Future's Frontline

Strategic Foresight in Action: Highlights from the 2024 Futures Thinking Forum

November 21, 2024

The 2024 Futures Thinking Forum was an immersive, forward-looking event designed to equip the 2025 class of Innovation Fellows with strategic foresight tools and future-oriented policy frameworks. This dynamic two-day gathering brought together 40 rising-star lawmakers to explore creative solutions to the challenges of tomorrow.

A Historic Start: Mount Vernon Visit

The event kicked off with a visit to Mount Vernon, where participants engaged in immersive programming. Activities included a collaborative exercise focused on historical leadership lessons, followed by a dinner at George Washington’s estate, offering a unique blend of history and strategy.

Strategic Foresight for Policymakers

The formal sessions on November 20 centered around the pivotal role of strategic foresight in policymaking. Led by thought leaders such as Robin Champ, vice president for strategic foresight at LBL Strategies, and Kara Cunzema, director of the Strategic Foresight Center for Space Policy and Strategy at The Aerospace Corporation, participants delved into key foresight methods, including trend analysis and scenario planning.

Breakout sessions gave lawmakers the chance to apply these tools to four essential policy pillars:

Setting the Stage for Lasting Change

The Futures Thinking Forum marked the beginning of a transformative two-year fellowship journey. The forum emphasized collaboration, innovation, and the pursuit of bipartisan solutions to pressing policy challenges. Attendees left with actionable insights, a clear roadmap for their fellowship experience, and new connections within a network of changemakers committed to shaping the future of governance.

Rep. Sara Jacobs

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