“We look at the present through a rear-view mirror. We march backwards into the future.” – Marshall McLuhan

The key to building better futures is right in front of us. Rather than looking solely at our past we should be studying possible futures – not to predict what will happen, but to help us shape it.

And we’re not talking hoverboards and Google Project Glass. Or how to avoid the zombie apocalypse.

A growing number of governments, businesses and not-for-profits around the world are employing futurists to help them develop policy, guide strategy and create socially innovative solutions to some of their biggest challenges. Strategic foresight is helping them to mitigate risk, design for resilience, manage growing complexity and bring greater clarity to decision-making.

And many futurists are not content merely to describe the world, predict trends or forecast what’s to come. They desire to play an active role in transforming the world, or playing a part in its transformation. They see themselves as creating enhanced public ownership of the future – “liberating the future in each person“.

So what can we learn from those with an eye on the future and a finger on the pulse?

Join us for a trip down the rabbit hole for our final Collaboratory Melbourne Meetup for 2012. We’ll explore the fascinating world of of futures with some of Australia’s leading futurists and practitioners of strategic foresight: Neil Houghton, Bridgette Engeler Newbury and Tim Longhurst, and we’ll take a sneak peak into what’s in store for the Collaboratory in 2013.

Join us for a lively panel discussion, followed by an interactive and insight filled workshop, to  find out how futures and foresight can help us discover pathways to a safer climate, reveal innovative possibilities to address our most pressing social issues, and build our capability to create better futures for all.

We’ve also a few good things to celebrate after another great year for Collab Melbourne.

6:00pm: arrival for pre-event conversation, drinks* and light snacks

6:30pm sharp: Panel discussion commences (with Q & A)

7:15pm: Scenarios workshop commences

8:30pm: Workshop ends, conversation and drinks continue

9:30pm: Meetup ends (technically… 😉

Register for our final Collaboratory Melbourne Meetup for the year right here.

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Our Panelists

Neil Houghton:

Neil is Manager Policy & Innovation (Thought Leader) at the Victorian Government Department of Planning and Community Development and Department of Sustainability and Environment. He focuses on helping leaders understand how to effectively use foresight and innovation to clarify and create strategic direction, impact and reach throughout their organizations. He specializes in creating and delivering programs that develop and enhance strategic coherence and long-term perspectives using mentoring and coaching practices. Neil’s approach embraces “wide theory & deep practice” and is informed by the latest research in neuroscience, wisdom, foresight, innovation and organizational change management theories and practice.

Connect with Neil on Twitter: @njhoughton
Bridgette Engeler Newbury:

Bridgette lectures into undergraduate and postgraduate programs in communication design theory, design research, design strategy, design thinking, design management, user centred design, cross-cultural design strategy and strategic foresight. Bridgette brings almost 20 years design industry experience in brand and communication design strategy, verbal and visual identity, and packaging and publication design. She has worked on myriad design projects from new product and brand launches to corporate rebrand initiatives and innovation projects in Australia, Asia, North America, New Zealand and the Middle East.

Her research interest is the nexus created between strategic design and foresight, and emergent opportunities intersecting design, society and community.

Connect with Bridgette on Twitter: @incognitosum
Tim Longhurst:

Tim is regarded as a global leader on innovation and strategy across the corporate, government and social sectors. He  a former Head of Strategy for GetUp, has worked with leading organisations including BNP Paribas,IKEA, Johnson & Johnson and Greenpeace, and has a real knack for inspiring change.

Tim helps bring the future to life by using the latest data, powerful case studies and entertaining anecdotes. Tim has recently moved from Sydney to Melbourne and is currently working with clients to redefine the futures of banking, education, government, health, tourism and transport. He is head of the strategic foresight consultancy, Key Message and has ongoing commitments as a formal advisor to a number of Silicon Valley startups.

Connect with Tim on Twitter: @TimLonghurst