MEET OUR STEERING COMMITTEE
NGFP Steering Committee
NGFP is a community-led network. This means that our members are directly involved in shaping the priorities and the future of our network. Yearly, we appoint some of our members to form a Steering Committee to oversee NGFP’s activities. Their role is to make sure that we keep aligned to our vision, mission, principles and values and meet our objectives.
Each year a subset of the members will stay on for a second year to ensure continuity and a smooth transition. All members who step down will be invited to stay on as advisors and supporters, so the steering and leadership of the network will continue to grow organically year on year and become increasingly decentralised.
See who has been part of our Steering Committee:
André Arruda is a Brazilian strategic designer with 13 years’ experience in strategic planning and futures design. He holds a master’s in scenario-based design, and has worked with institutions such as MIT, the World Bank, UNDP, and governments in Brazil, Sierra Leone, Canada and the UK. He is professor of the Strategic Foresight & Future Design master’s program at ESPM and at the National School of Public Administration, having trained over 1,200 professionals. He is a 2024 Next Generation Foresight Practitioner Fellow, awarded in the international Good Living 2050 competition, co-founded the Global South Futures Community, and founded DDF.LAB, a laboratory for experimentation in collaborative futures governance strategies.
Asma Y. Zainal is the author of “Foresight and Design Futures,” a pioneering Arabic guide on foresight in the MENA region. She is the founder of “The.Futurista” a platform dedicated to fostering foresight awareness and education. Asma has over 15 years of experience in foresight and innovation, and has inspired proactive, strategic action on local and global scales. She graduated from the Dubai Future Experts Program by Dubai Future Foundation, Mohammed bin Rashid Program for Leadership Development, and Emerging Fellow by The Association of Professional Futurists. She serves as a reviewer for academic journals related to innovation and advanced technology. Her scholarly work includes over six peer-reviewed papers on innovation, advanced technology, and future studies, and co-authoring books on excellence and pioneering. Asma was named the Most Futurist Entrepreneur in 2024 by Berkeley Middle East. She is an active member of the Innovation UAE Chapter of GINI, the UAE Inventors Association, the International Institution of Forecasters, and the Advances in Science, Technology & Engineering Systems Journal. She is a Professional Futurist member of the Association of Professional Futurists.
Evy Peña is an award-winning advocate and narrative strategist with expertise in labor rights, immigration, gender equity, and children’s rights. With a deep commitment to racial justice and human rights, Evy has led international programs and campaigns aimed at advancing the rights of migrant workers across the Americas, blending litigation, technology, grassroots organizing, and media advocacy. Throughout her career, Evy has spearheaded transnational campaigns to promote labor protections, including pivotal efforts around trade and Mexico’s labor reform. She has mobilized dozens of organizations to champion civil society’s role in safeguarding human rights, notably in the lead-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Evy has also trained hundreds of advocates, organizers, and worker leaders on using media to advance labor rights across borders. Her insights and commentary have been featured in major publications, including Bloomberg, The Wall Street Journal, The Associated Press, and Reuters. Evy holds a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University and a master’s degree from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
Irene Coletto is a visual futurist that helps people exploring possible futures through design and creativity. She studies the intersection between futures & foresight and the creative process, with a particular focus on the future of work and wellbeing in the digital age. She holds a Master’s Degree in Communication Design from ISIA Firenze (2019) and has worked as a freelance professional since then, specializing in graphic facilitation, illustration, and collaborative process facilitation, supporting diverse businesses and communities in defining their long-term strategy. She is also a board member of Forwardto, a non-profit organization on strategic foresight for social impact. In 2021 she has received the Next Generation Foresight Practitioner – Europe Award from the School of International Futures (London) and she has been recognized as one of the 35 designer under 35 that are shaping the future of design by Italian Association of Design (ADI) and Symbola Foundation.
James Balzer is an Australian sustainability and resilience practitioner, who was a 2023 NGFP Fellow. He also leads the SOIF Pledge Network Cities & States Working Group and leads the Steering Committee for the World Economic Forum Future 50 Initiative. He is also the Foresight Lead at the Odyssean Institute. James has served in public service positions in the Australian and New South Wales Governments, and is an Adjunct Fellow at Macquarie University, specialising in dealing with complexity in ‘wicked’ sustainability and resilience challenges. James also co-hosts monthly webinars with the Association of Professional Futurists, focused on promoting and upskilling futures capacity of Oceania futurists. He has a Master of Sustainable Development and a Master of Public Policy.
Mahak Agrawal is an urban planner, climate scientist, public policy and sustainability expert, global thought leader and LinkedIn Top (Green) Voice, and former United Nations fellow. In 2024, Mahak was nominated by the Government of India as a climate scientist and urban sustainability expert to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). As a Shardashish Scholar and Environmental Fellow at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, Mahak earned her second master’s in public administration with a specialisation in environmental science and policy. As an Environmental Fellow at Columbia University, Mahak led the research project examining the future of food systems through its demand-supply chains. She earned her first master’s degree in urban planning from the School of Planning and Architecture Delhi, India. She is a recognized expert in the fields of climate policy, ESG reporting and corporate carbon management, urban sustainability, and social impact. Recognised for her achievements in accelerating the Sustainable Development Goals in India through public health initiatives, Mahak was nominated for the Gates Foundation’s 2021 Goalkeepers Global Goals Award. In various capacities, she has worked with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD); the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the Government of India, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Bank Group, European Climate Foundation, and the Institute of Transport Economics, Oslo. Mahak has served twice as an expert reviewer for the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), authored numerous scientific publications, and presented her works globally, including at the United Nations. She is a Steering Board Member of the ITA Committee on Underground Spaces (ITACUS) and a TEDx fellow. In 2024, she launched All Bits Count (ABC) at the UN Summit of the Future during New York Climate Week and at the UN Climate Change Conference COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. She also experiments with her mum to create sustainable art advocating for climate action and a sustainable future.
N. Kari Mark is a Community and Public Health Practitioner and Co-founder of TRANS PLANT CAMEROON, a nonprofit Organization committed in Primary Healthcare Promotion and Research for Community Health Development. He leverage System thinking and Foresight to empower Stakeholders on the intersection of community health and peace building in Cameroon. Kari equally leads the Mantung Cultural and Development Association (MACDA) Youth Office as the National Youth Coordinator, Project Lead at the African Civic Engagement Academy Association, Cameroon and Director at Center for Indigenous Awareness (CIA).
Nicole Parreño is secretary to the Chair and Board Liaison at the Association of Professional Futurists.
Olga Shaeva is a trends and futures researcher. She co-founded Algorithm Trend Intelligence (Lille, France), a startup developing digital trend intelligence toolbox that helps monitor emerging trends and weak signals of change, create future visions and act on future opportunities ahead of the curve. Olga has been working on developing proprietary methodology of trendwatching and futures research and applying it to solve challenges for companies in the CIS, EEMEA and global market since 2016. Before that she had worked in media research and had done academic research in the field of social structure, change and transformation. Olga holds a PhD in sociology. Olga is part of Trend Locals trendspotters network, Radar DAO, Next Generation Foresight Practitioners (NGFP) Fellow and winner of the 2022 education award.
Dr. Salman Khatani is a Senior Futurist and Associate Professor at Iqra University, Pakistan. A founding member of IMAGINE—Pakistan’s first Institute of Futures Studies—he played a pivotal role in introducing Futures Studies and advancing foresight practices in the region. Recognized among the world’s leading futurists by the Dubai Future Foundation, Dr. Khatani collaborates on international initiatives in sustainable development, youth entrepreneurship, and ethical AI. His commitment to empowering communities aligns with NGFP’s mission to support and empower the next generation of changemakers using futures and foresight as tools to re-imagine and co-create more equitable and inclusive futures globally.
Shakil Ahmed is a futurist, educator and storyteller at Ridiculous Futures and is currently pursuing his PhD in Foresight in Educational Leadership and Technology Management at Tamkang University, Taiwan. As a futurist, he has explored the futures of financial inclusion in Nigeria, the futures of Chiang Mai and its digital nomad community, and the futures of education in 2041 with the Prime Minister’s Office in Bangladesh. His Bachelor’s was in Theoretical Physics at the National University of Singapore and his Master’s was in Educational Leadership and School Improvement at BRAC University. In 2019, he was welcome into the NGFP community.
Wirba Usmaila Tata is the Founder and Executive Director of the Mbiame New Vision Multipurpose Farming and Development Association in Cameroon. He leads initiatives that empower communities through sustainable agriculture and environmental stewardship. He mentors emerging leaders in integrating sustainability into development strategies using foresight methodologies like scenario planning. Wirba also serves as Cameroon District Secretary and District Governor-elect for Ys Men International and mentors young African entrepreneurs through the Tony Elumelu Foundation. His work focuses on advancing climate resilience, fostering sustainable development, and creating long-term prosperity for local communities and Africa at large.
2023
Dr. Charles Umeh, a 31-year-old Medical Doctor and Public Health Expert, is a renowned Telemedicine advocate with seven years of experience. Co-author of the “Fundamentals of Telemedicine and Telehealth” textbook by Elsevier, he’s led various digital health projects. Dr. Umeh’s “PARKERS MOBILE CLINIC” initiative has improved healthcare for vulnerable populations in Eastern Nigeria. He’s received numerous accolades, including grants and awards from organizations like the Goethe Institute, Openideo, Commonwealth Youth Council, and Clinton Global Initiative. A finalist in the 2020 African Union Bechangemaker Program and a United Nations Global Compact Young SDG Innovator, he’s had a significant impact in healthcare and telemedicine. Dr. Umeh has spoken at international conferences, served as a delegate in various programs, and acted as a consultant for WHO. His influence in public health extends worldwide, making him a valuable contributor to the field.
Courtney is a connector by nature with a focus on systems transition design for climate and social innovation. In the past 15 years she has lived, worked and traveled across more than 70 countries in pursuit of positive impact using design and participatory based approaches. She is the cofounder of The Circular Design Lab based in Bangkok, Thailand, a fellow with the Royal Society of the Arts (RSA) and in 2022 you can find her working with the UNDP Chief Digital Office on the Digital X 2.0 Scale Accelerator, coleading the Oxford Climate Tech Initiative and supporting the UNICEF Global Office of Innovation team on climate innovation R+D. She is currently co-authoring Inclusive Innovation – Bridging Theory, Policy and Practice to published in the Routledge Innovation and Technology Horizons Series and studying climate innovation and funding for systems change at Oxford Saïd Business School as a recipient of the Executive MBA Director’s Award.
Deepshikha is an architect, industrial designer, and futurist from India. She has worked on various projects ranging from city planning to book designing. Her core strengths include design research, ideation, branding, business development, and event management. In the past, she has worked for diverse industries such as marketing, agriculture, education, rural healthcare, heritage tourism, urban transport, and lifestyle products. Currently, she is pursuing her Ph.D. in design.
Fisayo is a foresight practitioner, researcher, and facilitator. Her expertise lies at the intersection of food systems, technology, and youths, where she collaborates on projects and works with multilateral organizations to drive positive change. She is a judge, fellow, and member of the NGFP network, a UNICEF Youth Senior Foresight Fellow, and SOIF alumni. Fisayo is also an advisor on the APF IF Awards. One of Fisayo’s achievements includes her role as an author in the “Journey to 2050” within the African Digital Futures project, demonstrating her commitment to shaping the future in meaningful ways. Among her notable projects is: the Farmers’ Futures Program (FFP), which employs a participatory futures approach and dialogue to facilitate long-term thinking and collective actions toward desired futures for farmers. Additionally, she led the grassroots-stakeholders futures process to investigate challenges in the food system and also contributed to the Peaceful Futures manifesto and AI for development projects in Africa, amongst others.
María Laura is an independent researcher and consultant working in the Global South on issues related to social inclusion, the SDGs, gender equality, and change-making. She is originally from Chile, where she received her bachelor’s degree in business engineering and her master’s degree in Innovation and Design at Adolfo Ibáñez University. She is currently based in Kenya. Previously she lived in Turkey for four years, where she received my doctoral degree in Design, Technology, and Society for researching alternative futures of meaningful intercultural interactions. She collaborates in research and projects related to social design and innovation, participatory design, participatory futures, social inclusion, feminist technologies, and education.
Nancy is a Governance and Foresight Expert who seeks to tackle humanity’s systemic and wicked problems while working with others to develop solutions. She is interested in Governance, Circular Economy, Foresight and Futures methodologies. She is passionate about the Continent of Africa and Kenya and seeks to find ways she can be of help to generations coming after her. She is committed to Africa’s development and support to its young women and men. Currently, she is a Governance Adviser at the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office-Kenya. She has worked in Kenya, Netherlands, Somalia and Somaliland.
Nicole is secretary to the Chair and Board Liaison at the Association of Professional Futurists.
Olga Shaeva is a trends and futures researcher. She is co-founder of Algorithm Trend Intelligence (Lille, France) – a startup developing digital trend intelligence toolbox that helps monitor emerging trends and weak signals of change, create future visions and act on future opportunities ahead of the curve. Olga has been working on developing proprietary methodology of trendwatching and futures research and applying it to solve challenges for companies in the CIS, EEMEA and global market since 2016. Before that she had worked in media research and had done academic research in the field of social structure, change and transformation. Olga holds a PhD in sociology. Olga is part of Trend Locals trendspotters network, Radar DAO, Next Generation Foresight Practitioners (NGFP) Fellow and winner of the 2022 education award.
2022
Bárbara operates in the integration between anticipatory thinking, strategy, psychology, systems thinking, and eco-social regeneration. She has a bachelor’s degree in Business Engineering and a Master’s degree in Organizational Psychology from Adolfo Ibáñez University (Chile), also studied Ontological Coaching. Currently works as Foresight Director in Memética and hosts the podcast “Exploradores de Futuros”, which has the purpose of democratizing and spreading futures conversations in Spanish. She has worked as a consultant in corporations, ventures and NGOs based in Latin America and Europe on issues of foresight, strategy, strategic communication, and cultural transformation.
Courtney is a connector by nature with a focus on systems transition design for climate and social innovation. In the past 15 years she has lived, worked and traveled across more than 70 countries in pursuit of positive impact using design and participatory based approaches. She is the cofounder of The Circular Design Lab based in Bangkok, Thailand, a fellow with the Royal Society of the Arts (RSA) and in 2022 you can find her working with the UNDP Chief Digital Office on the Digital X 2.0 Scale Accelerator, coleading the Oxford Climate Tech Initiative and supporting the UNICEF Global Office of Innovation team on climate innovation R+D. She is currently co-authoring Inclusive Innovation – Bridging Theory, Policy and Practice to published in the Routledge Innovation and Technology Horizons Series and studying climate innovation and funding for systems change at Oxford Saïd Business School as a recipient of the Executive MBA Director’s Award.
Deepshikha is an architect, industrial designer, and futurist from India. She has worked on various projects ranging from city planning to book designing. Her core strengths include design research, ideation, branding, business development, and event management. In the past, she has worked for diverse industries such as marketing, agriculture, education, rural healthcare, heritage tourism, urban transport, and lifestyle products. Currently, she is pursuing her Ph.D. in design.
Hamood is an HR professional with more than 10 years of experience into various HR fields ranging from recruitment, talent management, learning and development across Oil and Gas sector. Holding BSc in Management from Sultan Qaboos University, and MSc in Management from University of Strilling, backed with HR professional certification (CIPD level 3 and 5) from Chartered Institute of Personnel Development. Passionate about future foresight and scenarios planning, which was translated into contribution during his career in Petroleum Development Oman through the Future of Work Project 2030. Certified foundation executive coach by Association of Coaching (AC), and embarking on a continues learning and development into Change Management fundamentals.Currently leading key important development programme for Young Professional in Petroleum Development Oman (Graduate Development Programme) for technical and commercial functions.
Markus is a futurist, foresight practitioner, strategist, business executive, musician, engineering technician, project manager and doctoral student. He started his career as an electrical engineering technician, from where he grew into managing projects in the aviation sector. After obtaining an MPhil in Futures Studies from Stellenbosch University his responsibilities shifted to corporate foresight and strategic management. This mix of skills has given him the privilege to work across the entire planet – but no matter where his work takes him, he always loves returning home to his beautiful Cape Town. Besides jamming music with his friends, he feels most passionate about helping to build a better future for his company, city, country, and continent.
Mathew is a Futures Studies PhD Candidate and Lecturer in the Department of Political Science at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa. His research at the Hawai’i Research Center for Future Studies focuses on decentralized and democratic futures, the theory and practice of sanctuary, countering violent extremism (CVE), anticipatory governance design and quantum social science. Markman currently serves as the DAO Facilitator for Decentraland and co-created and directs Big Green DAO. As former Deputy Director of Programs and Director of Research for Proximity International, Mathew oversaw dozens of applied research, monitoring and evaluation projects for the Department of State, FCO, DFID, and GIZ security sector, governance and CVE programming in Syria and Iraq. Previously, he worked as a Security Manager and Senior Intelligence Analyst for a corporate security and risk mitigation firm.
Nancy is a Governance and Foresight Expert who seeks to tackle humanity’s systemic and wicked problems while working with others to develop solutions. She is interested in Governance, Circular Economy, Foresight and Futures methodologies. She is passionate about the Continent of Africa and Kenya and seeks to find ways she can be of help to generations coming after her. She is committed to Africa’s development and support to its young women and men. Currently, she is a Governance Adviser at the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office-Kenya. She has worked in Kenya, Netherlands, Somalia and Somaliland.
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