Blog

Book Review: Long-Range Futures Research: An Application of Complexity Science

Steph’s time in Zambia

Steph Versteeg moved to Zambia in January with VSA, to teach in the capital of Western Province. After nearly one month of training in preparation for work in Zambia’s 14 teachers’ training colleges, Steph was placed at Mongu College of Education. Here she worked with...

read more
Book Review: Long-Range Futures Research: An Application of Complexity Science

Diversity and Democracy

I attended the Futures Thinking Aotearoa lunch forum last week presented by David Bromell, author of Ethnicity, Identity and Public Policy: Critical Perspectives on Multiculturalism. His book is one we came across in research for our latest package of reports, and the...

read more
Book Review: Long-Range Futures Research: An Application of Complexity Science

Antarctica: Terra Nullius?

We would like to highlight Downstage Theatre's brilliant 'Dialogues with Tomorrow'. The series places artists and cultural commentators in discussions with scientists, business people and other thinkers; the theme of the discussions relates in some way to climate...

read more
Book Review: Long-Range Futures Research: An Application of Complexity Science

They are onto us…

Following the Guardian article in November last year, once again New Zealand has been accused of greenwash by international media. Playing once again on our 'connection' with Middle Earth, this time it is the Economist questioning our commitment to the Clean and Green...

read more
Book Review: Long-Range Futures Research: An Application of Complexity Science

Book Review: Throwim Way Leg

By Tim Flannery What an intriguing and enlightening adventure that Tim Flannery takes you on in ‘Throwim Way Leg’. While Tim’s personal experiences covered in the book are during the 1980s and 1990s in New Guinea, the pace of change he saw during that period is...

read more
Book Review: Long-Range Futures Research: An Application of Complexity Science

Farewell…

The team at Sustainable Future lost a long-standing, much loved and respected member of our team yesterday when Richard Shonakan passed away after a long illness. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Richard’s wife Karen and his children Isabella and Patrick....

read more
Book Review: Long-Range Futures Research: An Application of Complexity Science

Dr Merrin Pearse

On Thursday we met with Dr Merrin Pearse, a Kiwi 'Eco-preneur' living and working in Hong Kong. Merrin describes his role as ecopreneur as a possibility to connect businesses with conservation projects in ways that are mutually beneficial for both parties. We...

read more
Book Review: Long-Range Futures Research: An Application of Complexity Science

Lunch with Hardin Tibbs

Through an introduction made by Dr Morgan Williams, I met up with Hardin Tibbs in London for lunch. Hardin is a top futures researcher and strategy consultant, so I was very interested to discuss our plans for a national strategy, in particular how best to pursue Part...

read more
Book Review: Long-Range Futures Research: An Application of Complexity Science

Think Tanks in London

While I was in London I had the chance to visit a number of think tanks. It was great to see how these organisations operate, and the many different ways they are publishing and expressing their ideas. On Thursday I visited Forum for the Future at their office in...

read more
Book Review: Long-Range Futures Research: An Application of Complexity Science

Meeting with Professor Tim Jackson

I caught the train down to the University of Surrey, where I met with Professor Tim Jackson, author of the excellent SDC report 'Prosperity without Growth'. Tim and I had discussed the response to the report, and he kindly let me record a brief interview with him. We...

read more
Book Review: Long-Range Futures Research: An Application of Complexity Science

World Futures Conference 2009

Another fantastic conference, and many lessons learnt. I will be writing more specific entries about the conference soon, but until then, slides from my presentation at the Professional Members' Forum on Monday are available here. I was also able to film a number of...

read more
Book Review: Long-Range Futures Research: An Application of Complexity Science

Visiting the EPA

I spent an hour at the EPA, talking to John Stassi. It was very interesting to see how the agency had evolved since its creation. Considering the plans rumored for the changes to New Zealand's own institutional framework, and the Phase 2 changes proposed for the RMA,...

read more
Book Review: Long-Range Futures Research: An Application of Complexity Science

Freezing for World Environment Day

  Today the SF team locked up the office and went down to Lambton Quay to join in on the 'freeze'. The event this year was to highlight the need to unite to combat climate change, with world leaders to negotiate a new global climate treaty in December. Last year...

read more
Book Review: Long-Range Futures Research: An Application of Complexity Science

Third Expert Lunch

Today we had the wonderful Jan Bieringa come in to share lunch with us. Jan started (e)-vision, a digital media centre, in Wellington in the 90s, and was also a co-founder of the 7x7 Ideas Forum. She is currently working on a feature documentary and is the coordinator...

read more
Book Review: Long-Range Futures Research: An Application of Complexity Science

Second Expert Lunch

With the rain filling drains outside, the Sustainable Future team spent an engaging lunch meeting with Pam and Morgan Williams on Friday May 8th. Morgan was New Zealand’s second Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment (1996-2007). Since stepping down from the...

read more
Book Review: Long-Range Futures Research: An Application of Complexity Science

Nanotechnology

On April 23 and 24 I attended the Nanotechnology workshop organised by Dr Robert Hickson from the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology. The event involved people from universities, research institutes and government departments, and was an opportunity to...

read more
Book Review: Long-Range Futures Research: An Application of Complexity Science

Launch of ‘Expert Lunches’

On 3rd April, the first 'Expert Lunch' was held at Sustainable Future's office. For the debut, we invited Dr Sean Weaver from Carbon-Partnership as the guest, accompanied by Scott Wilson from Water Matters Ltd. We took the chance to enjoy an almost unseasonably...

read more
Book Review: Long-Range Futures Research: An Application of Complexity Science

Insight vs. Foresight

I just got back to the office after a coffee with Victoria  University's resident futurologist, the fantastic Ian Yeoman. We had a very interesting chat about trends and tourism in New Zealand (amongst other things) and one thing he said particularly stuck with me....

read more
Book Review: Long-Range Futures Research: An Application of Complexity Science

Pathways to Resilient Communities

On Saturday I was involved in the Pathways to Resilient Communities event, held at Te Papa. The event was organised by a group of committed people, including members of transition towns groups, Regional Councils, business leaders and other groups with an interest in...

read more
Book Review: Long-Range Futures Research: An Application of Complexity Science

Webstock 2009

I was lucky enough to be invited to hear Jane McGonigal speak at Webstock on Thursday. Jane is a world leader in Alternate Reality Games (ARGs) and her discussion of what makes people happy and how these games help people to achieve this happiness was  fascinating....

read more
Book Review: Long-Range Futures Research: An Application of Complexity Science

Launch of the Conversations

Yesterday we launched our video project, the Conversations. This series of filmed conversations between eminent New Zealand thinkers was recorded in Wellington in June 2008, and went live on our website yesterday. Last night, to celebrate the launch, we gathered as...

read more
Book Review: Long-Range Futures Research: An Application of Complexity Science

Book Review: The Endless City

The Urban Age Project by the London School of Economics and Deutsche Bank’s Alfred Herrhausen Society Phaidon, Hardback, $100 We end 2008 with a favourite of ours at Sustainable Future. The Endless City is a tome of a book, and is one you could easily spend hours...

read more
Book Review: Long-Range Futures Research: An Application of Complexity Science

Book Review: Hot, Flat, and Crowded

By Thomas L. Friedman Allen Lane, Hardback, $54.99 “In the green revolution we’re having, everyone’s a winner, nobody has to give up anything, and the adjective that most often modifies “green revolution” is “easy”. That’s not a revolution. That’s a party. We’re...

read more
Book Review: Long-Range Futures Research: An Application of Complexity Science

Shaping Tomorrow

A friend of mine emailed me a link to this site, and I thought you might find it interesting. Shaping Tomorrow helps people and organisations better anticipate and respond to upcoming change, by setting out to help review critical uncertainties, challenges and trends....

read more
Book Review: Long-Range Futures Research: An Application of Complexity Science

Book Review: The World Without Us

By Alan Weisman Virgin Books, $29.99 In this tour of a world without humankind, Weisman investigates the idea that Earth could be better off without us. Though Weisman acknowledges that the complete extinction of the human species is an unlikely event, the threats of...

read more
Book Review: Long-Range Futures Research: An Application of Complexity Science

Pathways to Sustainability Workshop

On Tuesday 9th September 2008 a workshop 'Pathways to Sustainability, What Matters Most to New Zealanders' was held at the Royal Society Lecture Theatre, co-sponsored by Anew NZ and Statistics New Zealand and facilitated by Leanne Holdsworth and Glen Lauder. Around...

read more
Book Review: Long-Range Futures Research: An Application of Complexity Science

Hard Work

Friday saw Wendy participating in a Plenary discussion of the annual Human Resources Institute New Zealand conference. The theme for the whole conference was Sustainability, and every effort was made by the Institute to 'walk the talk'. Details such as choosing 100%...

read more
Book Review: Long-Range Futures Research: An Application of Complexity Science

7X7 – Seven Imaginations

Tuesday, 26 August saw the final evening of the 7X7 Ideas Forum. Wendy decided to use her 7 minutes to discuss a few insights she had whilst attending the World Future Conference in Washington D.C. The theme of the evening was Seven Imaginations, a perfect complement...

read more
Book Review: Long-Range Futures Research: An Application of Complexity Science

Return to the UN

My second visit was of a more general nature in that I was a tourist. I spent about three hours in the main building and the bookstore - which was superb. I have added some pictures of the sculptures at the front of the building (see above) as they gave me a great...

read more
Book Review: Long-Range Futures Research: An Application of Complexity Science

United Nations

Today I visited the United Nations, specifically the 'Office in Charge of the National Information, Monitoring and Outreach Branch of the Division for Sustainable Development for the Department for Economic and Social Affairs' - which was over the road from the main...

read more