Beyond the Hype: Why Leaders Need Strategic Foresight for AI.
The conversation around Artificial Intelligence often focuses on immediate applications and technical details. While important, this narrow view can cause leaders to miss the bigger picture. For C-level executives and board directors, the most critical task is not just to understand what AI is today, but to anticipate what it could become and how it will reshape industries, economies, and societies. This requires moving beyond reactive implementation and embracing futures thinking.
For those tasked with making high-stakes decisions, the gnawing uncertainty of a rapidly changing world is a constant challenge. Sudden market shifts, technological disruptions, and changing customer behaviours demand a new approach to leadership. This is where futures thinking provides a structured way to navigate complexity, turning potential threats into strategic opportunities.
The Limits of a Short-Term View on AI.
Relying on short-term analysis for a force as transformative as AI is like navigating a vast ocean with a map of the local harbour. It’s useful, but dangerously incomplete. Leaders who focus only on current trends risk being blindsided by deeper, structural shifts that are already in motion. The real challenge is not adopting AI, but aligning its trajectory with your organisation's long-term vision and purpose.
"While many focus on the immediate applications of AI, true leaders concern themselves with its long-term implications. That is the space where our futures will be created." - James Clampett
Structured futures thinking provides the tools to look beyond the immediate horizon. It allows you to explore a range of plausible futures, identify emerging disruptions before they become mainstream, and build organisational resilience. This is not about predicting the future; it's about preparing for multiple futures, enhancing your ability to adapt and thrive no matter what unfolds. For C-level thinkers and decision makers, this capability is no longer a luxury—it's essential for sustainable success.
The insight & foresight Approach.
At insight & foresight we are committed to driving change and making a difference. To that end we have crafted a unique event "Using the Future to Think Strategically About AI: A Boardroom Dialogue" that focuses on helping decision makers navigate the ever-evolving landscape of AI. This event is designed to give leaders access to cutting-edge insights and tools that will enable them to make more informed, strategic decisions about AI.
To be held on Thursday 12 February 2026 in the James Cook Boardroom at the Sofitel Wentworth in Sydney, this event will feature Professor Sohail Inayatullah, a renowned futurist and foresight expert, as the keynote speaker. Professor Inayatullah will share in-depth insights on the topic of AI and how it could shape our futures. Our goal is to equip C-level thinkers and decision makers with the knowledge and tools necessary to stay ahead of the curve and successfully navigate the rapidly changing world of AI.
Learn from a World-Renowned Futurist: Professor Sohail Inayatullah.
Gaining true foresight requires a guide who has dedicated their career to understanding the dynamics of long-term change. We are exited to have this dialogue led by Professor Sohail Inayatullah, a globally recognised political scientist, futurist, and the UNESCO Chair in Futures Studies. For over three decades, Professor Inayatullah has helped governments and leading organisations navigate complex futures.
He specialises in making futures thinking both practical and accessible. As the creator of the Causal Layered Analysis (CLA) method, he provides a powerful framework for uncovering the deep-rooted worldviews and metaphors that shape the future. This approach goes beyond surface trends to explore the core drivers of change. This event offers a unique chance to learn directly from one of the leading futurists and apply his proven methods to your strategic challenges.
An Exclusive Dialogue for Senior Leaders.
This event is NOT a large, impersonal conference. "Using the Future to Think Strategically About AI" is an intimate boardroom dialogue, strictly limited to a small group of board directors, C-suite executives, and senior leaders. This format is intentional. It creates a confidential environment for candid, high-level conversation among peers who are grappling with similar strategic pressures.
The value of this curated setting cannot be overstated. It allows for deep engagement, peer-to-peer learning, and the opportunity to pressure-test ideas with other experienced leaders from diverse industries. You will share insights, debate scenarios, and build relationships with a network of individuals who understand the weight of your responsibilities. The discussions are designed to be provocative, insightful, and intensely practical.
Gain Actionable Frameworks for Future-Ready Decisions.
The core purpose of "Using the Future to Think Strategically About AI: A Boardroom Dialogue" is to provide you with actionable tools, not just abstract theories. You will leave with a set of powerful frameworks that can be immediately integrated into your strategic planning processes.
Key methodologies you will explore include:
Causal Layered Analysis (CLA): Go beyond the data to understand the stories and worldviews driving AI trends. This tool helps you identify deeper levers for creating transformative change.
Futures Triangle: Assess the pull of the future, the push of the present, and the weight of the past to create a more holistic view of your strategic options.
These tools will empower you and your leadership team to develop a shared language for discussing the future, fostering greater alignment and more decisive action on critical investments and governance.
Why You Must Attend "Using the Future to Think Strategically About AI: A Boardroom Dialogue".
"Using the Future to Think Strategically About AI: A Boardroom Dialogue" is more than just an event; it's a launchpad for a new era of futures-focused leadership. This boardroom session, which combines Professor Inayatullah's world-class foresight with an exclusive peer forum, offers a unique opportunity for CEOs, board members, and senior executives to:
Gain clarity on the complex future of AI, transforming uncertainty into actionable knowledge.
Acquire tools and frameworks to immediately elevate your strategic thinking, making it more robust, creative, and future-ready.
Engage in rich peer learning and networking, forging valuable connections with other leaders committed to staying ahead of the curve.
Be inspired by thought-provoking dialogue with a renowned futurist, providing the high-level intellectual stimulation that busy executives rarely get.
Leave empowered to lead your organisation into the future with greater confidence and vision.
In an era where AI and disruptive technologies are reshaping every industry, futures thinking offers a distinct advantage. This event is a powerful, concise way to cultivate that advantage. As an executive, your attendance will demonstrate a commitment to not just managing the present, but actively investing in the future to shape your company's trajectory.
"Using the Future to Think Strategically About AI: A Boardroom Dialogue" has been crafted for C-level thinkers and decision makers committed to confidently navigating their organisation’s into AI-enabled futures.
Join us for a half-day filled with engaging discussions, thought-provoking insights, and practical tools that will help you drive your business forward in an uncertain world. You'll walk away with a deeper understanding of how futures thinking offers a unique advantage for strategic decision-making, and how you can integrate these methods into your organisation's processes and culture.
Attend "Using the Future to Think Strategically About AI: A Boardroom Dialogue" and arm yourself with the tools and insights necessary for long-term sustainability and success in the ever-changing business landscape.
