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Possibility Wheel in Action

The Possibility Wheel helps groups explore issues more deeply by examining underlying assumptions, which I think is one of the most important parts of futuring. The tool encourages users to identify the key question, surrounding assumptions, and theories of action, thus encouraging a more comprehensive analysis of an issue. It’s value lies in its ability to help people move beyond initial assumptions and consider unintended consequences, ultimately leading to more thoughtful decision-making. I tested this approach with school leaders, using the topical issue of school lunches in New Zealand as an example.

Futures Recommended Reading 2025

It is that time of year when many of us are taking a break and catching up on some reading. Here are three fiction and three non-fiction books I have really enjoyed in my futures space this year. I have some good podcasts, websites and videos too but I will share them at a later time. If you have recommendations please share so I can add recommendations to my 2025 list.

Treaty Futures: What next?

At the recent Dubai Future Forum there was one thing people wanted to ask me. What on earth is happening in New Zealand? We thought NZ was a leader in race relations and that your Treaty of Waitangi was what underpinned this. Hell yes…oh no…wait…

This post isn’t a reiteration of what you can find online about the Treaty of Waitangi conversation. I have a unique view which is a blend of futurist, great grandmother and Pākēha New Zealander. For my many futures colleagues across the globe – this is not a history lesson just my world view!

Personal Futures: A Te Ao Māori Approach

At this week’s #ŌtautahiFuturesCollective #ŌFC gathering Alicia Poroa shared how she facilitated a personal futures wānanga with a group of Māreikura, female Māori leaders from the North Island. She used a number of futures methodologies with deep, personal insights that are so important for us all to consider.

Intergenerational Fairness: Hopeful Futures

On September 27, 2024, thirty students from the University of Canterbury’s bachelor of Social and Environmental Sustainability and Political Science gathered for the Intergenerational Fairness Hopeful Futures workshop. The event, run by Think Beyond, aimed to explore intergenerational fairness in Ōtautahi Christchurch and envision a hopeful future for the city.

Mining and a futures worldview

In my last post I shared my emerging model for unbounded futures and how past, present and future are interwoven. There is so much we learn from the past and this in turn shapes our world view, which in turn shapes our actions. The conversations are particularly polarising at the moment and I find myself digging deep into my futures toolkit to keep me grounded and curious. It reinforces that developing a futures mindset is a critical counterbalance for coping in an uncertain world.

Unbounded Futures

I have been trying to articulate my world view of futures and how that impacts what I say and do in my futures work. I don’t see the future as being something that comes next, but rather a whole way of being, a constant movement and a futures fluent approach to taking action. I have called my emerging explanation Unbounded Futures, a model which weaves pasts, presents and futures.

Equitable Intergenerational Futures

2023 was a catalyst year for exploring intergenerational fairness in Aotearoa New Zealand. 2024 is a year to accelerate this focus and to work with others locally, nationally and globally who are committed to considering future generations in our decision making.

Activating Swan Sourcing

Last week our Ōtautahi Futures Collective had a great discussion about one of the many tools developed by Sean Moffitt from the Grey Swan Guild. The tool is called Swan Sourcing – Chasing Possibilities, Wild Cards and Extremes by Playing with the Roots of Discord. This method asks us to challenge our thinking and to start with a blank page full of potential.

Futures Recommended Reading

Are you awash with trends, blogs and articles about the future in 2024? My in box is full! And I hate it, especially when people create a list of forecasts as if they are predicting the future. Some of the lists come up with the obvious extension of here and now. Others express their points as siloed ideas and discrete ‘future’ chunks. Others come up with a funky name for something of little consequence. So I’m not going to do that.