We live in a time of rapid change. Yesterday is gone. Today is momentary. Tomorrow is never far away, though never guaranteed. We are called to live in the present, while learning from history and yet looking toward a better tomorrow. Our God is the one who was, who is, and who is to come. The Great I AM – past, present and future are all one to Him.
Futurists study the future, yet no one can fully predict what it will be like.
Stefan Hajkowicz has been thinking for the last twenty years about how people plan for an uncertain future. With training in economics, geography and decision theory, Stefan is one of CSIRO’s leading thinkers about trends, shocks and scenarios in the coming decades. His work led to the creation of the newly established CSIRO Futures research unit – a team of dedicated scientists working to unveil the future and inform people’s choices. Stefan now works as a principal scientist at CSIRO in Brisbane and is in demand worldwide as a speaker, strategist and consultant.
His latest book Global Megatrends reveals his most recent research as he unpacks seven patterns of change that are shaping the future. They include:
- A scarcity of natural resources.
- The challenge to protect biodiversity and the global climate.
- Rapid economic growth and urbanisation in Asia and the developing world.
- Changing demographics and an ageing population.
- The impact of new digital technologies.
- Consumer expectations for services, experiences and social interaction.
- An imperative to innovate.
Megatrends are gradual yet powerful trajectories of change that have the potential to throw companies, individuals and societies into freefall. In this book, Hajkowicz identifies these seven patterns of global change and tells a story about how the world will change over the next 20 years. The book captures the thinking of many dedicated scientists and researchers who have devoted their careers to exploring and understanding change. The change heralded by megatrends lies beyond our direct control but not beyond our influence. By getting a picture of how the world is changing and what these megatrends are, we can alter our destiny.
"My interest is in the future because I am going to spend the rest of my life there." Charles F. Kettering
"The leaders of Issacher had understanding of the times, to know what Israel should do." 1Chronicles 12:32.
Tomorrow's coming. What do you see?