Aftershocks and Opportunities 2: Navigating the Next Horizon

Editors: Rohit Talwar, Steve Wells, and Alexandra Whittington

Authors: Adam Hawkey (UK), Alejandro Repetto (Argentina), Alexandra Whittington (USA), Alisha Bhagat (USA), Arthur Weiss (UK), Boyd Cohen (Spain), Brett Peppler (Australia), Caroline Figueres (Netherlands), Cathy Hackl (USA), Claire Nelson (USA), David Smith (UK), Doaa Alghalban (United Arab Emirates ), Epaminondas Christophilopoulos (Greece), Frederic Balmont (France), Gina Clifford (USA), Greg Wasowski (UK), Hans Stavleu (Netherlands), Hjörtur Smárason (Greenland), Jason Siko (USA), Joana Lenkova (UK), Jose Cordeiro (Spain), Kapil Gupta (UK), Karolina Dolatowska (Poland), Kevin Jae (Canada), Leland Shupp (USA), Leopold Mureithi (Kenya), Marian Salzman (Switzerland), Max Stucki (Finland), Michael Nuschke (Canada and Mexico), Nisreen Lahham (Egypt), Patrick van der Duin (Netherlands), Reza Jafari (USA), Richard Freeman (UK), Roger Camrass (UK), Rohit Talwar (UK), Steve Wells (UK), and Tony Hunter (Australia).

Aftershocks and Opportunities 2: Navigating the Next Horizon is a provocative, challenging, and inspiring book in which 37 world-class futurists, analysts, subject matter experts, and strategists explore the issues and opportunities that could arise in our post-pandemic world in a range of fiction and non-fiction chapters.

Authors from as far and wide as the UK, USA, Argentina, Australia, Egypt, Greenland, Kenya, and the UAE explore critical ‘future defining’ themes including exponential advances in science and technology, societal change, medical breakthroughs, economic volatility, and shifts in geopolitical power. How might these play out, and what impact could they have on our lives?

A wide variety of ideas, scenarios, and possible future paths are covered in a broad mix of topics that range from food sovereignty, retirement, the rise of the crypto economy, China-US relations, and leadership skills, through to physical wellbeing, education, insurance, and urban mobility. Essential reading for anyone shaping political, economic, or business decisions, this book will help individuals plan for a sustainable future and increase their resilience against future risks.

 

Seven Central Themes

Following the opening chapter which explores some of the critical shifts and disruptions shaping the next five to ten years, the book is divided into seven sections. Our hope is that they will provide insight, perspective, and the motivation to act for citizens, civil society, businesses, and governments across the globe:

Economics and Business—explores the new economic landscape, explains the rise of the crypto economy, discusses the potential for positive change and the value of foresight in business, outlines the leadership skills and organizational capabilities required to navigate a new landscape, and discusses how we can plan for retirement in the post-pandemic era.

The Global Operating Environment—examines scenarios for post-pandemic politics and conflicts, discusses the potential societal implication of this intense period of disruption, explores the paths that individuals, societies, and nations can choose to pursue, and examines the risks and opportunities that lie ahead as we make these choices.

Regional and National Futures—presents bold, fascinating, and truly inspiring perspectives on how to regenerate the regional economies of Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific, and highlights how the pandemic-ravaged and struggling Greek economy can reboot itself.

Society and Lifestyles—discusses what “new normal” futures might actually mean, how the pandemic has boosted individual responsibility for our physical wellbeing, and the generational impact of the disruption we’ve just experienced. The potential benefits and drawbacks of health passports are outlined along with the lasting impacts of social distancing and the downsides of increasing societal surveillance by governments.

Sectoral Futures—looks at the implications of the pandemic and post-disruption recovery strategies for insurance, sustainable agriculture, the broader food sector, urban mobility, travel, and education.

Innovation and Technology—lays out key dimensions of how science and technology can drive the accelerated pursuit opportunities and innovation in a world now more open to fundamental change and transformation. Particular focus is placed on digital architectures and ecosystems, developing digital mindsets, rethinking the innovation agenda, virtual presence, connected communities, and the link between technology and sustainability.

Conclusion: Future Frameworks—the book concludes with three practical frameworks that can act as reference guides and checklists. These explore a diverse range of emerging opportunities and risks and lay out a timeline of critical technologies that could enter the commercial environment in the next one to ten years and beyond. This section also provides a closing set of critical questions for individuals, civil society leaders, businesses, investors, and governments as we seek to plan our individual, societal, and organizational futures.

 

Contents

To help readers explore the many issues and opportunities on the post-pandemic global change agenda, the scene setting chapter and subsequent seven sections of the book cover the following topics:

INTRODUCTION

20 Shifts on the Path to 2030 —Rohit Talwar—Global futurist and CEO, Fast Future, UK

PART 1: ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS

Life Next: How Our World Could Change Post-Pandemic—Marian Salzman—Senior vice president, global communications, Philip Morris International, Switzerland

Blockchain and the Crypto Economy—A Platform for Transformation?—Rohit Talwar—Global futurist and CEO, Fast Future, UK, and Kapil Gupta—Founder of Nibana.life and a technology and crypto analyst, commentator, enthusiast, and investor, UK

Blockchain and the Crypto Economy—A Platform for Transformation? —Rohit Talwar—Global futurist and CEO, Fast Future, UK, and Kapil Gupta—Founder of Nibana.life and a technology and crypto analyst, commentator, enthusiast, and investor, UK

Envisaging the Accelerated Future of the Crypto Economy—Kapil Gupta—Founder of Nibana.life and a technology and crypto analyst, commentator, enthusiast, and investor, UK. Rohit Talwar—Global futurist and CEO, Fast Future, UK

Post-Traumatic Growth: How Might Business Change for the Better? —Richard Freeman—CEO, always possible 

Business Leadership Skills—Navigating a New Landscape—Steve Wells—Experienced futurist, facilitator, and founder of Informing Choices, UK

Changing the Way We Work—Steve Wells—Experienced futurist, facilitator, and founder of Informing Choices, UK

The Future of Retirement in the Post-Pandemic Era—Michael Nuschke—Retirement futurist, writer, and speaker, Canada and Mexico

PART 2: THE GLOBAL OPERATING ENVIRONMENT

Post-Pandemic Geopolitics: Three Scenarios—Max Stucki—Foresight analysis manager at Futures Platform, Finland

A World Transformed: Political and Socio-Economic Impacts of the Pandemic—Dr. Doaa Alghalban—Strategic advisor on foresight strategies in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

National Security in the New Normal—Brett Peppler—Managing director of Intelligent Futures Pty Ltd, Australia

Three Possible Futures—Choose Your Preferred Story—Joana Lenkova—Strategist, futurist, and founder of Futures Forward, UK

The Day After the Lockdown—Alejandro Repetto—Foresight and innovation strategy practitioner and co-founder of Robosophy, Argentina

PART 3: REGIONAL AND NATIONAL FUTURES

Reimagining the World Order to Regenerate African, Caribbean, and Pacific Economies—Dr. Claire A. Nelson—Lead futurist at The Futures Forum, US

Futures of a Post-Pandemic Africa—Leopold P. Mureithi—Professor of Economics at the University of Nairobi, Kenya

Greece 2025—If Only We Knew—Epaminondas Christophilopoulos—UNESCO chair on Futures Research, and head of the Foresight and Tools Unit in the Hellas Foundation for Research and Technology (FORTH), Greece

PART 4: SOCIETY AND LIFESTYLES

Exploring New Normal Futures—Patrick van der Duin—Managing director of the Stichting Toekomstbeeld der Techniek, Netherlands

Hans Stavleu—Lead future explorer at curiozy.net., Netherlands

Lockdown Legacy: How the Pandemic Could Inspire Individual Ownership of Physical Activity—Dr. Adam Hawkey—Associate professor at Solent University Southampton, UK

The Digital Health Passport—Leland Shupp—Foresight and design led company growth strategist and principal at Lee Shupp Consulting, US

Generational Games: Age Cohort Reactions to the Pandemic—Arthur Weiss—CEO of AWARE, UK

Social Distancing: A Cultural Analysis of the Post-Pandemic World—Kevin Jae—Research assistant at the Diversity Institute, Canada 

Great Reset Day 2024—Caroline Figuères—Director of Figueres Consultancy, Netherlands

Nowhere to Hide in 2025—Gina Clifford—Technology communications manager at Jabil, US

PART 5: SECTORAL FUTURES

Insurance in the Post-Pandemic World—David Smith—Futurist and chief executive, Global Futures and Foresight, UK

Collectively Producing Zero-Waste Food: Zainab’s Scenario in 2025—Dr. Nisreen Lahham—Regional project manager for Wastewater Reuse in the MENA in Egypt

Five Technologies Shaping the Post-Pandemic Future of Food—Tony Hunter—Global futurist and foresight strategy consultant specializing in the future of food, Australia

Post-Pandemic Urban Mobility: A Tale of Three Regions—Boyd Cohen, Ph.D.—Co-founder and CEO of Iomob, Spain

The Reinvention of Travel—and Residency—Hjörtur Smárason—CEO, Visit Greenland

Post-Pandemic Public Education: Four Scenarios for the United States— Jason Siko, Ph.D.—Instructional technology consultant for Wayne Regional Educational Service Agency, US

Principal’s Morning Announcement—Public School 3.16, Brooklyn, New York, September 1st, 2025—Alisha Bhagat—Futurist and senior strategist at Forum for the Future, US 

After the Pause: The Unspoken Futures of Post-Pandemic Higher Education—Alexandra Whittington—Global futurist, writer, and faculty member on the futures program at the University of Houston, US

PART 6: INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY

Beyond the Pandemic—All Change—Roger Camrass—Founder and director of research at CIONET UK and visiting professor at the University of Surrey, UK

Crisis (危機) = Danger (危) + Opportunity (機): A New Renaissance—José Cordeiro—Director of the Millennium Project, Spain

How the Pandemic Has Become an Accelerant for Virtual Presence—Cathy Hackl—Futurist and business strategist, Cathy Hackl LLC, US

How Digital Ecosystems Might Shape the Post-Pandemic Recovery—Greg Wasowski—Senior principal, ISV Industry Solutions Technology Strategy, Salesforce, UK

From Surviving to Thriving the Pandemic: Digital Transformation in Action for Connected Communities —Reza Jafari—Chairman, CEO, and founder of e-Development International, US

A Viridian Aurora—Frederic Balmont—Work inspector, Ministry of Labour, France

CONCLUSION: FUTURE FRAMEWORKS

Framework 1: Grand Challenges—Emerging Global Opportunities and Critical Risks—Rohit Talwar—Global futurist and CEO, Fast Future, UK

Framework 2: The Technology Timeline—Advances Shaping the Next Decade—Rohit Talwar—Global futurist and CEO, Fast Future, UK; Karolina Dolatowska—Foresight researcher and business manager, Fast Future, UK

Framework 3: Navigating the Future—50 Critical Questions —Rohit Talwar—Global futurist and CEO, Fast Future, UK; Karolina Dolatowska—Foresight researcher and business manager, Fast Future, UK

 

About the Editors

Global futurist, foresight researcher, award-winning keynote speaker, writer, editor, and CEO of Fast Future, Rohit Talwar became captivated by what the future might hold following the historic moon landing when he was just eight years old.

Today, Rohit advises leaders in global businesses, governments, and NGOs around the world on how to anticipate and respond to disruptive changes such as the growth of China, accelerating progress in artificial intelligence, and the evolution of the crypto economy. He established Fast Future Publishing in 2015 and has published six books exploring the future. He has also written two books with other publishers.

Steve Wells is a global futurist, keynote speaker, and the CEO of Informing Choices. He has a particular interest in helping clients anticipate and respond to the disruptive bursts of technological possibility that are shaping the emerging future.

Alexandra Whittington is a futurist with a particular expertise in future visioning and scenario planning. She is a member of faculty on the University of Houston foresight program.

Together, the editorial team have co-edited and contributed to six books about the emerging future – The Future of Business; Beyond Genuine Stupidity—Ensuring AI Serves Humanity; The Future Reinvented—Reimagining Life, Society, and Business; A Very Human Future—Enriching Humanity in a Digitized World; The Opportunity at the Edge—Change, Challenge, and Transformation on the Path to 2025; and Aftershocks and Opportunities—Scenarios for a Post-Pandemic Future.

 

About Fast Future Publishing

Fast Future is a research, insights, consulting, and executive education business. The company specializes in the use of foresight applied to explore the future of humanity, government and governance, the economy, business, key sectors, and exponentially advancing fields of science and technology. The company has a particular interest in the impacts of developments such as artificial intelligence, robotics, exponential technologies, and disruptive thinking. Through its work, Fast Future explores how these emerging ideas and developments might impact life, society, nations, the planet, the future of work, and the creation of the trillion-dollar sectors of the future.

Through speeches, webinars, studies, and books Fast Future explores, experiments with, and creates powerful future ideas and scenarios. The intention is to deliver critical insights to the individuals, governments, businesses, and agencies that want to consider and create a better future. Fast Future’s books and newsletter provide insightful and thought provoking content and profile the latest thinking of established and emerging futurists, foresight researchers, and future thinkers from around the world.

Fast Future’s goal is to make those ideas accessible to the widest possible audience in the shortest possible time. Fast Future has a particular focus on ensuring these advances are harnessed to unleash individual potential and enable a very human future. Fast Future’s books are designed to provide rapid insights into the emerging future with a collection of short, hard-hitting articles. These explore different trends, developments, forces, and ideas shaping the future and how we can respond in a manner that best serves humanity.

 

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