Harmen van Sprang, a visionary speaker, author and researcher, is foremost a pioneering social entrepreneur. As aptly described by his daughter, ‘My father works in the future’, Harmen has been instrumental in founding several forward-thinking organisations and initiatives.

Through his ‘Sharing Cities Alliance’ foundation, he has collaborated with global cities such as Rotterdam, Cape Town, New York City, Washington DC, Seoul and Singapore, fostering a network of shared knowledge and sustainable innovation. His creative studio, ‘Sentience’, is at the forefront of devising creative concepts and cutting-edge projects, pushing the boundaries of conventional thinking.

With his ‘Next Reality’ network, Harmen unites leaders from both the public and private sectors in the Netherlands (and abroad), delving into the potential and addressing the challenges posed by transformative technologies like XR and AI.

On a local level, Harmen also leads the ‘Future Society Lab‘, a knowledge & networking platform in Rotterdam bringing together the City of Rotterdam and several knowledge institutions to shape the city of tomorrow.

Harmen’s global influence is marked by his significant contributions to the sharing economy, where he has guided cities and companies towards embracing more social and sustainable frameworks. His expertise as a co-author of an award-winning business book on the sharing economy further emphasises his status as a thought leader.