About
Gemma is a freelance writer, focusing on biotech, energy, space, health, advanced computing & changing the way we do academic research. She has bylines in Forbes, Quartz, BBC, The Guardian, and many others. She particularly focuses on the cultural effects of technological and scientific advancements and ponders how we can best use these technologies and inventions as a society. Gemma is currently writing her first book, ‘Smoke & Mirrors: How Hype Obscures the Future and How to See Past It’, which will be published in April 2020 by Little, Brown.
Gemma is also Co-Founder of Science: Disrupt - an organisation connecting the innovators, iconoclasts & entrepreneurs intent on creating change in science. Science: Disrupt produces podcasts, events and editorial, and has brought together a large community (both on and off-line) of brilliant thinkers and do-ers.
Gemma is an Expert Advisor for the European Commission, specialising in health, biotech and space,an Innovate UK Assessor, and is one of the World Economic Forum's Global Shapers. She is also an advisor to SXSW and to the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences.
Gemma is an International speaker having delivered keynotes at SXSW, TEDx, WPP Stream, Cannes Lions and Dubai Lynx, and is always keen to engage in lively debate around the topics she is set to tackle.
Previously, Gemma was the Tech Innovation Strategist at Ogilvy Labs, and was responsible for connecting startups, government organisations, universities and large corporates with Ogilvy clients and agencies – all in the name of advancing the world of advertising and marketing through technology and science.
Gemma has been an Investment Banker at J.P. Morgan, a door-to-door charity saleswoman for The Children’s Trust & Practical Action, a sous chef for a local village pub, a science teacher for Shell, a kids’ camp cook in Maine, a Maths Student at St Andrews and a waitress at the Savoy…it’s safe to say Gemma is a curious explorer and bundles her vast career background into a tapestry of expertise.
In her spare time, Gemma is an avid drawer and painter, she plays piano and guitar, and inhales as many books, podcasts and longreads as humanely possible. She is also partial to a spot of power-lifting, and is learning to fly..!