The Association of Professional Futurists (APF) is delighted to partner with OCAD University in The Futures of Creativity and Compassion. This is the first APF event in Toronto since 2010 and will gather together practitioners working at the intersection of futures, design, system change to explore transformational futures. The program will feature a dynamic blend of engaging panels, interactive workshops, and valuable networking opportunities. Attendees can look forward to thought-provoking experiential futures performances and unconference sessions for emergent conversations. These elements will provide a platform for participants to explore innovative approaches to creativity and compassion in future scenarios. The event will leverage OCAD University's expertise in art, design, and media education, as well as its commitment to fostering innovation across various disciplines.

This interactive dialogue will invite participants to use Zen and Daoism to peel the philosophical layers of the facilitation of uncertainty in organizations, and thus to peel the layers of our “self” as facilitators. Together, we will ground ourselves in the present to meditate on the most foundational yet hidden tenets behind the investigation of our futures. We may or may not call this practice foresight.

John Blackburn will share insights from his extensive work on Australia's national resilience and security in the face of climate change, pandemics, economic crises, supply chain disruptions, and geopolitical instability. Drawing on his leadership roles within prominent Institutes and the Australian Security Leaders Climate Group, he will highlights the complex, interconnected nature of modern risks and the urgent need for comprehensive national risk assessments. John will outline the challenges posed by disinformation, declining public trust, and fragmented governmental approaches, emphasising the necessity for transparent, coordinated strategies at federal and state levels. Through real-world examples, including Australia’s recent experiences with bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic, he underscores the importance of proactive preparedness rather than reactive measures. John aims to galvanise collective action, reinforcing that resilience is achievable through coordinated efforts and strategic foresight—even in the most chaotic of environments.

Mike will demonstrate PreEmpt.life's unique, market leading, participative and democratic, Strategic Foresight system that can deliver full futures studies in hours compared to the many team months required today, and where he sees AI going in futures thinking. He will show how PreEmpt's system ensures humans are in control and capable of making far more robust, cost effective, and agile decisions than ever before and how futurists can considerably up their game with clients.

To accommodate members across different time zones, we will be holding two separate sessions: - Session 1: July 21st at 10:00 a.m. CET - Session 2: July 23rd at 3:00 p.m. CET Please choose the session that best suits your location and availability. Curious about volunteering with the APF? Have questions about what to expect, how to get started, or where you can make the biggest impact? Join us for an open Q&A session where our team will answer(collect) your questions about volunteering — from available roles and time commitments to the values that drive our mission. Whether you're a new member, thinking about getting involved, or just want to learn more, this is a great chance to connect & ask questions.

As professional associations mature, they typically develop a code of ethics—a crucial component that establishes professional standards, ensures credibility, and promotes responsible practices among members. A Code of Ethics (CoE) also serves as a guide for how members should conduct themselves in their professional practices. Additionally, the code can be shared with clients to inform them of the ethical standards they can expect from association members. In this session, we are excited to announce the release of the first step in APF's journey toward establishing its Code of Ethics. The session will cover the background / philosophy of APF’s approach and a review of the CoE and how you can participate in its future. There is plenty of time reserved for discussion on this important topic, so please join us.

This is the title of a project that, in its initial form, ran from 2018 to 2024. Its conclusions were progressively published in Futures and, more recently, in the APF journal, Compass. It was prompted by the growing realisation that this particular ‘revolution’ was not merely failing to achieve the positive outcomes that had been promised, it was creating quite new risks, dangers and existential threats for which humanity was ill-prepared. They include the near loss of privacy, new forms of ‘asymmetrical’ warfare, ruthless exploitation of civilian populations by internet oligarchs, and, finally, the rise of so-called ‘AI’; and the near-complete colonisation of the internet by rogue actors including organised crime. As one observer recently noted: "When most of us think of e-crimes we think of money laundering and global scammers who send millions of emails to hook the vulnerable. But the internet has become the single greatest weapon in the criminal world. - John Silvester, Fighting Against Online Predators, The Age, June 14, 2025 In this session we will visit these issues briefly and consider ways in which Futurists and others can respond. It is highly recommended that participants review the free ePub Deleting Dystopia prior to the session. It provides a succinct account of how we collectively reached this point. *The ePub link can be found in the registration page.

Turkic culture has alwaysbeen open to new influences and ideas brought there by different means, either by merchants travelling through the famous Silk Road, scientists and artists coming from the West, or even conquerors sweeping like a hurricane through its vast terrains. Foresight reached Central Asian countries relatively recently. It is still in the process of gaining its ground. However, there are stories the "Stan" countries are ready to share with the APF community. Futurists from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan will bring their feelings, emotions, comments, and images to compose a narrative of a foresight journey in the region. If you know nothing about Central Asia, it is time to learn!

In the complex, chaotic, and often contradictory present of our postnormal times, it is hard enough to think about the present, never mind the future. In Malaysia, under the premiership of Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the MADANI Malaysia framework has provided a national platform for building futures literate policy and inculcating futures awareness throughout society. MADANI Malaysia takes a reformed approach to conventional policymaking that incorporates futures and foresight wisdom along with insights from the characteristics of postnormal times. The framework takes the entire enterprise of policymaking back to the core values that unite the diverse peoples of Malaysia as a way to lead a whole-of-society engagement with the future. Ziauddin Sardar and Scott Jordan will explain how the framework was developed along with its role in the present government of Malaysia. While tailored to the values and culture of Malaysia, it provides a model not just for regional organisations like ASEAN, now under the chairmanship of Malaysia, but by which other groups, institutions, or nations might take a similar approach to future oriented action.

What roles do creativity and compassion play in futures thinking and strategic foresight? In this newly rebranded APF Reading Club session, we invite you to an open hour of sharing and discussion centered on the book Designs for the Pluriverse: Radical Interdependence, Autonomy, and the Making of Worlds. This work was the second most-voted title during our inaugural APF Book Club session and has once again been recommended—this time by the APFxOCAD Futures of Creativity & Compassion organizing team. We see this as both a sign and a timely opportunity to delve deeper into The Futures of Creativity and Compassion through the lens of this thought-provoking book. *Special thanks to the APFxOCAD Toronto Gathering Team for their thoughtful and insightful recommendations. Full list of recommendations is available in the registraion page.

This talk explores two intertwined inquiries: the state of foresight in Bangladesh and the foresight of the State. The first reflects on how futures thinking has taken root—or struggled to—across government, development, and civil society, drawing on personal experience and recent gatherings like the SEApunk workshop. The second examines how the state envisions its future and how citizens might reclaim agency in shaping those visions. In a time of geopolitical flux and generational change, the talk invites reflection on the architectures of imagination, participation, and accountability needed to shape Bangladesh’s emerging futures.

Are you planning to apply for the APF IF Awards and have questions about the process? Join us for a live FAQ Session where we’ll walk you through key details of the application, including eligibility, evaluation criteria, submission tips, and deadlines. Session Agenda: - 2:00 - 2:40 p.m.: application questions concerning eligiblity, AI policy, and more. - 2:40 - 3:00 p.m.: technical questions concerning how to submit an application and material formats *Possible 10-15 mins session extension. This is your chance to hear directly from the organizing team and clarify anything you’re unsure about before submitting your application. Whether you're just starting or already working on your submission, we welcome all questions!