Insight, foresight, and strategic transformation to shape a better tomorrow.
HFS is
We are a strategic innovation partner. We help organizations engage with people, markets, and the implications of change to positively impact business, society, and the planet.
We help our clients learn about the world of their customers to make tough decisions. We foster the thinking to develop impactful products, services, and brands to shape a better future for all.
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The world is evolving at an unprecedented pace. Uncertainty is the new norm and complexity is increasing. We believe in understanding the current state in order to become a leader in shaping what is possible in the years to come. Whether you are:
Seeking deeper understanding: Wanting to better connect with customers, anticipate cultural shifts or decode emerging trends to stay ahead of disruption,
Facing important decisions: Finding yourself at a crossroads, unsure how to move forward, needing to regain momentum, anticipate the next major shifts and make purposeful choices to become active shapers of what’s to come,
Navigating transformation: Redesigning business models, repositioning a brand, launching a new service, adapting to new regulatory landscapes or fostering innovation in a rapidly changing industry.
We can help you move forward with confidence, leveraging research, foresight and strategy to create lasting impact for your organization and your stakeholders.
Who We Are
We are an international team of researchers, strategists, and designers with 15+ years of experience in innovation consulting.
We understand the complete innovation process and are adept at navigating the complexities of moving from foundational research, big picture thinking, concept development, to product prototyping and go-to-market strategy. While each of us bring unique skills, we share a common goal to place people, organizations, and the planet at the centre of what we do.
What We Do
Our work falls into three major categories. We help our clients with big picture thinking, applied innovation, and developing themselves to be more effective.
All of this is devoted to driving meaningful impact and transformative innovation.
1. Strategic Growth + Transformation
2. Insight + Foresight For Innovation
3. Learning + Development
Who We Work For
Our projects range from large-scale corporate initiatives to targeted partnerships with start-ups, agencies, governments, NGOs, and institutions.
We tailor our approach to each organization, whether it’s shaping policy, designing new services, optimizing operations or driving innovation.
Why we do this
At Human Futures Studio, we are committed to actively shaping the future, not just responding to it.
Business value depends on a solid foundation in empirical research. We cut through the noise of AI generated pablum and superficial trends with an engagement of the reality out in the world.
Strategic innovation and transformation require combining business outcomes with purposeful progress toward economic, social, and environmental stewardship. The goal is to stay resilient and relevant amid constant change while making an impact in people’s lives. This proactive approach is at the heart of what we do.
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The purpose of transformation
Transformation is the bridge between today and tomorrow. It ensures organizations don’t just survive but lead with purpose. But not every organisation can make the deep shifts to their business models that transformation may demand. Many operate within economic and structural constraints, balancing ambition with the realities of shareholder-led profit models. Progress means recognising that organisations exist within different paradigms, each with unique challenges and opportunities.
Transformation is not an abstract process. It’s a deliberate shift that fills the gap between where organisations are today and where they can be tomorrow. This involves:
For organisations: Building business models and offerings that thrive by integrating social and environmental responsibility at their core. Resilient businesses are those that recognise sustainability as a competitive advantage, not a constraint.
For governments: Designing policies, systems and services that anticipate societal shifts and create resilient institutions that can serve their citizens effectively.
For NGOs: Strengthening impact through strategic foresight, ensuring that missions stay relevant and adaptive in a changing world while maximising resources for long-term success.
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Paul Hartley, PhD
CEO
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Mat Lincez
EVP Commercial Operations
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Julia Schaeper, PhD
Director of Transformation
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Daniel Mai, PhD
Director of Insights
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Maya Shapiro, PhD
Associate Director Insights
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Marizanne Knoesen
Sr. Foresight Researcher
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Ryan James, PhD
Insights Lead
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Jamie Ferguson
Foresight Researcher
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Victoria Scrubb
Research Manager
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Morgan Gerard, PhD
Senior Advisor and Editorial
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Hye Young Kim
Design Research Lead
What we think
What We Believe
We are driven by a deep commitment to understanding change and its impact—helping our customers avoid reacting to the past and prepare for what is possible.
The Human Futures Approach™ is a seamless combination of insight and foresight, combining a systemic views of current and future states. We are radically human-centric, throughtful about the future, and concerned with planetary wellbeing.
But we always work to drive value for our customers, uncovering the intersections between people, business, and the environment.
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Radically Human Centric
Grounded in rigorous empirical research and interdisciplinary methods, we connect our clients to the human stories impacting their businesses.
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Future led
We anticipate, design, and seed the futures we want to create, bridging future possibilities with the present.
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Adaptive
Strategic innovation and transformation are never one-size-fits-all. We don’t use off-the-shelf processes and always refine our approaches.
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Collaborative
Working together is essential. We build networks, foster collective intelligence and drive systemic change.
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Systemic Thinkers
We think about the bigger picture and connect it to the details of innovation, business strategy, and sustainable transformation.