Conference Program

A PDF copy of the program is available at the bottom of this page

Also read about the  Pre-Conference Workshop - Strategic Foresight as Integral Consciousness
to which all  Conference registrants are invited free of charge

Conference Program

Wednesday, April 21, 2010 - Gathering and Getting To Work

• 4:30 pm Registration and Welcoming Reception
• 6:00 Keynote Dinner -
  Welcome by the Conference Chair
• 7:00 Preparing to Listen: Music by Patty Shortreed
• Evolving Universe; Evolving Selves: Seeing the 21st Century with Fresh Eyes
  Dr. Elisabet Sahtouris, Evolutionary Biologist, Author, Visionary
• 8:15 Table Group Conversations to Explore What We Heard and What We Think
• 8:45 Plenary Discussion
• 9:15 Adjourn

Thursday, April 22, 2010 - Developing Our Foresight Capacity

• 7:00 am Networking Breakfast
• 8:30 Welcome and  Setting Up the Day
• 8:45 1st Session: Exploring the Capacity Strategic Foresight Requires
  Dr. Jonathan Reams, Editor-in-Chief, Integral Review
  Assoc. Professor, Norwegian University of Science and Technology
• 9:30 Table Conversations to Explore What We Heard and What We Think
• 10:00 Networking Break

• 10:30 2nd Session: Developing Our Capacity to Practise Strategic Foresight
  Dr. Jonathan Reams, Assoc. Professor, Norwegian University of Science and Technology
• 11:15 Table Conversations to Explore What We Heard and What We Think
• 11:45 Plenary Dialogue
• 12:30 noon Networking Lunch

• 1:30 pm 3rd Session: Digesting Our Learning:  Thinking Through the Requirements of a Truly Sustainable Civilization.  
  • Robert Horn, Adjunct Professor, Stanford University and author Visual Language.   "What I learned while working with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development's Sustainability Project"
• 2:00 Table Groups work on a dimension of sustainability
• 3:00 Networking Break
• 3:30 Table Groups Reports and Plenary Discussion
• 4:00 Comments from Wise Listeners  
  Jonathan Reams, Thursday Speaker
   Bob Horn, Thursday Speake
   Mark Anielski, Author, The Economics of Happiness:  Building Genuine Wealth
• 5:00 Networking Break & Poster Sessions
• 5:30 Reception

• 6:00 Conference Dinner
• 7:00  Preparing to Listen:  Music by Ms. Patty Shortreed, Calgary
• 7:15 Beyond "Business NOT as Usual":  An Update on the Climate Wars and Their  Implications for Canada.
  Dr. Gwynne Dyer, Authour, Commentator, Film Maker
• 8:15 Table Group Conversations to Explore What We Heard and What We Think
• 8:45 Plenary Discussion
• 9:15 Adjourn

Friday, April 23, 2010 - Expanding the Capacity for Foresight

• 7:00 am Networking Breakfast
• 8:30 Welcome and Setting Up the Day
• 8:45 Session 4: Developing Receptor Capacity for Foresight in Your Colleagues
• A Panel to Kick-Start the Dialogue: - a Too Oft-Forgotten Dimension of  Foresight Work 
  • Chaired by Ruben Nelson, Executive Director, Foresight Canada
    • David Kahane, Professor, Philosophy, U of A
    • Ken Low, President, Action Studies Institute, Calgary
    • Lois Macklin, Foresight Associate, Alberta Research Council, Edmonton
    • Jack Smith, Foresight Advisor, Defence Research Canada, Ottawa 
• 9:30 A Conversation Café Process to Explore What We Heard and What We Think
• 11:00 Networking Break and Poster Sessions
• 11:30 Reports and Plenary Discussion
• 12:15 noon Networking Lunch

• 1:15 pm 5th Session: Reflections and Conclusions
• A panel of Wise Listeners chaired by Wilson Winnitoy, Associate Executive Director, Foresight Canada, Ladysmith 
  • Sharon Matthias, President, Designing the Future, Edmonton
  • Axel Meisen, Chair, Foresight, Alberta Innovates - Technology Futures, Edmonton
  • Elisabet Sahtouris, Keynote Speaker
• 1:40 Table Conversations to Explore What We Heard and What We Think
• 2:30 Networking Break
• 3:00 Plenary Discussion and Major Conclusions
• 3:45 Closing Reflections
• 4:00 Adjourn