Keynote Speaker

Fionn Ferreira
Speaker

Inventor. Researcher. Storyteller. Fionn has delivered 50+ keynotes across five languages — from WEF Davos to TEDx Cork to the House of Lords — on microplastics, ocean health, circular economy, and the science of breakthrough thinking.

50+

Events

5

Languages

WEF Davos

68K+

Social Reach

Topics

What Fionn speaks about

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Plastics, Circular Economy & Sustainability

Bioplastics, recycling, microplastics — and why the plastic problem cannot be blamed on the consumer alone. Drawing on Fionn's experience as a WEF Global Plastic Action Partnership Champion and his ferrofluid invention, this keynote unpacks the system behind the symptom.

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Keeping a Child-Like Mindset

How imaginative exploration and a state of flow lead to breakthrough invention. The mindset that took Fionn from kayaking the Atlantic coast at age 7 to winning the Google Science Fair at 18 — and what it takes to keep that lens through a doctoral career.

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Science at Scale: Making Research Sustainable

From energy-hungry NMR machines to plastic-laden oceans — how the scientific community must itself become more sustainable, and how high-temperature superconducting magnet research is rewriting the energy equation of analytical chemistry.

Why Fionn

Scientist. Inventor. Communicator.

The story audiences remember

Fionn discovered the ferrofluid–microplastics connection while kayaking the West Cork coastline at 18. That narrative — curiosity born outdoors, turned into a lab breakthrough, turned into a global science award — lands with every audience: corporate boards, university students, policymakers, and schoolchildren alike.

Real credibility on hard topics

As a doctoral researcher at ETH Zürich (one of the world's top science universities), Fionn speaks from the frontier — not from a PowerPoint. His keynotes cite current research, include honest nuance about what science can and cannot solve, and leave audiences better informed than when they arrived.

Proven at the highest level

Three appearances at WEF Davos Annual Meeting. National Geographic Explorer. Forbes 30 Under 30. European Patent Office finalist. The audience at Fionn's talks has included heads of state, CEOs, and Nobel laureates — and the same talk has moved teenagers to choose science careers.

Five languages, 19 cities

From Davos to Bali, from the Smithsonian to the European Commission. Fionn has delivered keynotes across Europe, North America, Asia, and Latin America, adapting content and register for each context — from high-level policy briefings to public science festivals.

Past Engagements

50+ events worldwide

2024WEF Davos · Annual Meeting keynoteDavos
2023European Patent Office · Young Inventor Prize finalistMunich
2023House of Lords · Microplastics briefingLondon
2023Our Ocean Conference · Main stage talkPanama City
2022ChangeNow · Sustainability keynoteParis
2022TEDx Cork · Plastics and systems changeCork
2022WEF Davos · Global Plastic Action PartnershipDavos
2022VivaTech · Innovation keynoteParis
2021National Geographic Explorer's SummitLondon
2021Web Summit · Sustainability sessionLisbon
2021Infoshare · Climate & tech keynoteGdansk
2021Smithsonian Earth Optimism SummitWashington DC
2021GreenTech Festival · Innovation stageBerlin
2021Martin Luther King LecturesAmsterdam
2020WEF Davos · GPAP Young Champion panelDavos
2020Global Plastic Health SummitAmsterdam
2020Youthtopia YOUNITEBali
2020Rukami Festival · Science & innovationMoscow
2019European Commission Annual Research ConferenceSeville
2019Google Science Fair · Grand Prize winner's talkMountain View
2019Regeneron ISEF · Grand Awards ceremonyPhoenix
2018Intel ISEF · 1st place American Chemical SocietyPittsburgh
2018BT Young Scientist · Best in CategoryDublin

FAQ

Booking questions

What topics does Fionn speak on?

Three signature topics: Plastics & Circular Economy (systemic causes of plastic pollution, the ferrofluid method, what policy and industry must change); Keeping a Child-Like Mindset (how imaginative play leads to breakthroughs); and Science at Scale (making research sustainable, high-temperature superconductors, reducing the carbon cost of discovery). Custom topic blends available on request.

What formats work best?

Keynote (30–60 min), panel discussion, fireside chat, university lecture, workshop, or hybrid virtual/in-person. Fionn adapts to your programme and can combine any format with a Q&A.

Who is the typical audience?

Corporate sustainability and innovation teams, government and policy conferences, university student audiences, science festivals, and secondary schools. Past audiences include WEF attendees, European Commission delegates, and National Geographic Explorers.

How far in advance should we book?

Ideally 6–8 weeks for major events, though Fionn occasionally accommodates shorter lead times. Reach out as early as possible to check availability.

Is there a speaker reel or previous talk recording?

Yes — a WEF Davos keynote is available on the main site. Additional recordings available on request when you get in touch.

Does Fionn travel internationally?

Yes, regularly. Past engagements span Davos, Washington DC, Bali, Moscow, Panama City, and 14 other cities across Europe, North America, Asia, and Latin America.

Ready to talk about your event?

Fill in the form and Fionn's team will respond within a few days with availability and next steps.

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