Thinkers360 Top Voices 2026 and Global Gurus rankings precede a new keynote program on disruption, strategic foresight, and AI, a TEDxJacksonville talk, and a new speaker reel

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Futurist keynote speaker Roger Spitz, Chair of the Disruptive Futures Institute, ranks #6 in the Americas and #15 worldwide in Global Gurus’ 2026 World’s Top 30 Futurist Professionals, and #6 in Thinkers360’s Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Management. He enters 2027 with a new keynote program, a scheduled TEDx talk, and a new speaker reel.

In October 2026, Thinkers360 also named Spitz among its Top Voices 2026, a distinction spanning October 2026 through October 2027, and features him in its Top 50 on Artificial Intelligence. Leading speaker agencies and platforms rank him among the top futurist keynote speakers for disruption, strategic foresight, and AI.

Spitz is scheduled to speak at TEDxJacksonville 2027: You Are Here on January 16, 2027. His 2027 keynote program adds “Metaruptions & Structural Unpredictability: The AAA Framework Response” and “The Law of Inaction: Agency and Leadership for Compressed Decision Windows” alongside the Visionary Trilogy (Mindset Shift, Intelligence Shift, Leadership Shift). The program examines how leaders strengthen decision-making, anticipate systemic disruption, and preserve agency as AI and Metaruptions reshape strategy.

The new 2026–2027 keynote speaker reel is available at disruptivefutures.org/speaking. Recent and upcoming engagements include Meta’s Conversations 2026 in London; the PREA Investors Fall Conference in Washington, DC; the IdDC Board Directors’ Summit in Santiago, Chile; and the RIMS ERM Conference in Columbus, Ohio.

“Leaders no longer choose between acting and waiting — inaction is itself a decision, and often the costliest one,” said Spitz. “The 2027 program is built around that reality: developing the agency to decide effectively while the ground keeps moving.”

About Roger Spitz

Roger Spitz is Chair of the Disruptive Futures Institute, a San Francisco-based strategic foresight and executive education organization, and the author of five books, including the award-winning bestseller Disrupt With Impact. He coined Techistentialism in 2016 and Metaruptions in 2019, and is a member of the World Economic Forum’s AI Governance Alliance.

Speaker reel and bookings: https://www.disruptivefutures.org/speaking

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SOURCE Disruptive Futures Institute

More than 20 KAPSARC leaders, researchers, and experts to contribute across the Congress’s Executive, Technical, Synergy, and Special Programmes

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — KAPSARC participates as a National Partner in the 25th WPC Energy Congress in Riyadh, bringing its leaders and experts into discussions addressing some of the most important issues shaping the future of energy.

Taking place from 11 to 15 October 2026 under the theme “Pathways to an Energy Future for All,” the Congress will be hosted in Saudi Arabia for the first time in its history. First held in London in 1933, the Congress will bring together government leaders, industry executives, policymakers, researchers, and innovators in Riyadh to examine the forces reshaping global energy systems, from security and investment to technology and sustainability.

KAPSARC’s participation extends across the Congress’s Executive, Technical, Synergy, and Special Programmes, alongside additional sessions and activities, reflecting the breadth of the Center’s research and policy expertise. KAPSARC President Fahad Alajlan and Dr. Ghadah Alarifi, Dean of the KAPSARC School of Public Policy, are among KAPSARC’s speakers in the Executive Programme.

Across the Congress, KAPSARC experts contribute research and policy perspectives on energy supply and demand, energy access, natural gas, ESG and governance, the Circular Carbon Economy, artificial intelligence, mobility, and lower-emission pathways for refining and petrochemicals.

Within the Special Programme, KAPSARC leads a Knowledge Sprint session titled “Generative AI for Evidence-Based Oil Markets,” examining how generative AI can support oil-market analysis and policy research. The session explores AI-assisted data workflows, econometric and scenario analysis, responsible AI practices, and the translation of technical findings into decision-ready insights.

KAPSARC also participates in the World Café through a session on “Carbon Dioxide Removal Technologies,” bringing together experts, policymakers, and practitioners to examine the prospects for scaling engineered carbon-removal solutions. The discussion covers direct air capture, bioenergy with carbon capture and storage, and biochar, alongside the economic, infrastructure, regulatory, carbon-market, and regional considerations influencing their deployment.

In the Synergy Programme, KAPSARC experts contribute to discussions on “Accelerating the Circular Carbon Economy Through Joint Action” and “AI Partnerships for Energy Innovation,” bringing research-based perspectives to the intersection of energy, technology, and sustainability.

KAPSARC’s dedicated pavilion provides another platform for knowledge exchange and engagement throughout the Congress. Structured around five thematic hubs, the pavilion brings together KAPSARC research, analytical tools, and expertise across the Oil Hub, Transportation Hub, Clean Energy Hub, AI Hub, and Collaboration Hub. Together, the hubs provide visitors with an integrated view of selected research areas and emerging issues shaping energy systems, while creating opportunities for engagement with policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, and other Congress participants.

The pavilion also features the KAPSARC School of Public Policy (KSPP) and the Saudi Energy Leaders Assembly (SELA), providing additional platforms for policy education, leadership development, and knowledge exchange.

Through its participation across the Congress’s programmes and sessions, alongside its dedicated thematic pavilion, KAPSARC connects Saudi-based research and policy expertise with international discussions on energy security, investment, technology, and sustainability.

About KAPSARC

KAPSARC is an advisory think tank dedicated to advancing knowledge on energy, environmental and regional economic issues. As an accredited observer to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), KAPSARC actively contributes to global climate action. KAPSARC’s mission is to advance Saudi Arabia’s energy sector and inform global policies through evidence-based advice and applied research.

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https://www.kapsarc.org/

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SOURCE KAPSARC

Valeria Corrales receives the Junior Stephen Hawking Medal and Aneeshwar Kunchala receives the Junior Jane Goodall Earth Medal

CANARY ISLANDS, Spain, Oct. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — STARMUS VIII, the premier international festival of science, music and exploration, is proud to announce the recipients of two special distinctions celebrating the next generation of scientific and environmental leaders.

Valeria Corrales, from Spain, will receive the Junior Stephen Hawking Medal, in recognition of her exceptional work bringing science, programming and technology to young audiences.

Aneeshwar Kunchala, from the United Kingdom, will receive the Junior Jane Goodall Earth Medal, honouring his remarkable dedication to wildlife conservation, biodiversity and inspiring children to protect the natural world.

Although their work focuses on different fields, both young changemakers share a conviction at the heart of STARMUS: knowledge should inspire action, and age should never be a barrier to making a difference.

Valeria Corrales — Junior Stephen Hawking Medal

Valeria Corrales began her journey in science communication at the age of ten, when she co-founded the educational platform ValPat in 2018 alongside her mentor Patricia Heredia.

What began as an initiative to make science and technology more accessible has grown into a major Spanish-language STEM education platform, with more than 750 videos and 240,000 YouTube subscribers.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Valeria and Patricia offered 100 consecutive days of free online STEM classes, helping thousands of children across Spain and Latin America continue learning during lockdown.

Valeria has since received national and international recognition. She was named among Forbes Spain’s 23 Changemakers in 2023, became a finalist for the Princess of Girona Social Award in 2025, and was selected as a Top 10 finalist for the Global Student Prize from nearly 11,000 applications and nominations across 148 countries.

Now studying Computational Media at the Georgia Institute of Technology, she continues to explore how science, technology, creativity and storytelling can transform education.

Her achievements reflect the spirit of Stephen Hawking’s belief in the power of curiosity and the importance of sharing scientific knowledge with everyone.

Aneeshwar Kunchala — Junior Jane Goodall Earth Medal

At just eleven years old, Aneeshwar Kunchala has already become an internationally recognized voice for wildlife conservation and environmental education.

His extraordinary journey began when he was only four, after learning about a whale that had died because of plastic pollution. That experience inspired a mission to protect animals and encourage others to care for the natural world.

Since then, Aneeshwar has reached international audiences through television documentaries, educational programmes, public speaking, journalism and art.

His work includes appearances and productions for BBC, Sky Kids and Channel 5, while his conservation message has reached audiences at major international events and institutions.

Aneeshwar holds three Guinness World Records and has received honours including the Diana Award and the British Citizen Youth Award. He has also been named a young ambassador for the National Trust and became the first young columnist for National Geographic Kids UK. He has also been recognized with the Young Scientific Explorer honorary award – from the Scientific Exploration Society.

His work combines scientific curiosity, compassion for animals and an extraordinary ability to communicate with younger generations.

His guiding message captures the simplicity and urgency of his mission:

“Save the animals and make sure the world looks beautiful.”

The Junior Jane Goodall Earth Medal recognizes not only his achievements, but also his determination to inspire a generation that sees the protection of biodiversity as a shared responsibility.

Two Young Voices, One Shared Future

Stephen Hawking dedicated his life to understanding the Universe. Jane Goodall transformed our understanding of the natural world and our responsibility to protect it.

Through these two Junior Medals, STARMUS celebrates the continuation of their legacies in a new generation.

Valeria Corrales is helping young people discover the power of science and technology. Aneeshwar Kunchala is inspiring them to protect the extraordinary diversity of life on our planet.

Together, they represent a powerful message: the future of science and the future of our planet belong to those who are curious enough to ask questions and courageous enough to act.

The awards will be presented during STARMUS VIII, taking place in Tenerife and La Palma, Canary Islands, from 17 to 22 October 2026, under the theme The Search for Truth. The Festival will bring together some of the world’s leading figures in science, space exploration, technology, music and the arts to explore the importance of evidence, knowledge, reason and scientific thinking in an increasingly complex world.

More information about the Starmus VIII and tickets available at: www.starmus.com.

US: Dan DuPont, dupont0708@gmail.com, +1 202 380 7558

UK/EU: Nicole Ettinger, nicole@ettingerpr.com +44 7515 394107

Spain: Carlos Esteban, cesteban@llys.global, +34 699 55 2854

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SOURCE Starmus Foundation