WTF – What the Futures? / Decoding the future generations mindset to policymaking.

How do we make decisions today that stand the test of time? This interactive workshop explores the importance of acting for future generations and equips participants with the tools and mindsets needed to do so.

Individual Tickets are available at $200+gst per person.

We have a number of special discounts. Please email us and we will send you the appropriate discount link.

Discount for 2 people attending from the same organisation: $350+gst total
Discount for 3 attending from the same organisation: $400+gst total
For other groupings, discounts or invoicing please contact us.

The Programme

Friday 17th October 9:00am - 3:30pm

We begin by setting the scene: examining global and local trends shaping the decades ahead — from climate change, technological disruption, and demographic shifts, to cultural change, community well-being, and resilience. Together, we will reflect on what these drivers mean for our own context and why a future generations lens is essential for policymaking, leadership, and community action.

From there, the workshop introduces practical foresight tools — including horizon scanning, trend mapping, and scenario building — designed to help participants anticipate change and stress-test decisions. These will be applied in group activities to encourage creativity, collaboration, and playful exploration of possible futures.

The final segment focuses on continuous improvement through the Journey Checker — an exercise built around the “five ways of working” (long-term, prevention, integration, collaboration, and involvement) - developed by the Office of the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales. This activity will help participants assess and strengthen their current strategies, while building confidence in embedding futures thinking into everyday practice.

With a mix of presentations, hands-on exercises, and facilitated discussions, the workshop offers a balance of inspiration and application. By the end, participants will leave with:

A clearer understanding of the global and local trends shaping the future.
A toolkit of foresight and futures methods they can apply in their own work.
Practical experience of the Journey Checker as a way of embedding long-term, future-focused decision-making.
Renewed energy and shared commitment to being better ancestors for the generations yet to come.

This workshop is hosted by Dr Cheryl Doig, Futurist, Think Beyond. Cheryl is part of the global conversation regarding future generations and has written the resource Intergenerational Ambition: A Wayfinding Tool for the Future. She welcomes Jacob Ellis to Aotearoa New Zealand, where he will be co-facilitating a workshop at the Adaptive Futures Conference.

About Jacob Ellis:

Jacob Ellis is the Founder and Co-lead of the Impact Coalition for Future Generations which seeks to tackle a critical issue in global governance: the lack of long-term thinking that safeguards the interests and rights of future generations. The Impact Coalition is a dynamic umbrella network of over 600 members that serves as a global docking station for partnerships committed to sustainable governance.

As Director for External Relations and Culture at the Office of the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, Jacob advises public institutions including Welsh Government to implement the Well-being of Future Generations Act, which marks its 10th anniversary in 2025.

His additional responsibilities include advocating for public bodies to reinforce the positive impact of cultural well-being and supporting them to make the urgent changes to promote culture and creativity. In 2023, Jacob led the Future Generations Commissioner’s Section 20 Review into Welsh Government’s implementation of the Well-being of Future Generations Act. As a result of this review, Jacob was part of the team that won the ‘Implementation and Impact’ IF Award. Jacob is also the lead for the Commissioner’s second statutory Future Generations Report (2025).

Jacob has an extensive career advising organisations to embed sustainability and future generations models and governances. In 2022, he co-developed the Football Association of Wales’ Sustainability Strategy and is also a former Climate Justice Advisor for the Museums Association. Jacob is a former UN Foundation Next Generation Fellow for Future Generations, where he advised the United Nations and members state to advocate for the needs and interests of future generations, ahead of the Summit of the Future (2024). In 2023, he was an expert advisor to the UN High-Level Committee on Programmes as it designed the UN Common Principles for Future Generations.

He has participated at various international events including COP27, Dubai Futures Forum, UN Civil Society Conference (2024), UN ECOSOC Youth Forum (2023), Sydney Summit, UN Summit of the Future and the UN High-Level Political Forum. As a UNICEF Youth Foresight Fellow (2022), Jacob advised on the UNICEF Global Outlook Report and the Our Future Pledge Youth Foresight Toolkit.

Jacob is a former Non-Executive Director at Literature Wales (2018 – 2024) and a former Trustee at Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru (2021 - 2024). Jacob is an alumni member of the Unite 2030 Youth Delegate Programme. He is a former Trustee of Cardiff Third Sector Council and Scouts Cymru.

He was previously a BBC Wales Journalist (2016-2018) and served as President of Aberystwyth University Students’ Union (2014-2015). He held several roles at the National Union Students for Wales and Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol. Jacob holds a BA Degree in Welsh and International Politics (Aberystwyth University) and an MA Degree in Broadcast Journalism (Cardiff University).

Previous work and communications:

The New Abnormal Podcast – ‘Jacob Ellis 'Policy Development re: the needs of Future Generations' - https://www.buzzsprout.com/684977/episodes/12799974-jacob-ellis-policy-development-re-the-needs-of-future-generations
UN Foundation Next Generation Fellow Introduction - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zb3zOxu83z0
Sydney Summit (2024) – Keynote Speech - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqWvGFcFZwM&t=882s&pp=ygUSamFjb2IgZGFmeWRkIGVsbGlz
World Futures Day 2023 – Copenhagen Institute for Future Studies – Webinar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gG6vY-fH_YM&t=6s
Future Generations Toolkit Podcast – “Where to start” https://open.spotify.com/episode/7idqslHtPrFgx9A6qRWuTw?si=07bd5079fe724b48
Moderator (Dubai Futures Forum, 2023) How Can Policymakers Effectively Meet the Needs of Future Generations? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyKp33yGJok&t=114s&pp=ygUfSmFjb2IgRWxsaXMgZHViYWkgZnV0dXJlcyBmb3J1bQ%3D%3D
Launch of the UNICEF Youth Foresight Playbook, Dubait Futures Forum (2023) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KJFL010aEA&pp=ygUkSmFjb2IgRWxsaXMgZHViYWkgZnV0dXJlcyBmb3J1bSAyMDIz (24:20)
NEW “The F Word” - TedX Talk (February 2025) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHlPjxi9ERU