Global Foresight Advisory Council
The Global Foresight Advisory Council supports The Futures School’s mission of ethically democratizing the future around the world.
This international group of visionaries are redefining their industries, intrinsically guided by an innate futurist mindset. As multidisciplinary luminaries they are uniquely positioned to guide and expand this movement into the future with the right balance of practical experience and provocative thinking.
Co-Chairs
Robin Jourdan
Ford IT Futurist (retired) - USA
Robin has been an information professional and research scientist for 30+ years with nearly 25 of those years at Ford Motor Company. She holds multiple degrees including Professional Certificate in Strategic Foresight from the University of Houston, a Master’s in Library & Information Science from Wayne State University, Master’s in Science from the University of North Dakota, and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Michigan.
Iris Stein
Competitive Intelligence & Strategy Analysis Manager, Amdocs - Israel
Iris combines her 15+ years of experience in competitive intelligence and strategy formation to help organizations achieve the agility and flexibility needed to succeed in today’s business world. Her current focus is on the future of artificial intelligence and other emergent technologies.
John Clift
Managing Director, Ad Futura - United Kingdom
John is a technologist specializing in business computing, intelligence solutions and data science, most recently as an Executive Director at Walt Disney International. He studied Scenario Planning at the Oxford Saïd Business School with Dr Rafael Ramirez and has facilitated this programme.
Isabel de Salas
Strategy Director, Picnic - Spain
Isabel’s career is focused on helping business leaders to take better decisions in high-complexity moments, contributing tools, processes and knowledge that help identify the opportunities ahead. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, a Master’s Degree in Management from ESADE Business School, and also studied Disruptive Strategy at the Harvard Business School.
Anita Dinshaw
Strategy Manager, The Walt Disney Company - Australia
Anita is responsible for supporting the planning, evaluation, development and tactical implementation of business initiatives in Australia and New Zealand for The Walt Disney Company. Prior to her current role, Anita was an Equity Research Analyst at Goldman Sachs. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Melbourne.
Diane Edwards
General Manager People, Foresight and Innovation, Ports of Auckland - New Zealand
Diane’s career spans roles in a diverse range of positions including teaching, management, accounting, business reengineering, IT, L&D, HR, and change management. She has worked within multiple sectors and has overseas experience in the UK, USA, Australia, India and Tanzania. She is the recipient of multiple national and international awards in NZ and Australia.
Boel Ferguson
Interactive Media Executive - United Kingdom
Boel brings a wealth of experience in building and developing teams to grow the entertainment businesses – ranging from TV, games to digital platforms. Specializing in leading businesses through change, she has delivered major strategic change projects in large matrix organizations across EMEA. Boel holds a Masters in Economics and Business Administration.
Joana Lenkova
Consumer Strategy, The Walt Disney Company - United Kingdom
Joana has over 15 years of experience working in Marketing and Communications, Strategy, Strategic Foresight and Innovations across different FMCG, Finance and Entertainment blue-chip companies (AB-InBev, Societe Generale, Disney), as well as start-ups. She graduated with her post-graduate diploma in Strategy and Innovation at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford.
John McCabe
Director of Strategy, Aether Learning and Shift - USA
John thrives at the intersection of design, technology, social innovation, and education. With 15 years of experience, John founded Aether; a think tank focused on connecting education and industry to explore wicked challenges and develop creative leadership and talent.
Lea Plato
Lead Industrial Designer, Milwaukee Tool - USA
Lea is a strategic and future forward Design Leader at Milwaukee Tool. She has successfully launched over 20 products currently on the market today along with award winning products that have won IDEA Silver, IDEA Honorable mention, Edison Award, Popular Science Best Innovations Award, and the Chicago Innovation award.
Sarah Rose
Organizational Development - Australia
Sarah has a broad Organizational Development skillset and works with key stakeholders in large matrixes organizations. Sarah is passionate about making better team experiences by managing end to end change and embedding sustainable cultural and behavior transformations while delivering strategies and solutions that meet both current and future business needs.
Sean Svendsen
Sr. Industrial Designer, Priority Designs - USA
Sean has over 25 years of experience in award-winning, game-changing, sales-leading product design and brand development. He is a multi-time IDSA IDEA award winner and is credited on over 70 U.S. design patents. His background includes developing products, packaging, displays, and environments for such diverse clients as Nike, Lowe’s, Stanley Black & Decker, and Cardinal Health.
Zenia Tata
Chief Impact Officer, XPRIZE - USA
With over 25 years of experience in business development, program design, and strategic management, Zenia oversees XPRIZE’s global impact strategy ensuring that impact is incorporated into all facets of the organization’s work. Additionally, She leads XPRIZE’s future foresight work to help partners map the emerging landscape to identify challenges, uncover opportunities, and spot breakthrough innovations for transformative change.
Marty Vanags
President, Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership - USA
Marty has over 33 years of experience in community and economic development, private commercial real estate development and business management. He now provides leadership to the fastest growing county in New York State, specifically in attraction and business retention. He also works with the growing advanced manufacturing, semiconductor, AI and futures scenario industry.
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