Futures CoLab: Online March 2024

Futures thinking  is often mentioned but rarely understood. It demands mental flossing and the ability to think both critically and creatively. An increasingly polarised and complex world needs new approaches.

Join Dr. Cheryl Doig, futurist at Think Beyond, for an enriching three month online collaborative conversation that will ground you in futures approaches. The Futures CoLab is structured as a community of practice. Numbers are kept small so discussions can be rich. You’ll engage with futures tools and strategies through self paced online activities and readings before bringing your knowledge and perspectives to in-person group sessions. Collectively, we’ll move beyond the theory, fostering a hands-on approach that empowers you to grow futures practices in your context.

This programme is for Oceania connections ie Aotearoa New Zealand, Pacific and Australia only. Others can be accommodated through tailored programmes. Please contact us to discuss possibilities.

We’ll work together to:

• Understand futures fundamentals: Delving into essential futures terms, concepts, and tools guided by the Six Pillars approach of Sohail Inayatullah - one of the world’s leading futurists.
• Challenge assumptions: Engage in rich discussion about our different worldviews and lenses across the group.
• Contextualise Futures Studies: Connect futures approaches to your organisation and circumstances
• Suggest next steps: There are many doors to the future and opportunities to connect with a wider group of people interested in futures and foresight.

You’ll leave with:

• A basic understanding of futures and foresight: Experience and conversations around some of the commonly used practices and tools.
• Some new colleagues:  from diverse backgrounds.
• The opportunity to grow expertise across a network: the Ōtautahi Futures Collective, Aotearoa Futures Network and the wider Oceania futures ecosystem.
• Ongoing access to the Metafuture program: Access to a kete of tools, strategies and resources, enabling you to delve deeper into the methodologies of futures and foresight.

The details:

This programme has two main components:

1. Interactive Group Zoom Sessions  

Six interactive group sessions will be held online via zoom Thursday mornings 8:00am - 9:30am. Each session builds on the previous ones and so it is important that you can attend all sessions. It is a great opportunity to mix with a group and form new futures relationships. Dates are as follows:

• Thursday 7th March, 8:00am - 9:30am NZDT
• Thursday 21st March, 8:00am - 9:30am NZDT
  
• Thursday 4th April, 8:00am - 9:30am NZDT
  
• Thursday 11th April, 8:00am - 9:30am NZDT
  
• Thursday 2nd May, 8:00am - 9:30am NZDT
  
• Thursday 9th May, 8:00am - 9:30am NZDT
  

 Futures thinking is a collaborative practice!

2. Online Become a Futurist Resource

The interactive group sessions use Sohail Inayatullah's online Become a Futurist programme as a springboard for conversation. This approach to futures thinking and practice (theories, methods, tools and processes) is based on the "Six Pillars" model developed by globally recognised futurist Dr Sohail Inayatullah.

In preparation for each online session you will work through aspects of the online programme. We use this as a backbone for conversations - but integrate discussion, practical activities and some local futures examples. 

Please read the notes in the Investment Section for details of this online resource. Note: The online material requires a separate payment and is not part of this Humanitix Futures Collab Registration.

Living in Ōtautahi and interested in a f2f option? Details here.

About Cheryl

Dr Cheryl Doig is a leadership futurist, weaver and connector, often known as the #futuresaunty. Cheryl has a passion for growing futures literacy and foresight through her company, Think Beyond. She is the founder of the Ōtautahi Futures Collective, Aotearoa Futures and Oceania Futures. She has vast leadership and governance experience and is currently chair of Ako Ōtautahi Learning City Christchurch.

In 2017 Cheryl was a finalist in the NZ Westpac Women of Influence Awards, in the Innovation and Science category. She is an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the University of Canterbury, a professional member of the Association for Professional Futurists and a reviewer for the Journal of Future Studies. 

Investment

1. CoLab Programme

The investment for this community of practice approach is $695+gst for six 1.5 hour online hui in a small group setting. Between meetings you will need to spend 2-5 hours exploring modules from the Become a Futurist online programme.

2.Online Become a Futurist Resource

Participants will need to register for the Become a Futurist programme and pay for this separately on the Metafuture platform, as this is required to take part in the CoLab. Registration needs to be completed at least 1 week before attending the first CoLab hui so you can become familiar with the resource material. 

Your registration will give you ongoing access to the Futures 101 programme. It's yours to use forever!

Total investment: CoLab $695NZ+gst     Online Resource approx $180NZ depending on exchange rate ($100US plus NZ gst added)

The Refund Policy is located at the bottom of this page. Please read this before proceeding to checkout.