Innovation Strategist, Transformation Advisor, Founder of Insider Trends & Insider London and Former Senior Manager of Innovation Consulting for GHD Digital Driving the Future of Global Retail
Cate Trotter’s Biography:
Cate Trotter is an innovation strategist, transformation advisor and the founder of two influential businesses: Insider Trends and Insider London. Known for her ability to simplify complex ideas and forecast emerging commercial shifts, she has become a trusted partner for global brands navigating the future of retail and customer experience. Her work blends strategic insight with practical foresight, helping organisations adapt to changing consumer expectations, new technologies and evolving market landscapes.
Cate’s journey began with a BA in Design from Goldsmiths, University of London, where she focused on eco-design, branding and marketing. She entered the industry as a marketing consultant at Better Thinking, gaining early experience in strategic communication and creative problem-solving. In her twenties, she founded Insider London, followed soon after by Insider Trends, taking on roles including Founder, General Manager, Head of Tours and later Head of Trends. Through these ventures, she became a noted authority on innovation, establishing a global presence through retail safaris in cities such as London, New York, Paris and Berlin. Her ability to spot meaningful signals before they go mainstream quickly earned her recognition across the industry.
Alongside her entrepreneurial success, Cate has held senior positions in innovation and transformation, including roles at GHD and within the Level Crossing Removal Project. She has been named a Future 100 Entrepreneur and Startup 100 Entrepreneur, and has been recognised multiple times as a Top Global Retail Influencer by organisations such as Vend, Rethink Retail and iQmetrix. She has delivered insights to major companies including Chanel, Marks & Spencer, Lego, Philips, Absolut Vodka, Unilever, Metro Group, B&Q and EE. With certification as a Chief Innovation Officer and deep expertise in design thinking, Cate continues to guide leaders as they shape resilient, forward-thinking strategies for long-term success.
Why Hire Cate Trotter?
Cate is hired for her rare ability to turn emerging trends into clear, actionable strategies that help organisations innovate with confidence. As a recognised LinkedIn Top Voice and a globally acknowledged retail and innovation influencer, she brings both authority and clarity to every engagement. Her experience advising leading brands, combined with her background in design thinking and strategic transformation, ensures her sessions are practical, insightful and highly relevant. Cate offers audiences a compelling blend of foresight, energy and strategic direction, helping leaders understand and embrace the future of business.
Cate Trotter’s Career Highlights:
Below showcases Cate Trotter’s inspirational career throughout business, futurism and sustainability:
- 2025 – In a 2025 post, she published a piece titled “From ‘What If’ to ‘What Works’: My Retail Innovation Talks for 2025”, signalling her ongoing thought-leadership and active speaking schedule in retail innovation.
- 2023 – Achieved IBM’s Enterprise Design Thinking Practitioner credential, enhancing her capabilities in structured, human-centred innovation.
- 2022 – Became Senior Strategic Innovation Advisor and TA Strategy Lead for the Level Crossing Removal Project, guiding large-scale change programmes.
- 2022 – Appointed Technical Director of Innovation and Transformation at GHD, supporting organisations navigating future-focused transformation.
- 2022 – Named a Rethink Retail Top 100 Global Retail Influencer for her leadership in identifying emerging retail trends.
- 2021 – Again recognised as a Rethink Retail Top 100 Global Retail Influencer for her continued influence in the sector.
- 2019 – Named a Vend Top 50 Global Retail Influencer for her contribution to shaping global retail thinking.
- 2017 – Winner of the Top Retail Management Blog for her clear and practical insights on retail innovation.
- 2017 – Named a Top 20 Global Retail Influencer by iQmetrix for her expertise on customer experience and retail strategy.
- 2012 – Recognised as a TechNation 200 Thought Leader by TechCity Insider for her contribution to London’s innovation landscape.
- 2011 – Named a Future 100 Entrepreneur by Striding Out for her early entrepreneurial success and impact.
Videos
Cate Trotter’s Official Keynote Speaking Videos & Showreel:
Testimonials
“Happy? Only happy? She rocked!!! Sent out our Survey Monkey today, but only judging by the feedback I got from people so far, she will get really high scores. In a nutshell, she was excellent, her pres spot on, even our president was fully inspired and looking for new creative retail/consumer solutions. Perfect match.” – Frank, PR Director, Duracell
“Being able to stay ahead of the game and identify future innovations has been incredibly valuable. With a relaxed style and presentations jam-packed with relevant and new facts, stats and ideas, we would highly recommend Insider Trends to any forward-thinking organisation.” – Clare, Business Engagement Manager, The British Library
“Cate gave us a great speech about blended brand ecosystems, and what really fascinated me was her ability to adapt to our specific audience. Displaying great innovations is one thing but making it relevant for our customers made it all so much better.” – Anders, Marketing Manager, Avensia
“The final presentation left the movers and shakers of the retail industry with something very interesting to mull over for the weeks and months to come. I’m very fond of Cate’s way of working, which is to gently reinforce her hypotheses through an accumulation of case studies and examples. Her slides were something to behold; they made you want to visit every store or try every app she mentioned. She refers to herself as ‘the 26th most influential person in retail’ but you’d to be hard put to imagine that there are 25 more engaging and delightful thinkers or presenters out there.” – Mike, Director, McDonald Butler Associates
“At Fujitsu, we have worked with Cate on several occasions, and she has always been a great speaker, providing valuable insights to our customers on the future trends in retail. Recently, we worked with Cate on a Retail Safari, which is something we have never run before, and the day was a great success. Cate was very accommodating to work with, and it was visible that Cate put a lot of time and effort into selecting the best retailers for us to visit in New York. Our Customers were very impressed. Thanks, Cate!” – Jessica, Marketing Manager Healthcare & Innovation, Fujitsu UK
“We loved Cate’s energy and confidence! The session had a good balance between being informative and fun. I’d recommend Insider Trends to businesses embarking on a digital journey, which often calls for business transformation and change from tradition.” – Imran, Retail Commerce Lead, IBM
“We enjoyed Cate’s dynamism and, of course, professionalism. My team was very happy with the session. I heard that it has been a very long time since they had such a level of performance.” – Chanel, France
“Very good presentation – one of the best in years. Thank you.” – Jamie, Managing Director, RunBreeze
“Very interesting and presented very clearly – thanks for a great presentation.” – Carrie, Creative Director, Paperspace Design
“It was so great to hear you speak. Your presentation was very thought-provoking and inspiring. My colleague and I had a good follow-up conversation about it afterwards. I like the way you present; it’s very clear, there’s solid information, and you bring your personality in. We could have listened to you for much longer. Thank you!!” – Michael, Senior Design Manager, Bultmann Design Works, Bremen
Speaking Topics
Kate Trotter’s Official Keynote Topics:
- Culture in the Wild – A Live Safari Through the Digital Signals Shaping Your Industry
- No-Theatre Innovation – Turning Experiments into Earnings
- Signals Over Headlines – The Non-Obvious PESTLE For Your Industry
- Beyond the Noise – The Forces Shaping Your Industry’s Next Chapter
- Copy, Adapt, Benchmark – What the World’s Best Operators Do
- AI That Pays Its Own Way – Uses Saving Money Right Now
How Much Does Cate Trotter Cost to Hire?
How Much Does it Cost to Hire Cate Trotter?
The cost of hiring Cate Trotter depends on your event format, location and duration. For an accurate quote tailored to your needs, contact a London Keynote Speakers Agency booking agent for expert guidance.