David Pilling is the Africa editor and a columnist at the Financial Times. He covers business, politics, and development across the continent and writes a regular column on various African topics. Previously, he served as the Asia editor and assistant editor and held roles as Tokyo bureau chief, pharmaceuticals correspondent, deputy features editor, and correspondent in Buenos Aires and Santiago.
David has authored two books: The Growth Delusion (2018), which was shortlisted for the Orwell Prize, and Bending Adversity: Japan and the Art of Survival (2016). He frequently moderates and speaks for the Financial Times and organisations such as the World Bank, OECD, and ADB. In 2023, he briefed a G7 meeting in Kamakura, Japan, on the concepts presented in The Growth Delusion.
How can I book David Pilling for my next event?
Email david.pilling@getapeptalk.com, or call us on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US), and one of our speaker agents will contact you within hours to confirm availability and fees. If you can, please include your budget upfront – it helps us fast-track your request. It’s also helpful to know the date, format (virtual or in-person), location, and a bit about your audience.
Please note: we can only assist with speaking requests. For anything else, we recommend reaching out to David directly.
What topics does David Pilling specialise in?
David Pilling specialises in discussing business, politics, development and more.
What is David Pilling's speaking style like?
David delivers insightful commentary on African business and politics, engaging audiences with his expertise and experience. His presentations are well-received, fostering understanding of complex topics with clarity.
Does David Pilling offer virtual speaking engagements?
Yes, David Pilling offers virtual speaker bookings for webinars, online conferences, and remote or distributed team engagements.
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