Robert Theobald is a widely read author, community activist, speaker, and consultant. He trained as an economist at Cambridge University, England (M. A. Economics) followed by post-graduate work Harvard, turned into a socio-economist, then a futurist, and now despises all labels. He has held numerous academic posts, and was named the 1996 Massey lecturer, a prestigious Canadian Broadcasting Corporation opportunity.

Theobald has been working on large-scale, transformative change for over thirty years. A British citizen who has lived in India, England, Scotland and France, he has lived and worked in the United States for much of his adult life . He has written and edited over 25 books on the subject of futurism, economics, fundamental change and other related issues. Recent major titles include Turning the Century (1993), The Rapids of Change (1987) and Beyond Despair (1976). Robert's latest book is Reworking Success, the text of a set of lectures designed to help people achieve the mindquakes required to focus on the radically new world in which they are already living.

After several decades of accomplishment as an international consultant, public speaker and organiser, Theobald's work in recent years has increasingly centered in two key areas:

• Enabling people to surface their understandings of the need for fundamental, systemic change without making them feel threatened (often as keynote or closing speake)r.
• Encouraging dialogue between people and groups who often believe that they have nothing in common, in linkages, seminars, meetings.

He says this about the challenge of his work as we close out the century:

"Now writing, speaking and consulting on a single theme: 'The world is getting better, and better and worse, and worse and worse, faster and faster.' (Tom Atlee). The inertial forces which have emerged from the industrial era now need to be challenged. The human race will either grow up or perish. The achievement of the necessary new directions is neither inevitable nor impossible. We are at a moment in human history when the actions we take as individuals and groups have more resonance than was the case in more stable periods. Each of us needs to be highly conscious of our vision, our success criteria, the people with whom we relate and the ways in which we spend our time."

Additonal keywords:
Social Cohesion, Work, Fundamental Change, Reworking Success, Tools for Creating Community

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