Professional Members’ Forum

Embracing Complexity: The Futures Community at a Turning Point

Monday, July 30, 2012

9:00–9:15 a.m. Preview of Day
Ken Hunter is chair of the World Future Society Board of Directors and senior fellow of the Maryland China Initiative, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA

9:15–10:15 a.m. The Ogilvy-Miller Challenge
The futures community needs to reformat its purpose—the challenge is not that we must find ways to "know" the future. Rather, we need to find ways to live and act with not knowing the future and focus on the key concepts and practices necessary to embrace complexity in everyday decision making.
Riel Miller, head of Foresight Bureau of Strategic Planning for UNESCO, International Futures Programme; former senior manager, Ontario public service (Ministries of: Finance; Universities; and Industry); founder: xperidox futures consulting (which means knowledge through experience), Paris, France, and Ottawa, Canada
Jay Ogilvy is a visiting lecturer and former dean of Presidio Graduate School and the co-founder of Global Business Network, he now lives in Castle Valley, Utah, USA

10:15–10:30 a.m. Break

10:30–11:40 a.m. Feedback
Six members will give brief statements of their views of the challenge and/or alternative challenges. Moderated by Ken Hunter.

• Peter Bishop
• Nancy J. Donovan
• Theodore J. Gordon
• Zhouying Jin
• Michael Marien
• Howard Rasheed

11:40 a.m.–Noon Summary and Arrangements for the Afternoon

Noon–1:00 p.m. Buffet Lunch with Small Group Discussions

Moderators for Afternoon Working Sessions include:
Jay Ogilvy, Riel Miller, Ken Hunter, others TBA

1:15–2:15 p.m. Round 1 of Working Session

In the first half hour, each group creates an image/vision of the futures community in 2023; in the second half hour, each group gives their report.

2:15–2:30 p.m. Break

2:30–3:30 p.m. Round 2 of Working Session
In the first half hour, each group identifies one initiative of the futures community for 2013-2016 and the means for carrying it out; in the second half hour, the groups report their proposed initiatives.

3:30–4:00 p.m. Summary and Analysis

Professional Member Forum $115.00