Biography

Dr. Anthony Townsend works at the intersection of urbanization and digital technology. He is the author of two books: Ghost Road: Beyond the Driverless Car (2020) and Smart Cities: Big Data, Civic Hackers and the Quest for A New Utopia (2013)—both published by W.W. Norton & Co. Anthony is the founder of * City Group (Star City Group), a strategy consultancy and planning studio that works with industry, government and philanthropy on smart city planning, innovation districts, and automated vehicle policy. He holds a Ph.D. in urban and regional planning from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and minored in physics as an undergraduate at Rutgers University. He lives in Jersey City, New Jersey.

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Videos

Anthony Townsend, Speaker and Author

Anthony Townsend BUILD 2016 | The Past, Present, and Future of the Smart Cities Movement

Keynote: Official Launch of the Responsible Sensing Lab

Anthony Townsend: The Smart City. Aligning Industry and Grassroots

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Booksby Anthony Townsend

Ghost Road

Smart Cities

Blog Posts

These Keynote Speakers Prove Innovation is a Habit, Not a Big Idea [2026 Guide]

Our 2026 list of innovation keynote speakers that reveal why real innovation is a repeatable habit, not a big idea, and why marketing is the proof.

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Fear vs. Intuition: How Michelle Poler Can Help You Finally Tell Them Apart

Learn how to tell fear apart from intuition using a simple decision-making exercise from Hello Fears founder Michelle Poler.

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Happiness at Work Starts with Progress, Not Perks

Happiness at work goes beyond perks. Discover the research-backed factor that drives real engagement and fulfillment.

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Resilience Lessons to Rebuild Your Life, with Military Veteran Travis Mills

Resilience keynote speaker Travis Mills shares how he rebuilt his life after losing all four limbs, with lessons on mindset, purpose, and never quitting.

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AI Impact in the Workforce Demands These Keynote Speakers

Discover how AI is reshaping work in 2026 and which keynote speakers can guide your team through the shift.

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Event Planning Strategies to Book the Right Keynote Speaker

Learn how to choose the right event keynote speaker by balancing executive expectations with what your attendees actually want.

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