Australia’s 2020 Future – the Futurist’s report
You’d think that given a focus on the future, you’d ask specialists in the future to have some input, and whilst that didn’t occur for the PM’s Summit in Canberra over the weekend, some of Australia’s Futurists had already done the leg work to contribute their thoughts on the future of Australia. That report is now available and it would appear, given some of the initial media coverage suggesting that ‘nothing new’ emerged in Canberra, the Futurists have once again shown that their aproach to thinking can be a significant benefit
Whilst it is harsh to suggest that, given a very limited window of opportunity, 1000 people could be given the chance to explore in depth a number of radical, interesting and useful ideas and generate some pure gems, Prime Minister Rudd’s Summit has achieved at least one key outcome – people are now actively and consciously talking about the Future of Australia in a means that has not appeared feasible for some time.
And we’d urge people to hold judgement as to the success or otherwise until we see what comes of the process because the proof of the pudding as they say, is in the tasting, not just in the making.
The focus on Australia’s future neither suggests anything better or worse, just different from recent history and it is this ‘difference’ that can provide significant leverage. Which is why the Australia 2020 Futurists Summit was convened by Strategic Futurist Marcus Barber from the outset. Although the futures community was hopeful of obtaining a ‘seat at the table’ in Canberra over the weekend, most Australia Futurists are for more realistic and grounded in likely outcomes. To that end then, there was a strong chance that the experts in the futures field were going to be sidestepped at the Canberra process, which is what happened.
Taking the perspective that assuming involvement in the Canberra summit was not a ‘fait accompli’, Marcus Barber gathered a group of Australian Futurists together to tackle each of the 10 themes and the output of that thinking is now publicly available
It is a tad unfortunate that in the past couple of weeks I’ve had to experience the way in which one of the players in the car insurance industry treats its customers. I haven’t lost a single demerit point since well into last century and consider myself a pretty safe driver. So a couple of…
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Read More >This is Part one with Part two (looking at who will probably better off at this time next year) to come shortly. If you are in a position to sharpen your thinking, catch a breath or use some time to improve your understanding of the ways in which we create our societies, then I have…
Read More >What’s emerging for 2009? What might shape the near term future, what can we do about it and what are some of the indicators suggesting change or otherwise? Strategic Futurist Marcus Barber joined Raphael Epstein and co-host Denise Scott, as part of the panel to answer the questions on the 774 ABC’s conversation hour today……
Read More >Yes you read right – thinking ahead I’m anticipating an amazing 2008. Happy new year to all for when it happens (depending on the calendar you subscribe to) and I look forward to some fun, challenges, stresses and enjoyment for the year ahead. Marcus Barber 🙂 PS – Hope 2007 was a good one
Read More >The Advanced one day Strategic Planning Workshop in Sydney on the 11th of December at Rydges World Square is now fully booked For inquiries about the next series of dates for the 2009 series, keep an eye out on The Australian Strategic Planning Institute website at www.taspi.com.au or contact us via email here
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