Who Are We?

Derek Woodgate – President

Derek Woodgate is a practicing futurist, author, speaker and innovator, who as President of The Futures Lab, an international futures-based consultancy, founded in late 1996, specializes in delivering future potential for major corporations and institutions. His futures work also includes creating technology applications, new product categories, social and human change and ground-breaking business models and approaches. He is best known for developing what is considered a paradigm-shifting approach to future studies and his work on leveraging dystopian futures and rhizomatic thinking techniques, as well as the merging of progressive culture with future studies.

Derek is on the board of the Association of Professional Futurists and Dart Music International, President of the Central Texas Chapter of the World Futures Society and Chief Creative Officer of Plutupia Productions Inc., (a future-focused entertainment and production company). He is also involved with the Digital Convergence Initiative and Create Austin (Austin’s Community Cultural plan).

His books include: Future Frequencies, (2004) hailed as “creating a unique paradigm in the professional futurist field”, Future Flow (June, 2010) with a preface by DJ Spooky, and Calling The Toads – A Burroughs Compendium (1999) co-authored with Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth, Allen Ginsberg and Douglas Brinkley.

Derek has a Masters in Political Economics and has lived and worked in eleven countries and is at home in seven languages.

Derek has taught Future Studies as a visiting Professor at UT McCombs School of Business.

Tessie Spoljaric-Woodgate  – The Futures Lab Chile

Since graduating from the University of Sussex in 2005, Tessie has worked in London, Austin and Santiago as a Futures Researcher. She graduated with a BA in International Relations with Spanish and a year of her studies was spent in Chile. Whislt in Santiago she secured a competitive internship working as a journalist and translator for Chile’s English language newspaper, The Santiago Times.

In 2006/2007 Tessie worked for London-based futures consultancy Global Futures and Foresight, where she worked on projects covering a wide range of sectors including a client project on the future of China, a published report on the future of China’s economy and client projects on the future of travel and tourism in the Middle East and the future of social networks and virtual worlds.

Consequently she was contracted to conduct a 3-month research project for Rainer – a UK nationwide charity that provides support to disadvantaged young people in the UK.

Now based in Santiago, Chile, Tessie is continuing her work as head researcher for The Futures Lab. Since joining the team in March 2008 she has worked on a governmental project on the future of culture and the arts and a client project on the future of education.

Maggie Duval – Business Development

Maggie is a gifted technology visionary and noeticist who offers rare insight into and understanding of current, evolving and emerging technologies. She has been an entrepreneur for over two decades – enjoying a successful career as an independent technology, Web, marketing and creative business development consultant. Maggie began her technology career in 1989 at CompuCom Systems. She broadened her technical knowledge with Exemplar Logic, a technology leader in programmable logic synthesis for UNIX and Windows platforms as both Headquarters Sales Manager and Pacific Rim Distributor Liaison. In 1995 she began working as a freelance Web developer. From 1995-1997 with Pearce Communications of Albany, California, a “boutique” PR firm specializing in Apple/Mac-related start-ups, she handled the tactical implementation of online campaigns and co-managed media relations for Burning Man in 1996.

Ramon Ascobereta – The Futures Lab Mexico

Ramon Ascobereta combines knowledge in hard sciences with an understanding of humanist disciplines. He graduated in Applied Mathematics from Mexico´s National University and pursued studies in international development in Croatia and in Norway. Later on, he furthered his education and has earned degrees in humanities – Literature and European Studies. Ramon is also a candidate to obtain a Masters Degree in Studies of the Future from the University of Houston-Clear Lake. He is a member of the World Futures Studies Federation.

Ramon has numerous years of experience as a special adviser to advertising companies, consulting firms and to Mexico’s National Institute of Statistics, Geography and Informatics. He has also conducted research at the Prospective Center Barros Sierra Foundation, and at the Geomatics Center GEO. These opportunities have enabled Ramon to participate in projects where future-thinking is at the core of the analysis in a diversity of subjects – technology transfer, urban planning, energy, business anthropology and information systems, to name a few.

Parallel to his professional development, his addiction to travel has allowed him to circumnavigate the globe and to continue to experience the pleasure of a new discovery. Being fluent in Spanish, English, French and Italian, Ramon has learned to integrate cultural diversity in his futures-related work. He has also devoted time to alleviate social differences through a variety of non-profit organizations.

Luciana Blanton – The Futures Lab Brazil

Luciana Blanton heads up The Futures Lab operations in Brazil, based in Belo Horizonte, but with additional facilities in Sao Paulo. The company offers comprehensive futures studies consulting, as well as futures research, Frontline Panels and consumer focus groups. The Futures Lab, Brazil is fully integrated into our global network, and provides important insights for our global clients on one of the fastest growing economies.

A creative thinker and accomplished executive, Luciana combines her work as a futurist with her teachings of Technology and Culture in Belo Horizonte.

Luciana holds an interdisciplinary Masters degree from The University of Texas, where she combined Media Studies, Anthropology and the Humanities to develop a unique approach to developmental issues.

She has worked in the United States, Brazil, Mexico, Guatemala, Germany, Holland, Japan, Chile, Argentina, Canada and Spain.

In Brazil, she has worked as a journalist, filmmaker, producer and writer, before joining the economic strategy division of the International Bureau of Banco do Brasil, Brazil´s largest bank.

Luciana also founded CRIA-UFMG-JR, a successful student-run organization that currently provides work for over one hundred students and serve small businesses in the community.

While in Austin, she founded Cultural Business Solutions, whose clients included Gessy-Lever and Dove. She was also a researcher and collaborator for the Science, Technology and Society Program, where she worked with Dr. Elizabeth Keating in developing an international research on mobile technologies and its impacts on the lives of the blind, elderly and dearth communities.

Luciana has written many articles a number of which were published in Encyclopedias, such as `Brazil: An Encyclopedia of Life in the Republic (Greenwood Press) and Encyclopedia of Latin American Women Writers (Routledge).

Rei Kawashima – Creative Futurists Node Japan

Rei Kawashima brings a broad range of experiences to The Futures Lab. She was on staff with the Millennium Project of the American Council of United Nations University and has served as a Director with ISS Inc. Yokohama, Japan. In addition, Rei has worked as a Freelance Translator, an Inter-cultural Business Consultant and Congress Organizer. She is presently engaged with the Secretariat of the University Space Engineering Consortium, Tokyo, Japan.

Rei’s academic background includes a BA in Chinese Literature from Hokkaido University, Japan and other intensive language courses in Chinese and English. She received a Master’s degree in Space Studies from the International Space University, Strasbourg, France, a Master of Arts in Social Science with an emphasis on Leadership Studies from Azusa Pacific University, California and graduate studies in Marketing, Human Resource Management, and Accounting at the Globis Business School, Tokyo.

Rei is fluent in Japanese, English and Chinese. She is credited with the translation of “Megachallenges – A Compass for the 21st Century” by John Naisbitt.

She is a Board member of Japan Futures Research Center, Tokyo Chapter Coordinator of the World Future Society, co-representative of the Creative Futurists Node and a member of the World Future Society. Rei is also Auditor of the Japan Association for Interpretation Studies, Moderator of the Space Generation Forum in cooperation with cooperation with UN and a member of the American Society of Training and Development.

Lisa (Xiaofan) Zhang,  The Futures Lab, Beijing, China

Lisa heads up The Futures Lab operation in China. The Futures Lab, China offers comprehensive futures studies consulting, as well as futures research, Frontline Panels and consumer focus groups and is able to create customized business development plans and to establish successful long-term platforms on which to base entry into the Chinese markets. We are also able to locate suitable partners and alliances, as well as maintaining communications support whilst such arrangements are being built.

Lisa holds a double degree in International Business and English and is a fluent English speaker with over 8 years first hand experience in multi-national business environment, extensive experience in working with multi-national clients/MNCs. She has considerable management skills and extensive experience, having run her own company for a number of years as well as working as a corporate executive. Lisa customers have included international companies, organizations, executives, business owners and professionals from a plethora of categories, industrial to consumer products, media and communications to entertainment and education, such as Granada TV and The Sunday Times, (UK,), Trax-Matthies Architecture, (Germany), Ncdiesel Engine (South Africa), IOWA Department of Economics Development, Virginia Commonwealth University and Pittsburgh Plastics (US).

The Futures Lab, China is fully integrated into our global network, and provides important insights for our global clients on the world’s fastest growing economies.

Clive Cooper – Your Future,  London

Clive Cooper is the Chairman of Research and Brand Futures with our partners Your Future (formerly Corporate Edge), a world-leading specialist in brands, innovation and design.

Clive is an expert in Consumer and Brand Futures, his specialty being futures insights and their practical application in the marketplace. According to Clive, to know the future is impossible, but to anticipate it is critical for truly innovative brand development.

In 1997 Clive set up the Brand Futures Consultancy. His clients including Sainsbury’s, Procter and Gamble, Freemans, Granada and Dulux ICI. The company then fused with Corporate Edge in 1999 before later emerging as Your Future in 2004.

Clive’s experience includes working on future consumer trends, brand vision and innovation for the following clients in diverse industries such as: Shell, Cadbury’s, Nokia, M & S, Ben Sherman, Hugo, Granada, Barclay’s Bank, Hi Tec Sports, Golden Wonder and Casio.

Previously Clive was with Davidson Pearce Advertising, BMP and Grey Advertising, where he served as Deputy Head of Account Planning and as a member of their Agency Management Committee.

Clive has appeared on TV, radio and in the national press as well as the marketing media. He is a regular commentator on Brand Strategy and Consumer Trends. He is a member of the World Futures Society.

Simon Ratcliffe – Your Future, London

Simon Ratcliffe specialises in brand strategy and the practical application of ideas to drive business in the marketplace.

Simon has wide experience of working with companies to help them to identify and deliver future value. He spent 15 years in advertising, latterly as a Group Account Director at Grey Advertising.

Simon set up Brand Futures in 1995 with Planning Partner Clive Cooper. He joined Corporate Edge in 1990 and became Managing Director of the Brand Futures and Innovation division and subsequently Chairman of Branding and Innovation.

He has worked on major brand development and innovation projects for ICI Dulux, Nestle, InterContinental Hotels, GSK, Liverpool, Victoria and Sainsburys.

Linda Hodgson– Future Cat, Europe

Linda Hodgson is Director of Future Cat – a catalyst for future change.

Linda brings creativity to exploring the future possibilities for businesses and brands. She is passionate about helping businesses prepare for their future, and believes the process works best when people are fully engaged, so her approach is practical and ‘hands on,’ helping businesses and brands to ‘have fun with the future’.

Linda’s expertise is in identifying the potential shifts in people’s values, beliefs, and behaviour emanating from the trends, and bringing the knowledge to life as appropriate. Providing foresight springboards, from which product, service, and communication ideas are generated.

In January 2003 she set up her company – Future Cat – and formed an association with The Futures Lab.

Prior to January 2003, Linda worked as Head of future consumer insight, at the strategic brand consultancy Corporate Edge, where she was responsible for developing the Corporate Edge Trend Bank, and used it for inspiration, not information.

During her time at Corporate Edge, Linda worked with a number of multinationals including – GSK, Nestlé, Wyeth, Cadbury Schweppes, Barclays and ICI Dulux.

Previous to Corporate Edge, Linda spent 15 years in advertising, as a consumer insight planner, working with Lintas, DMB&B and finally FCB, where she was European planning director on SC Johnson and Bristol Myers Squibb.

She is part of the Brighton and Hove City Forum, which looks at issues affecting the future of the City, and identifies strategies for debate and possible actions.

She has been extensively quoted in the media, and has run future focussed workshops for marketing media conferences.

Linda is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and a professional member of the World Futures Society.