05 Sep 2024
The 10th Asia Pacific Futures Network Conference, held on September 4-5, 2024, at Sasin School of Management, welcomed over 200 futurists from across the globe, including participants from Dubai, New Caledonia, and Australia.
Day 1 kicked off with a warm welcome from Sasin’s Director, Professor Ian Fenwick, followed by an inspiring keynote from Professor John A. Sweeney, UNESCO Chair in Futures Studies for Anticipatory Governance and Sustainable Policymaking. The morning continued with parallel workshops on a diverse range of topics, including Thailand Futures, demographic disruptions, strategic gaming, and the intricate dynamics of agriculture and forestry futures in the Pacific. In the afternoon, participants explored law enforcement futures, peace and security, the role of AI in foresight, and recent advancements in Futures Research and Policy. The day concluded with an awards ceremony and MOU signings, setting the stage for an exciting second day.
Day 2 opened with even more opportunities for sharing and learning, including book launches, talks, and workshops on Becoming a Feminist Futurist – Asia Pacific Perspectives, fostering flourishing futurists, and exploring different ways of knowing. A panel discussion focused on Thailand Futures, and attendees engaged in immersive learning games, including the 2030 SDGs game. The conference ended with a thought-provoking exploration of personal futures led by Professor Sohail Inayatullah, UNESCO Chair in Futures Studies.
As the primary partner of the conference, Sasin is raising the profile of Foresight and Futures Thinking in Thailand and the region, connecting practitioners with organizations tackling complex challenges. Sasin created a powerful learning space for deep thinkers and futurists to connect and exchange ideas. We look forward to strengthening these connections, continuing to learn from this exceptional group of experts, academics, and researchers, and sharing our insights with the Sasin community.