers

David Edwards is one of the leading global authorities on strategic workforce planning. He is implemented and led SWP in major European corporations and is renowned for his demystification of the subject and its practical applications. His book, The Strategic Workforce Planning Handbook, has been described by John Boudreau as "offering a rich vision of what HR can be" and by Forrester's Betsy Summers as " a new standard text for anyone thinking seriously about the future of work." David is forthright in his advocacy for “whole-workforce truth” - planning not just headcount but also contractors, services partners and, increasingly, AI agents. He believes technology and AI to be the accelerants that will realise SWP's full potential: converting messy workforce data into usable signals and continuous, informed strategic responses, not annual rituals. David challenges the “precision fetish” and prioritises speed, optionality and actions that stick; connecting workforce choices to strategy, finance and value. Founder of Dark Artistry, he advises leaders, teams and vendors on building SWP that survives real life, not just pilots. A sought-after keynote speaker and panel moderator, he mixes commercial candour and technical nous with humour and practical frameworks audiences can apply immediately.