Cornelia Daheim
Born 1973 in Duisburg, founder and head of Future Impacts Consulting. Consulting Futurist since 2000, formerly managing partner at Z_punkt GmbH. Studied comparative literature, English and psychology in Essen and at King’s College, London. Manic reader, into new work forms and fizzy sweets.
Highlights: Has realized projects on all continents. Customers from Alstom or Evonik to the European Parliament to the Korean Institute STEPI. Experienced in CEO or minster-level workshops to those with kids in disadvantaged rural regions. Chair of the German Node of The Millenium Project, former President and Vice-President Foresight Europe Network, Chair of the expert circle of the foresight process by the German Ministry for Science and Education BMBF, Chair of the European Commission’s DG RTD mutual learning exercise on R&I foresight.
Focus topics: From foresight to impact, foresight gaming, foresight capacity building, societal developments, future of work, inclusion, sustainability
Futures Reading Tipp: Jean-Philippe Toussaint: Der USB-Stick / La clé USB (not yet published in English, it seems); Margaret Atwood: The Testaments; Theresa Hannig: Die Optimierer (not yet published in English, it seems); and as it’s still a good and worthwhile read – Dave Eggers: The Circle
Prof. Dr. Sven Hirsch
Physicist and artist, located at Zurich and Cologne. Futurist since 2008, graduated in laser physics, degree in audiovisual media (KHM Cologne), management responsibility for the department of biomedical simulation and lecturer for modeling of complex systems at the ZHAW Zurich (Zurich University of Applied Sciences).
Highlights: Project “Future of Waste”, development of methods for modeling in foresight and qualitative-quantitative scenarios, AneuX – Shape as Biomarker for Aneurysm Disease, Deterritorale Schlingen von Kubli/Mann
Focus topics: Qualitativ-quantitative foresight methods, modeling, future of technology, future of energy
Futures Reading Tipp: Orson Welles: War of the Worlds
Clara Jöster-Morisse
Foresight Consultant at Future Impacts since 2019. Studied International Relations at the Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences in Kleve and Gender and Queer Studies at the University of Cologne. Member of Zukunftsforscherin*. Optimist, wannabe Yogi, and Cologne enthusiast.
Highlights: Online foresight course project “Corporate Foresight” and “Consumer Shifts”, project “The Future of Sustainability in the Fashion Industry” for the C&A Foundation (now: Laudes Foundation).
Focus topics: Political and social developments, gender in futures studies, feminist foresight
Futures Reading Tipp: Naomi Alderman: The Power; Michel Houellebecq: The possibility of an island; Charlotte Perkins Gilman: Herland; Chana Porter: The Seep; Nnedi Okorafor: Lagoon; Ling Ma: Severance
Dr. Marc Müller-Stoffels
Physicist, Innovation and Tech Expert, at home in academia, the public, and the private sector. Marc develops foresight methodology from index approaches to ranking relevant developments to full scenarios methodology and associated AI-based software, e.g., ScenLab. Marc has lived and worked in Germany, New Zealand, Australia, and the US, where he spent 11 years in Alaska, living off-grid in a self-built cabin.
Highlights: Inventor and developer of the AI-based scenarios software ScenLab. Leading futurist for several Arctic-related foresight projects, e.g., the Northern Alaska Scenarios Project.
Focus topics: Foresight methodology, deep scanning, and evaluation of high-tech developments and their societal and environmental contextualization, development of strategies to tackle digitalization, new work, and smart City/grid/building/living successfully.
Futures Reading Tipp: Neil Stephenson: Anathem and Seveneves
Jessica Prendergast
Futurist since 2007, located wherever there is strong wifi. Jessica graduated in psychology and criminology and has undertaken foresight courses in both New Zealand and Canada. She leads foresight projects in Europe and beyond with a focus on the public sector.
Highlights: Director “Project 2058” McGuinness Institute New Zealand, Project UKCES „Future of Work“, previously worked for the New Zealand Government Carbon Market and Emissions Trading Group, Foresight Consultant at Z_punkt The Foresight Company.
Focus topics: New foresight methods, regulatory instruments, strategy development, societal and political upheavals.
Futures Reading Tipp: Octavia Butler: Parable of the Sower; Yevgeny Zamyatin: We
Jörg Rampacher
Born 1968, academic studies of English philology, historical science and philosophy, graduate translator and foresight researcher since 2002.
Highlights: 20 years experience as trend and foresight researcher.
Focus topics: Political developments, societal and cultural trends, languages and science fiction
Futures Reading Tipp: Ursula K. LeGuin; The Left Hand of Darkness; Daryl Gregory: Afterparty; Liu Cixin: The Three-Body Problem; Hao Jingfang: Vagabonds; Micaiah Johnson:The Space Between Worlds
Dr. Eckhard Störmer
Born in 1970 in Munich, Consulting Futurist at Future Impacts since 2023. Eckhard has been working in Foresight Research and Consulting since 2006. He graduated in economic and social geography and concluded a PhD in sustainability innovation management at Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich. He loves nature and inspiration.
Highlights: Eckhard contributed to the Strategic Foresight Reports of the European Commission (e.g. to the 2022 edition) and developed the approach to include foresight in the policy and lawmaking process of the European Commission. He previously worked for example at the EU Policy Lab of the Commission and at Z_punkt The Foresight Company.
Focus topics: From foresight to strategy, sustainability, open strategic autonomy, green and digital transitions, innovation in futures methods.
Futures Reading Tipp: Cory Doctorow: Walkaway, Marc-Uwe Kling: QualityLand (German only), Martin Walker: Germany 2064 (German only)
Nele Thomalla
Born 1991 in Hannover, studied International Development (BA) in Vienna, then acting (Diploma) in Bonn. She is interested in the theatre and has worked both as an actress and as an assistant director in various theatre productions. Nele has also worked for NGOs in the field of humanitarian aid and development cooperation, for environmental protection organisations, as well as in a consultancy firm in the field of environmental and energy technology. Likes yoga, dancing, and chocolate.
Highlights: Study on the topic of biowaste fermentation in Europe.
Focus topics: Office management, sustainability, development cooperation
Futures Reading Tipp: Lois Lowry: The Giver; Emilia Roig: Das Ende der Ehe (German only)
Michelle Winkelsdorf
Born in 1991 in Bad Homburg, Germany. Former student of European Economics and Design Management. Designer-in-residence at Future Impacts since 2018.
Highlights: Project “The Future of Sustainability in the Fashion Industry” for the C&A Foundation (now: Laudes Foundation); and a project on future innovation fields in the life sciences sector.
Focus topics: Design management, UX/UI design, visual storytelling
Futures Reading Tipp: Douglas Adams: A Hitchhiker´s Guide to the Galaxy