Professor Karen Hussey is Director of the Centre for Policy Futures at The University of Queensland. Trained as a political scientist and economist, Karen undertakes research in the field of public policy and governance, with a particular interest in public policy relating to sustainable development. Her recent research has focused on climate change policy, international trade policy, and the policy and regulatory implications of new and emerging technologies.

Dr Simone Kimpeler, Head of Competence Center Foresight at Fraunhofer ISI, has a background in Communication Studies, Sociology and Economic Policy and has been working in Innovation Research and Futures Studies at Fraunhofer ISI for more than 15 years. Her research and consulting activities cover the analysis of socio-technological change, horizon scanning as well as scenario processes and roadmapping for firms, industry associations, governments and NGOs. Her specific fields of interest are new approaches for participatory Foresight and innovation impacts of the Creative Industries.

Riefqah Jappie has nearly two decades of experience in international trade, economic development and public sector management in Africa, Europe and the United States. Formally trained as a development economist, her interests lie in trade and entrepreneurship for sustainable development. Riefqah currently serves as Representative to the United Nations in New York for the Geneva-based International Trade Centre (ITC) – the joint development agency of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization. Prior to her current role, she headed ITC’s planning and performance team.
Riefqah holds degrees in Economics and Arts from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, and an Executive Master of Public Administration from the Hertie School of Governance in Berlin, Germany. In addition to her home languages of English and Afrikaans, she is fluent in Spanish and French.

Lyn Jeffery is a cultural anthropologist who collects stories of change from around the world and tracks the new social practices that make you shake your head in wonder or concern about where we’re heading. Her core interest is in exploring how people make sense of the rapidly shifting world around them, whether it’s a “leftbehind” child in a Sichuan village, an executive in a large multinational organization, or an amateur musician experimenting with new VR instruments. She has enduring interests in mobility, social media, communication and collaboration, and over thirty years of experience doing research in China. Specific methodological interests include group processes for insight generation and immersive learning. An IFTF Distinguished Fellow, Lyn leads IFTF’s Foresight Essentials program, delivering professional foresight training to public and private sector practitioners around the world. Lyn holds a BA in Chinese Studies and a Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Herbert Mangesius is founding member of  Vito Ventures – Germany’s first and only early-stage deep tech VC. He has been researcher as leading European Institutes in Paris, Louvain, and Munich at the intersection of engineering science, physics and cybernetics. Lately, he founded the 1E9 Denkfabrik together with the former WIRED Germany team to bring back high quality, innovative tech journalism to the German-speaking geographies.