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Embassy of the Future:
Imagineering the 2030s
August 28 - September 1, 2024
Broughton Sanctuary, Yorkshire, UK
Join a 5 day journey through the imagination to vision and prepare for the future at Britain’s pre-eminent retreat centre.
Over the course of 5 days we will receive input and inspiration from experts in 5 core areas and use advanced foresight methods to explore scenarios for the future.
Each day there will be time allocated to training the mind and expanding the imagination, keynote talks, analysis, dialogue, and simulations/speculative thinking.
Dive in with keynotes from futurists and visionary experts. Speakers confirmed so far:
- Benjamin J Butler - Founder, Embassy of the Future, “Visions for 2035”, “Future of Intelligence”
- Karol Wasilewski - Foresight Advisor, 4CF, “Global geopolitical perspectives”
- Jojo Mehta - Co Founder , Stop Ecocide “Post Ecocide”
- Mark Maslin - Earth System Scientist, Author learn more “Catastrophic futures” and “We have all the technology we need to move to a cleaner renewable world”
- Shooka Bidarian - TV presenter and producer, creating environmental, sustainability, and climate change content “Tomorrow's Tensions: Water, Food, and Security in a warmer world” and “Future of Carbon Credits”
- Jessica Bland - Centre for the Study of Existential Risks, Cambridge University “Existential Risks in Technology” learn more
- Maria Bothwell - CEO, Toffler Associates “Thinking Like a Futurist and the AI Driven Organisation, “Some Reflections on the legacy of Alvin and Heidi Toffler”
- Chip Commins - Chairman of American Renewable Energy Institute “Making the Transition. ” learn more
- Sheri Herndon - Futurist “Conscious Evolution”
- Jerome Glenn - Founder of Millennium Project, “Future of Artificial Intelligence: Global Governance of AGI”
- Ani Chahal Honan - Yunity, Imagine Fund, X Prize Foundation “The AI Singularity”
- Bartosz Frąckowiak - Consultant, 4CF, “See the future. Megatrends, crises and futures scenarios represented in contemporary visual arts”
- Peter Merry - Managing Director, Ubiquity University, “Leading from the Field” and “Mapping the trajectory of civilisation”
More speakers to be confirmed!
You will gain knowledge and make surprising discoveries in all thematic areas: economics, environment, technology, geography/geopolitics and civilization. Learn how to open the mind and expand the imagination, getting greater understanding. Working with globally renowned futurists you will experience new approaches to foresight and go home with new visions for the future and futures literacy skills.
Ideal for leaders across any field
- An investor who seeks to stay ahead of the trends and not be blindsided by the future
- A CEO who wants to take a step back and look at the bigger picture
- A leader eager to jump into the big issues of the day with fellow thought leaders
- Ambitious entrepreneurs visioning and striving to create the future
- Passionate change-makers who want to be high impact and strategically savvy
- An aspiring futurist who wants to acquire foresight and futures literacy skills - and certification
- A writer or thought leader craving for time out to reflect and imagine
A typical day will include:
Exploring 10 Shocking scenarios for 2035. Explore the deep issues of our time and - hone in on 5 scenarios.
Experiencing the 10-15 keynote talks (in person and virtual). Gain first-hand insights: input from global sector experts in finance, economics, climate & /ecology, geopolitics, tech and more.
Immersive discussions alongside like-minded innovators. Deep dive into conversation with fellow visionaries.
Daily inspiration and training in the mind: expand your creativity, imagination and intuition: insights from both the ancient wisdom practices and cutting edge research on consciousness. Experiment with the consciousness technologies at Wyrd Experience based on Princeton University research.
Time to relax at a world class resort whilst you imagine and plan your future. Broughton Sanctuary, ranked in the National Geographic’s Top 30 places to visit globally in 2024.
During our exploration we will visit a number of shocking scenarios across the key areas of economics/finance, geopolitics, technology (especially AI/quantum computing), climate change/ecology, and demographics/migration.
Whether the scenarios will seem likely or far-fetched, this exercise is your chance to expand your mind and imagination, deep dive into crucial future themes, and craft your own visions for tomorrow.
Scenarios might include:
- Technology: The first country in the world is run by AI. What does the post Singularity world look like? How is AI used? How do we prepare for that future?
- Geopolitics: In 2034, the US announces the closure of all its remaining overseas military bases. What might happen in the run up to that? What would a genuinely multi-polar world look like?
- Economics: The USA is the last advanced nation to abandon GDP as its primary measure of wellbeing and growth in 2029. Politicians no longer just parrot ‘growth’ but look at an array of measures. What influence does it have on your business model?
- Migration: There are 1 billion migrants globally..Mass migration becomes one of the issues of our time. People move to Canada, Northern Europe, the Alps, and the Himalayas. How does the demographic bomb intersect with climate change?
- Ecology: Norway becomes the first country in the world to ban trash. What does an ecological civilization really look like?
- First contact: The Pope, the Presidents of the United States and China, and the United Nations Secretary General hold a summit to discuss strategy for engaging with a potential civilisation crisis. Is there anything you can do yet?
- Nuclear fusion and other abundant energy sources mean low cost, no pollution, globally-accessible energy for everyone everywhere.
- Consciousness technologies take off, in which the human mind interacts wirelessly with technological devices.
- Decentralised governance systems, including local energy, currency and food supply, gain traction as people lose trust in centralised governance and nation states lose their grip on their populations.
Key Takeaways
- Knowledge and surprising discoveries in all thematic areas: economics, environment, technology, geography/geopolitics and civilization.
- Greater understanding of the mind and how to expand the imagination.
- Futures literacy: working with globally renowned futurists, go home with new approaches to foresight.
- New visions for the future.
Certification
Futures Literacy is a critical capacity recognized by UNESCO that is being researched and developed all over the world among leaders and professionals. The capacity to engage the future in many different ways is central to futures literacy and a valuable step towards dealing with complexity and emergence. It is also a vital part of green competencies frameworks.
Over these five dynamic days, you'll expand your imagination and hone crucial skills such as systems and critical thinking, imagination, and adaptability, preparing you to reframe paradigms, anticipate challenges, innovate solutions, and seize opportunities with confidence.
Plus, you will earn a certificate from Ubiquity University. Course Credits can be awarded upon completion of an essay, towards for example the University's Masters program in Foresight, to be launched later this year.
Curated and facilitated by Benjamin J Butler, planetary futurist, with 4CF The Futures Literacy Company, visionaries in the exploration of tomorrow's narratives, using advanced foresight methods and insights to navigate the complexities of future scenarios.
Event Facilitators
Curator - Benjamin J Butler
Benjamin J Butler is a former investor and now writer, futurist, and philosopher. Whilst imagining and forecasting futures, he is an evangelist for our transition to a technologically-advanced ecological civilisation. He regularly speaks at international conferences on global issues and long term futures. He left England 25 years ago and has been ‘on the road ever since,’ accumulating a unique international perspective to advise leaders on where the world might be heading.
Benjamin advises the leadership of a number of organisations about the future including Zurich-based Horasis, the American Renewable Energy Institute , Ubiquity University, the UN’s Resilience Frontiers initiative (which uses collective intelligence to create desirable futures for 2030-2050) and the World Economic Forum on quantum technology, having sat on a Global Future Council for 3 years. Benjamin is the founder of the Embassy of the Future.
4CF The Futures Literacy Company
4CF The Futures Literacy Company stands as a beacon of excellence in the realm of strategic foresight and long-term strategies, leading the charge in pioneering cutting-edge foresight tools. With an unwavering dedication spanning nearly two decades, 4CF has been steadfastly committed to empowering its clients to navigate the uncertainties of tomorrow with confidence and foresight. Over the years, the company has successfully executed a multitude of projects, catering to a diverse clientele ranging from private enterprises to public institutions and international entities, including UNFCCC, UNESCO, UNDP, and WHO. Through the lens of foresight, 4CF has mastered the approach to decision-making, opening up new vistas of possibilities for its clients, equipping them with the strategic acumen needed to implement disruptive solutions that pave the way for optimal future outcomes for all stakeholders involved. 4CF proudly aligns itself with prestigious organisations such as the Association of Professional Futurists, the Foresight Educational and Research Network, and serves as the founder of The Millennium Project's Polish node. As trailblazers in the field of futures literacy, 4CF continues to redefine the landscape of strategic foresight, driving innovation and shaping the future of tomorrow.
Norbert Kolos
Norbert Kolos managing partner at 4CF. He has authored numerous foresight studies and crafted strategic frameworks for a diverse clientele encompassing business entities, governmental bodies, and international institutions, including UNFCCC. Recently, he has delved into the future of manufacturing and related business models under Industry 4.0., the nexus between advanced biometric technologies and fundamental rights, while also conducting comprehensive assessments for the future of chemical value chains for the European Commission. Norbert’s expertise extends to consulting endeavours for governmental entities in Norway and Poland. A seasoned facilitator, he orchestrates workshops and training sessions tailored for decision-makers within large corporations and institutions, imparting invaluable insights to navigate complex landscapes. As the chair of the Polish node of The Millennium Project and a member of the World Future Society, Norbert is deeply entrenched in the forefront of future studies. He teaches strategic foresight at the Naval Academy in Poland and the AGH University of Science.
Kacper Nosarzewski
Kacper Nosarzewski, partner at 4CF. He is renowned for his expertise in developing methodologies and facilitating foresight projects for both civilian and military clients. With a distinguished portfolio, Kacper provides strategic counsel to governments, enterprises, and international institutions, including FAO, UNESCO, and UNDP. His extensive foresight experience spans diverse sectors, ranging from high-tech industries to finance and defence. He is an Interpol expert, member of the World Economic Forum foresight network, the Association of Professional Futurists, and the Polish branch of The Millennium Project. He also shares his wealth of knowledge as a foresight instructor at universities, shaping the minds of future leaders in strategic foresight.
Karol Wasilewski
Karol Wasilewski, foresight advisor at 4CF, entrusted with crafting and executing foresight analyses. He examines the future of international order and security, identifying emerging trends in international relations, and conducting comprehensive foreign policy analyses. He is also a member of the international Centre for Applied Turkish Studies, renowned for his in-depth analyses on Turkish foreign policy and commentaries on international affairs for prominent media outlets.
Bartosz Frackowiak
Bartosz Frackowiak, foresight consultant at 4CF, responsible for the design and implementation of foresight analyses. He researches the design processes of sustainable and ethical technologies, the relationship between technologies and space, and the potential of ethnographic methods in exploring the future. Previously, a curator specialising in art addressing global issues and emerging at the intersection with new technologies, he also teaches on the socio-cultural aspects of technology and the production of art and cultural projects.
Dr Peter Merry
Dr Peter Merry, is co-founding Chief Innovation Officer and Managing Director at Ubiquity University. He is also co-founder of Wyrd Experience and Wyrd Technologies, developing leading-edge consciousness technology and research. He is one of the world’s top experts on transformative leadership, working in and across different sectors, training government ministers, CEOs and civil society leaders. He is a recognised expert in the field of futureproof learning, science and consciousness, and integral leadership. He had his first book published in English and Dutch (Evolutionary Leadership, 2005) a second one in 2019 called Why Work? on designing work for people and planet, a third one in November 2020 called Leading from the Field and a fourth called Volution in 2023. He has an MSc in Human Ecology from Edinburgh University and a PhD from Ubiquity’s Wisdom School on volution theory. For more information, see petermerry.org
Booking, Pricing and Accommodation
About Broughton Sanctuary
Embassy of the Future will be held at the 3000-acre Broughton Sanctuary, situated in the very centre of the UK, in the foothills of The Yorkshire Dales and one of the most picturesque parts of the country. Established in 1097, Broughton Hall has been home to the Tempest family for over 900 years and enjoys a rich history stretching back over the millennium. Surrounding the historic Broughton Hall are formal gardens studded with statues, ponds, parterres and fountains offering a glimpse of 18th century fashion all set against contemporary architecture making the location a truly unique experience. The Broughton Sanctuary is home to one of Britain’s most exciting nature recovery projects, with an extensive tree-planting and rewilding programme. Broughton is a place dedicated to the journey of coming home and rewilding the spirit.
About Avalon Wellbeing
Embassy of the Future will take place in Avalon, a state-of-the-art wellbeing centre and beating heart of the Broughton Sanctuary. This stunning building is based on biophillic (organic) design with sacred geometry and the Fibonacci incorporated throughout. During your stay, you will have the opportunity to experience the unique Pool Suite: a low-chemical swimming pool looking out onto the adjacent woodland, a sauna, a steam room and hydrotherapy pool. There are many places beyond the building itself in the Sanctuary grounds to return to source, from meditation labyrinths, wild swimming reservoirs, a cosmic garden and much more.
Location
Broughton Sanctuary is located right in the heart of the UK and at the gateway to the stunning Yorkshire Dales. Guests experience a feeling of blissful seclusion however we are very well connected in terms of transport.
By Air
Leeds Bradford Airport: 40 minutes (24 miles): 40 minutes
Manchester Airport: 1 hour (55 miles)
Liverpool: 1 hour 15 minutes (69 miles)
By Train
The nearest train station is Skipton, (a 5-minute drive).
Trains from London Kings Cross are approximately 3 hours (direct and with a single quick change at Leeds).
By Car
Driving from London takes between 4-5 hours (traffic dependent).
Address
Broughton Sanctuary, Skipton, Yorkshire, UK, BD23 3AE
