The Dubai Future Foundation published a revised Global 50 Report in 2025. This shared 50 opportunities to ponder, posing What if.... questions to encourage thinking.

The Ōtautahi Futures Collective hosts What if Wednesdays to explore one of these opportunities. At each gathering one Global 50 question is explored. Each month a new person takes the lead by choosing a question from the report and designing the conversation.

Our next What if Wednesday will explore the question: What if higher education was no longer about the number of years but the quality of years?

This is Question 50, nested under Transformational. You can find more details or this opportunity here.

Host: Cheryl Doig

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 and a Future Fellow at Design Futures Aotearoa. Cheryl is one of 12 futurists globally to be chosen as a Friend of the Forum, supporting the design and engagement with the Dubai Future Forum 2025 & 2026.

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How will the event run?

The conversation will take place at Beat Street Cafe from 8:00am - 9:00am. You will need to order and pay for your own coffee, food etc on arrival. The host will introduce the topic and ignite the session with some provocative challenges. There will be a chance to talk through this, and deepen thinking. Meeting together with curiosity and openness is part of us continuing to develop futures mindsets and being open to diverse perspectives. The conversation and connection is important - let's make it fun!

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Registration

You do need to register for this event so we can let Beat Street know how many to expect. And if you register please turn up. If you are up for the challenge sign up now!

Cheryl

Futures Aunty, Think Beyond