The World Futures Studies Federation (WFSF) is a global NGO that was founded in the 1960s to encourage and promote the development of futures studies as a transdisciplinary academic and professional field in all parts of the world. WFSF operates as a global network of practicing futurists - researchers, teachers, scholars, policy analysts, activists and others from approximately 60 countries. [Read more…> history]
WFSF provides a forum where the stimulation, exchange, and examination of ideas, visions, and plans for alternative, long-term thinking can take place, both face-to-face and virtually. Using foresight the founders chose a name with long-term currency:
- WORLD: Since its inception WFSF has been a transnational organization that encourages and celebrates cultural diversity. Previous conferences have been held in many parts of the world. [Read more…]
- FUTURES: In contrast to many future-oriented organizations that think of "the future" in a singular way as determined by present trends, WFSF encourages and promotes "plural futures" through exploration of alternative and preferred futures.
- STUDIES: WFSF has a strong history of scholarly research, professional development and futures pedagogy. Through the work of its Fellows WFSF is the foremost futures organization responsible for the development of the knowledge base of the futures studies field.
- FEDERATION: As a non-profit federation WFSF is a freely gathered association of individuals and institutions who come together around a special interest in long-term thinking as expressed by terms such as foresight and futures studies. As such WFSF is an open system, not bound by particular ideologies.
WFSF President (2009-2013) - Dr. Jennifer M. GIDLEY [Read more…]
WFSF Director - Rakesh KAPOOR [Read more…]
WFSF Executive Board [Read more...]
In addition to the President, who is elected for a four-year term and oversees the organization, the Director is appointed by the Executive Board and manages the Secretariat. There are also nine Executive Board members who are elected for a four-year term.
The current elected Executive Board consists of the following members:
Guillermina BAENA PAZ (Mexico), Natalie DIAN (Sweden), Cesar VILLANUEVA (The Philippines), Jose RAMOS (Australia), Ruben NELSON (Canada), Karen HURLEY (Canada), Erik OVERLAND (Norway), Roger CALDWELL (USA) and Stuart CANDY (Hawai'i, USA).
Wider Circle of Contributors
In addition to the Executive Board, there are numerous other members who give generously of their time and energy to the Federation. These include:
Evelyne KOENIG as Financial Administrator, Ela KRAWCZYK (Ireland) as Futures Bulletin Editor, Reed RINER (USA) as Listmeister, Marcel CRAMER (Netherlands) and Barbara BOK (Australia) as Webworkers, and Maya VAN LEEMPUT (Belgium) in Media.
WFSF Members
Our members are widely distributed around the globe coming from over fifty different countries. For more information on where our members live and work, please see our directory of individual members. [Read more...]