He is author of the internationally acclaimed book The Polymath (Wiley 2019) and he believes polymathic thinking is essential for understanding and tackling complex world problems like the planetary crisis. Through Earth 300, he sees the opportunity to take a truly global, systems-level approach to the problem which most siloed, hyper-specialized organizations lack.
Over the last decade, he has worked at the forefront of cultural diplomacy and peacebuilding. He is Executive Director of the Khalili Foundation, Editor of the UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity (20th Anniversary book 2021), and Curator of the World Festival of Cultural Diversity. He was previously a diplomatic journalist and publisher, namely as editor of the Official Reports for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings (2011-2015) and editor of Holy Makkah (FIRST 2017).
Waqās holds a BSc in Development Economics (SOAS) and postgraduate degrees in International Relations (LSE) and Neuroscience (King’s College London). He is Visiting Scholar at the University of Cambridge, Visiting Fellow at the Open University Business School and Assistant Professor at the London Interdisciplinary School. He has written and lectured on history, art, education, science and philosophy and has either been published by or featured in the Times, the Financial Times, Fast Company, the BBC, Forbes, Men’s Health, Philosophy Now and The Lancet.
He joined Earth 300 as the Chair of its Global Advisory Group and is now responsible for growth and strategy across all areas of the Earth 300 organisation and brand as its Chief Strategy Officer
