Biography

A Disney Imagineer on the Human Edge in an AI Future

As artificial intelligence becomes a bigger part of our lives, how can we stay not just useful but truly valuable? Duncan Wardle, former Head of Innovation & Creativity at Disney, believes the answer lies in something simple and powerful: being human.

In this engaging and thought-provoking talk, Duncan invites us to reconnect with the skills we were all born with but often leave behind as we grow up. Creativity. Intuition. Empathy. Curiosity. Imagination. Through real stories and practical examples, he shows how these human traits can help us solve problems, spark new ideas, and create experiences that no machine ever could.

Duncan Wardle began his remarkable 30 year career at the Walt Disney Company in 1986 as a barman in the Rose & Crown Pub at Epcot. He rose to become Head of Innovation & Creativity, where Duncan helped teams at Disney Parks, Lucasfilm, Marvel, Pixar, Imagineering and Animation to innovate, creating magical new storylines and amazing experiences for consumers around the globe.

Duncan now brings his Disney experience to organisations around the world to help people capture unlikely connections, leading to both disruptive thinking and revolutionary ideas. He is a frequent contributor to Fast Company, Harvard Business Review, and Forbes, and he teaches Innovation and Creativity Masterclasses at Yale and Harvard Universities. Duncan holds the American Citizen Award presented at the White House, an Honorary Doctorate from Edinburgh University, and the Duke of Edinburgh Award, presented by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth.