Chris Brauer

Dr Chris Brauer is the Chief Innovation Officer at Symmetry, a global AI advisory, solutions, and research firm. At Symmetry, he leads responsible AI factories that develop Agentic AI-enabled products and services for industries such as supply chain, healthcare, financial services, and government sectors. His work follows the principle of "Think Big, Start Small, and Move Fast."

He is the Global Chair of AI and UK Chairman of Innovation at Edelman, a global communications firm, and a global strategy officer with the World Economic Forum (WEF). He is also the Director of Innovation at Goldsmiths, University of London, where he teaches and supervises research on AI, digital transformation, and innovation management.

He has worked with major corporations such as Microsoft, Shell, Lego, Infosys, IBM, Nissan, PayPal, and Unilever, advising them on AI governance, workforce skilling, and sustainable AI strategies. His research has contributed to reports for the World Economic Forum, Microsoft, and Accenture.

Dr Brauer holds a PhD from Goldsmiths, University of London, where his research focused on digital sociology and emerging technologies. He has conducted studies on AI, clean energy, human behaviour, workforce transformation, cybersecurity, and innovation strategies. His research has been covered in over 400 media outlets, including BBC, Financial Times, CNN, and The Wall Street Journal.

Dr Brauer frequently speaks at global events about AI’s impact on businesses, economies, and society. He also serves on multiple advisory boards, including the BIMA AI Council and Red Badger. His work aims to integrate AI advancements with responsible innovation, sustainability, and economic development, ensuring AI technologies benefit industries and societies worldwide.

Dr Chris Brauer was born in Canada and later moved to the United Kingdom, where he built his academic and professional career. He pursued higher education at Goldsmiths, University of London, earning a PhD in Digital Sociology. His doctoral research focused on digital technology, human behaviour, and emerging innovations.

He joined Goldsmiths, University of London, where he became Director of Innovation at the Institute of Management Studies. He has been actively involved in research and teaching, focusing on artificial intelligence, innovation management, project management, and digital transformation. 

He has supervised numerous research projects and teaches courses such as Innovation Case Studies and Innovation in the Wild Seminars. In 2011, he founded and directed the first UK-based MSc Digital Journalism programme at Goldsmiths, integrating computing and media studies to provide students with a curriculum on digital journalism and emerging media trends.

Dr Chris has led high-impact research projects examining AI, automation, cybersecurity, clean energy, workforce transformation, and economic development. His studies have been featured in over 400 media outlets, including BBC News, Financial Times, CNN, The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, Globo, CCTV, and The Daily Mail. He has worked on research projects such as "Maximising the AI Opportunity" (2018), "Creating a Blueprint for UK Competitiveness" (2020), "Accelerating Clean Industrial Electrification in the EU" (2022), and "Electricity+" (2023), contributing to reports for Microsoft, the World Economic Forum, and Accenture. 

His cybersecurity research, "Accountability Gap: Cybersecurity and Building a Culture of Responsibility" (2016), was commissioned by NASDAQ and Tanium and surveyed 1,500 non-executive directors on corporate cybersecurity readiness. Other key research projects include "SHIFT – Understanding the Consumer Motivations for Wearable Technologies" (2015), "Smart Lives" (2015), and "Project Virtual Assistant" (2014).

Dr Chris is the Chief Innovation Officer at Symmetry, a global AI advisory and solutions firm, where he leads AI factories developing Agentic AI-enabled products and services for industries such as healthcare, logistics, financial services, media, and government sectors. His work focuses on responsible AI strategies, workforce skilling, research and development experiments, and AI-driven digital transformation. He is the Global Chair of AI and UK Chairman of Innovation at Edelman, a global communications advisory firm, where he works on AI integration in corporate strategies, business innovation, and advisory services.

He is also a Global Strategy Officer at the World Economic Forum, contributing to AI governance, economic restructuring, and clean energy transition initiatives. He founded Smoothmedia Consulting, a research firm specialising in human behaviour, emerging technology trends, and socio-economic transformations. He serves as an advisory board member for BIMA AI Council, Red Badger, and other AI and digital transformation initiatives.

Dr Chris has contributed to multiple industry white papers, research reports, and strategy documents. His work has been cited in reports by Microsoft, Accenture, the World Economic Forum, and industry regulators. His research on digital transformation, cybersecurity, AI, and innovation has influenced corporate policies, government strategies, and industry standards. He is frequently invited to contribute expert commentary on BBC News, CNN, The Financial Times, and The Wall Street Journal. 

He regularly speaks at corporate events, conferences, and policy discussions on topics such as AI in business and governance, workforce transformation, cybersecurity, and economic growth. His keynote talks have been featured at events by Microsoft, Shell, QuickBooks, Lego, Infosys, Nissan, PayPal, and Unilever.

As of 2024, Dr Chris Brauer continues to lead AI-driven innovation and economic transformation initiatives at Symmetry, Edelman, and the World Economic Forum. His work remains focused on AI strategy, workforce skilling, responsible AI governance, corporate advisory on digital transformation and business innovation, research on clean energy, AI applications, and cybersecurity, and teaching and mentoring at Goldsmiths, University of London. Through his leadership, research, and industry collaborations, he continues to shape global discussions on AI, digital transformation, and sustainable economic growth.

Dr Chris Brauer's vision is to drive responsible innovation in artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and sustainable economic growth. He focuses on creating AI solutions that integrate with human workforces, ensuring they are ethical, practical, and beneficial. His work aims to advance AI governance, workforce development, and clean energy transitions while supporting businesses and governments in adopting technology for positive change. Through research, industry collaboration, and education, he seeks to shape policies and strategies that balance technological progress with social and economic well-being. His goal is to ensure AI and digital advancements contribute to a more inclusive and sustainable future.

Dr Chris Brauer has received recognition for his work in artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and innovation strategy. His research has been featured in over 400 media outlets, including BBC News, Financial Times, CNN, and The Wall Street Journal. He has contributed to major reports for Microsoft, the World Economic Forum, and Accenture. His cybersecurity study for NASDAQ and Tanium influenced corporate governance policies. He has been invited as a keynote speaker at global events hosted by Microsoft, Shell, PayPal, and Unilever. His leadership in AI strategy has positioned him as a key advisor to businesses, governments, and industry organisations.