SOIF Summer Retreat in Strategic Foresight
Join us for a week long exploration of Strategic foresight and how to transform the future of your organisation, community or sector.
29 July - 2 August 2024
Overview
This five-day retreat teaches the science and art of strategic foresight. Learn the skills you need to understand change and disruption and how to create future-ready organisations in an uncertain and increasingly volatile world.
Harness the power of strategic foresight to support your organisation and improve decision-making today.
Build your network and practice with fellow decision-makers, policy-makers and strategists as part of a global community of practice.
Learn “foresight with impact” while exploring our 2020 themes: a policy theme focusing on National Strategy for Next Generations; a methodology theme on Citizen Participation and the Future: exploring the role of foresight in crowdfunding and citizen assemblies. We will also have an exciting geopolitical live challenge.
Curious what to expect?
Download the brochure from 2019 or read about the retreat on Medium
Register Now Contact Us![](https://www.soif.org.uk/app/uploads/2018/12/bunmi-post-it-640x400.jpg)
The retreat was massively helpful and came at the perfect time. I am much more aware of methods and approaches
The Health Foundation
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The diversity of the room was impeccable – intentional and deliberate. One of the rarest groups I have been part of – diversity, diversity of perspective and context
RSA
Speakers and faculty
Sessions are led by SOIF Faculty, supported by more than 15 expert speakers – commissioners, practitioners and users of foresight, as well as private and public sector policy planning/government leads and experts in futures thinking, design and data.
Confirmed speakers
Mat Burrows
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Director of Strategic Foresight, Atlantic Council, Washington D.C. Former Counsellor, U.S. National Intelligence Council and principal drafter, NIC publication Global Trends 2030: Alternative Worlds
Rosemarie Forsythe
![](https://soif.jwlfi.xyz/app/uploads/2017/01/rosemarie-cropped-2-e1493231803635-150x150.jpg)
Former Director, International Political Strategy at ExxonMobil and Former White House National Security Council Director for Russian, Ukrainian and Eurasian Affairs
René Rohrbeck
![](https://soif.jwlfi.xyz/app/uploads/2019/04/Rene-Rohrbeck_2018_c-150x150.jpg)
Professor of Strategy and Associate Dean for Corporate Relations at Aarhus BSS, Aarhus University
Rushdi Abdul Rahman
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Senior Vice President in Malaysian Industry Government Group for High Technology
SOIF team
A Focus on Foresight and Impact
Understand the science of strategic foresight and how it can be used to make a real difference in your organisation. Learn SOIF’s four stage process for Foresight with Impact, and practical tools and methods. Start your learning before you arrive at the retreat, and gain support contextualise and embed these in your organisation after you leave.
Appreciate the art of strategic foresight through panel discussions and debates with expert practitioners and leaders who have successfully used foresight to influence decision-making.
Develop confidence and practical experience in the craft by working through a “live” policy challenge on the future of global leadership and shifts in future global alliances during guided practical sessions
A focus on impact, leadership and capacity-building – Our retreats are best suited to leaders who want to shape the future of their organisation, community or sector. The course is designed to help you understand how to use foresight with impact
Leave a confident commissioner and intelligent user of futures. Learn the skills and techniques needed to create change and to communicate the impact of foresight work with practical ideas for implementing foresight in your organisation
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Excellent teaching modules, tools and activities
Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology
Who should attend?
Attendance is limited to 24 participants.
Whether you set the strategic direction for your organisation, lead a strategy or innovation unit, are setting up your own foresight function, or are just curious about the future you will benefit from the new analytical and professional perspectives SOIF2020 provides. If you have already taken part in strategic foresight exercises or are new to the field, you will learn the skills and techniques needed to create change in your organisation and to communicate the impact of your foresight work.
Participants work at a senior level in strategy, policy, leadership and analytical roles in governments, NGOs, international organisations and businesses. Previous participants include representatives from Chevron; Delma Institute, UAE; Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs; European External Action Service; Garten Rothkopf; Malaysia Industry-Government Group for High Technology; McKinsey and Company; National Commission of Security, Mexico; Save the Children; Shell Global; The African Public Policy and Research Institute; United Nations; UK Ministry of Defence.
SOIF is international – Our retreats draw attendees from all six continents, and we typically have over 20 nationalities at each retreat.
SOIF builds a community — Whether you are a foresight practitioner, user or commissioner, we help you build connections with people working to solve the same kinds of problems you are facing.
Discussion is conducted under the Chatham House Rule to provide you with the space to reflect, exchange insights and build lasting relationships.
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As a social impact program, I would recommend it to any foresight practitioner and anybody who is concerned about the future.
Kaduna Electric
Pricing and Registration
If you’d like to join us, please start by completing the application form and registering your interest.
In the application form, you will be asked to provide some information about you and your motivations for attending. We will then review this and contact you to let you know if we need any more information before we can confirm your registration.
We want to ensure that attendees will be able to get the most out of the course, and will let you know if we don’t think the retreat is the right fit.
Once approved, we will then confirm your place and look forward to welcoming you to SOI2020.
Pricing information
Participant fee:
Corporate £5,145*
Non-profit: £3,750*
Accommodation fee: GBP 1,300*
The Accommodation fee includes use of the facilities at Hartwell House, including four nights’ accommodation, spa, meals.
Payment
Once your registration has been confirmed, we will send you an invoice and payment will be due within 30 days or a minimum of 2 months before the event.
You will be asked during the application process to confirm your organisation type, and desired payment method. Payment can be made by bacs, or online by card.
Cancellation terms
If you cancel within seven days of making payment we will refund you the retreat fee in full. After this period, SOIF will make a charge for any registrations cancelled before or during the retreat to cover the costs of administration and cancelling rooms, as follows:
Before 16 March 2020: 15% cancellation charge
16 March 2020 to 18 May 2020: 50% cancellation charge
After 19 May 2020: 100% cancellation charge
*All prices are quoted exclusive of UK VAT which will be charged at 20% if applicable. Please contact us if you would like to discuss your VAT eligbility.
Register NowAny Questions?
Any questions, not ready to apply, but want to find out more?
Contact us at:
+44 (0)300 302 0486 | events@soif.org.uk | @SOIFutures #SOIF2020
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Perfectly calibrated course. Quality, excellent. Great speakers. Practical tools and practical suggestionsUnited Nations Development Programme
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One of my best decisions to come to the retreat, strong expertise in the room and highly inspirational
International Committee of the Red Cross