Futures Unlocked | CFE Event Series

Unlock Your Futures 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.

When: The last Tuesday of each month Where: QUT Gardens Point Campus Cost: There is no cost for this event series.

Transforming insights into actionFutures 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. _____. Multidisciplinary perspectives from visionary leadersOur 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. _____. 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. _____. Keynote speakers and thought leadersOur 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. _____

Amardeep Sandhu | Tues 24th November Amardeep is a senior executive and management consultant with over 20 years of experience leading evidence-based organisational transformations. He specialises in designing and implementing computational operating models, advanced analytics, AI, and digital strategies to improve performance across public and private sectors in New Zealand and Australia. His work spans cloud-based analytics, customer-centric digital transformation, and complex ecosystem modelling. He has delivered impactful solutions for organisations including Queensland Health, Inland Revenue, NZ Transport Authority, BNZ, Southern Cross Healthcare, and ACC. Amardeep holds an MBA, a Master’s in Computational & Behavioural Economics, and postgraduate qualifications in Cognitive Neuroscience. He is a certified Data Scientist and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA). He is also deeply engaged in climate and social equity initiatives, serving as Co-Chair of Sustainability Trust, Chair of Tautoko Services and Toast Power, and advisor to Enable NZ.

Futures Unlocked - Past speakers

Joanna Lepore | Tues 27th October Joanna is a prominent voice globally in corporate foresight, having established and expanded the foresight practice within the global headquarters of Mars Wrigley & McDonald’s, and founded Foresight Inside Group, a network for corporate foresight professionals inside the world’s leading organizations.

Today her foresight work continues through her work as EVP of Foresight at insights innovation consultancy Dig, Australian Chair for the Millennium Project, and as Partner with the world’s oldest futures think tank, the Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies.

As a proven business leader and trained futurist, Jo delivers effective, practical strategies that connect short term growth plans with long term ambitions to stretch thinking of what’s possible & activate on new growth pathways.

Volker Richter | Friday 6th November Volker Richter is Head of Quality at Plant Regensburg responsible for the running production. He is also responsible to integrate the production of their Dutch partner, VDL Nedcar, into the BMW production system. Richter previously held the position of Vice President for Quality Management BMW Group and VP for Managing Total Vehicle Architecture and Integration within the BMW Research and Innovation Center (FIZ). He has broad experience across a wide range of divisions in BMW both in Germany and the US, with responsibility for areas such as Strategy and Steering Pre Development, Advanced Engineering, Technical Projects, Product Engineering Interior Components and Body and White and Total Vehicle Quality. Volker holds a Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Aachen and has subsequently also undertaken automotive focused research at the University of Stuttgart and Harvard Business School in Boston.

Prof Katja Thoring | Tues 22 September Professor Katja Thoring holds the Chair of Integrated Product Design at the TUM School of Engineering and Design in Germany. Her research sits at the intersection of design, architecture and engineering, with a particular interest in how physical environments shape creativity, productivity and wellbeing. She investigates “creative space” not only as a setting for current practice but as a foundation for imagining and prototyping futures that matter - futures where work, learning and innovation are supported by thoughtfully designed environments. Her work draws on design science, user‑centred methods and emerging technologies, exploring themes such as design innovation, creative processes and speculative design for future scenarios. Through this lens, she examines how spaces and systems can be re‑designed to support new ways of thinking, collaborating and creating.

Dayle Stanley | Tues 25 August Dayle Stanley is the Chief Futures Officer, leading the National Security College (NSC) Futures Hub. She joined the NSC on secondment from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s Trade & International Division in March 2021. She is a 2024 Fulbright Scholar - awarded the Australian-United States Alliance Studies scholarship (sponsored by DFAT) where she will explore the long-term trends shaping the future of the Indo-Pacific at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington DC.

Dayle has 20 years of experience in government including law enforcement and defence strategic intelligence and in environment and energy international policy, including representing Australia in a range of multilateral fora.