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Tom Cheesewright
Applied Futurist specializing in foresight, narrative planning, and agile organization design
Tom Cheesewright is a prominent applied futurist and business leader based in the Manchester area of the United Kingdom. He currently serves as the Chairman of Pomona Partners, a position he has held since February 2023.1
Professional Background
Cheesewright has an extensive career spanning over two decades, with a focus on futurism, technology, and marketing:
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Applied Futurist: Since December 2012, he has been working as an Applied Futurist, helping organizations and individuals anticipate and prepare for future trends.1
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Co-Founder and CMO: He co-founded and served as the Chief Marketing Officer for CANDDi (Campaign and Digital Intelligence Limited) from June 2009 to December 2012.1
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Consultant and Director: Cheesewright has held various consulting and directorial positions, including roles at IO Communications, Noiseworks, and And Digital.1
Education and Expertise
Cheesewright holds a BEng in Mechatronics from Lancaster University.1 His expertise lies in helping organizations deal with what he terms "High Frequency Change," a result of rapid global communication and technological advancements.1
Notable Achievements
- Author: He has written two books: "Future-Proof Your Business" and "High Frequency Change".3
- Conference Creator: Cheesewright founded the TMRW Conference, focusing on future business, communications, cities, and human development.3
- Media Presence: He is a frequent contributor to various media outlets, including BBC Breakfast, Channel 4's Sunday Brunch, and radio programs.4
Current Role
As Chairman of Pomona Partners, Cheesewright leads a talent agency that represents and develops experts, influencers, and personalities, with a particular focus on the North of England.2 The agency aims to provide a more streamlined and transparent experience for speakers and clients, while also supporting brands and marketers with experienced performers for their events and campaigns.2
Highlights
Right, don't do this often but I've (probably) got a few hours spare in London on the morning of the 18th - Tuesday next week.
If any of you fancy a coffee, drop me a dm and we'll get something lined up.
How do you feel about industry awards?
Thinking about it as I'm off to a slightly different awards ceremony tonight at the The Lowry: the BBC Make A Difference awards.
I've judged a lot of awards over the last decade or so. Before that, I wrote an awful lot of awards entries for various businesses - to greater or lesser effect. I've handed out a few gongs (see pic), and even hosted a ceremony or two.
These days I generally say 'no' when I'm asked to judge. I feel like most awards are best judged by your peers, and these days I'm an outsider in most industries. That's part of my value. (I've always really respected Don't Panic Events for its awards judging process that has always brought together brilliant panels of peers every time I was involved in the past.)
I still judge the Global Mobile Awards each year, partly because I still have a strong connection with that sector, and partly, if I'm totally honest, because I like the prestige.
And this year, I helped to judge the Make a Difference awards for Greater Manchester with my friends at BBC Radio Manchester. This was a totally different experience. Instead of long, PR-crafted entries with detailed numbers and thousands of words of flowery prose, these were very punchy entries. Short paragraphs from the public, telling stories about incredible people in their communities.
Just shortlisting was hard. So I can't wait to see the final winners tonight. I suspect it's going to be a very emotional evening.
