Futures Unlocked | CFE Event Series
Event description
Unlock Your Future Literacy Skills
Prepare to rethink what’s possible and reimagine tomorrow with Futures Unlocked. This event series is designed to empower individuals and organisations with the knowledge, strategies and tools necessary to not just survive, but thrive in an increasingly unpredictable and complex world.
Futures Unlocked will be held every month from June to November 2025 from 12:00 -1:00pm at QUT Gardens Point.
This is a free event.
Transforming insights into action
Futures Unlocked bridges the gap between cutting-edge research and practical application. At its core, this series translates empirically grounded future insights into actionable frameworks, offering unparalleled value to researchers, strategists and leaders engaging with abductive methodologies. Participants will gain exposure to prospective theorising, speculative rigor and scientifically driven approaches to conceptualising desirable futures. Whether you are seeking to construct theoretical paradigms around possible futures or explore methodologies that combine creativity with analytical precision, this series will illuminate pathways for rigorous, impactful foresight work.
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Multidisciplinary perspectives from visionary leaders
Our program features an exceptional lineup of globally recognised speakers and thought leaders, bringing diverse disciplines together to explore the future through both theoretical and practical lenses. From foundational theories in future studies to innovative, data-driven methodologies, this series provides a rich spectrum of insights that resonate across fields and industries.
Expect to deepen your understanding of critical topics such as:
Future-focused abductive reasoning and theory building.
Data-informed speculative modeling.
Systematic approaches to mapping trends, forecasting scenarios and mitigating risks.
The dialogue doesn’t stop at theories. Our speakers emphasise actionable foresight, showing you how to harness emerging opportunities in dynamic and complex systems.
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Elevating future literacy through action and collaboration
The heart of Futures Unlocked lies in enabling action. Through thought-provoking keynote addresses, participatory discussions and immersive workshops, you will acquire the tools to not just envision the future but actively build it.
Key learning outcomes include:
Cultivating future literacy and foresight as essential strategic skills.
Identifying and analysing emerging global and local trends.
Creating structured processes to address uncertainty and mitigate unforeseen risks.
Exploring frameworks for driving innovation within your sphere of influence.
By integrating scientific foresight methods with collaborative dialogue, Futures Unlocked equips you to address uncertainties with agility and creativity.
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Who will benefit from Futures Unlocked?
If your work, passion or influence involves shaping what lies ahead, this series is designed for you. Whether you are:
An entrepreneur or business leader navigating market complexities,
A policymaker or decision-maker influencing societal outcomes,
An educator or scholar preparing the next generation, or
An individual committed to understanding global shifts and their local implications,
Futures Unlocked provides the critical tools and network to prepare for what’s next.
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Keynote speakers and thought leaders
Our speaker lineup includes some of the most prominent voices in futures thinking, foresight strategy and advanced decision-making. With deep expertise across academia, industry and policymaking, these thought leaders bring a wealth of experience to help participants tackle the challenges of uncertainty and innovation..
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| Joseph Voros- | -Tuesday 24 JuneDr Joseph Voros is a futurist and strategic foresight practitioner with over 25 years of experience helping organisations navigate long-term change. With a PhD in theoretical physics, his early career included time at Netscape in Silicon Valley before transitioning to futures work in academia and policy. At Swinburne University, he played a key role in developing foresight capabilities and taught in the Master of Strategic Foresight program. His award-winning work on foresight methodologies and futures intelligence continues to influence strategic thinking globally. Now working independently, Dr Voros advises institutions such as NATO and the Australian National University on futures strategy, scanning, and long-range thinking. His current focus is on applying deep-time perspectives - such as Big History and Cosmic Evolution - to inform future-oriented decision-making at planetary scale. He remains committed to advancing the discipline of Futures Studies through research, mentoring, and global collaboration. Register |
| Elissa Farrow- | -Tuesday 29 JulyDr Elissa Farrow is a futurist, author, speaker, coach and strategist. As a highly skilled and experienced consultant, Elissa is dedicated to helping organisations navigate the complex landscape of strategy development, futures and foresight, and Artificial Intelligence. She has over 25 years experience in user centred research, organisational innovation, change design and facilitation. She is an experienced executive board director and an Adjunct Fellow at the University of the Sunshine Coast. She was a former Global Board member of the Change Management Institute and past Chair of DV Connect, an organisation committed to ending domestic and family violence. Her doctoral research explored organisations of the future and the implications of artificial intelligence for leaders, teams and the adaptation approach. For fun you will find Elissa on the beach at Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) as a voluntary patrolling surf life saver. Register |
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| Dirk Hovorka- | -Tuesday 26 August
Dirk Hovorka’s expertise in information systems and theoretical approaches to the future provides a robust academic lens for analysing how systems and society evolve in complex, interconnected environments. Register |
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| Nicoletta Boldrini- | -Tuesday 30 September
Nicoletta Boldrini brings an innovative perspective to future studies, combining theoretical frameworks with practical applications. Her work at Tech4Future and her writing make complex foresight concepts accessible and actionable. Register |
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| Stefan Hajkowicz- | -Tues 28 OctoberStefan is a chief research consultant in CSIRO working at the interface between science and technology and policy and strategy. His work helps decision makers in government, industry and community organisations explore plausible futures and make wise choices. Over the past 15 years he’s led a body of strategic foresight research at CSIRO involving scenario planning, megatrends analysis, risk analysis and decision support. Stefan is widely published in the peer-reviewed international research literature and his book “Global Megatrends” is a CSIRO Publishing best seller. His research expertise is in the fields of geography, economics, decision theory, management science and strategic foresight. He has a doctorate from the University of Queensland and post graduate diploma in economics from the University of New England. He has been a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Foresight Community and the OECD’s Government Foresight Community for over ten years. He is a fellow of the Queensland Academy of Arts and Sciences. Register |
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| Peter Scoblic- | -Tues 25 November
Peter Scoblic combines practical experience with deep insights into strategic foresight. His work on harnessing uncertainty to make better decisions, especially through his renowned HBR article, empowers organisations to stay ahead of the curve. Register |
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