The Future Generations Fellowship
Building the human infrastructure required to sustain ambitious reform across generations, embedding young leaders within live policy, civic initiatives and cross-sector networks.
A flagship leadership pipeline for Australia's reform moment
The Future Generations Fellowship is FFT's flagship leadership development program, designed to cultivate a pipeline of trusted, capable leaders across diverse sectors equipped with the capabilities to advance long-term governance in Australia.
Across a structured, year-long program, Fellows are embedded directly within live policy and civic initiatives, working alongside parliamentarians, policymakers, academics and civil society leaders to contribute to reform processes.
More than just a traditional leadership program, the Fellowship represents FFT's commitment to building the human infrastructure required to sustain ambitious reform across generations. By embedding young leaders within institutional processes and cross-sector networks, the Fellowship aims to strengthen Australia's long-term leadership pipeline while advancing a culture of shared stewardship, democratic participation and intergenerational collaboration.
The Five Strengths of a Future Generations Leader
Seizing Australia's reform moment requires a particular kind of leader, one equipped for both the outer demands of governance and the inner development required to lead through complexity.
Futures literacy & systems thinking
Engaging with complexity, holding long and short time horizons simultaneously, and thinking beyond the immediate to make decisions that account for consequences across generations.
Relational intelligence & trust-building
Building genuine trust across sectors, generations, cultures and political differences, and showing up with the emotional groundedness that makes trust last.
Cross-partisan influence & strategic communication
Building the case for reform across political divides and translating complex ideas into language that lands across different audiences and worldviews.
Intergenerational Collaboration
Working across generations in genuine partnership, including advocating for future ones, learning from older ones and developing those coming up behind you.
Grounded courage
Knowing yourself honestly enough to admit mistakes, staying curious to ideas and people outside your own expertise, and having the courage to be vulnerable, give hard feedback, and keep learning in public.
The Fellowship Experience
The Future Generations Fellowship is 12 months from commencement, designed to combine practical experience, strategic capability building and intergenerational collaboration.
Leadership Exposure and Influence
Fellows are embedded directly within live policy, advocacy and civic processes, working alongside experienced practitioners and decision-makers on FFT's flagship initiatives.
Personalised Professional Development
Each Fellow develops a living Personalised Development Plan (PDP) that guides goal-setting, quarterly self-reflection and growth tracking across the year, connecting personal values to FFT workstreams and stretch opportunities.
Collaborative and Intergenerational Learning
Fellows build relationships across the cohort and beyond, engaging with a diverse network of experts, institutions and ecosystem leaders through FFT's platforms and projects.
Sustained Engagement and Accountability
Fellows are supported through regular check-ins, monthly cohort touchpoints and structured feedback practices that build the self-awareness underpinning all five strengths.
Meet our 2026 Fellows
Planning Saw
Youth advocate, researcher, and doctor passionate about health equity, public health, and youth participation in research and policy. Co-Founder of Global Health Youth Connect and contributor to the Medical Journal of Australia. 2024 Rising Star in Youth Health awardee.
Dr Planning Saw is a youth advocate, researcher, and doctor passionate about health equity, public health, and youth participation in research and policy. He has co-authored multiple publications in the Medical Journal of Australia, including contributions to the Future Healthy Countdown 2030 consensus statement, as well as papers on youth decision-making, youth-led approaches to health equity, and the rationale for lowering the voting age. He is currently leading a Photovoice study exploring how young people are affected by the economic and commercial determinants of health.
Planning is Co-Founder of Global Health Youth Connect, a youth-led non-profit advancing health literacy and the social determinants of health in schools and communities. He also serves as Youth and CALD Representative on the ALIVE National Centre Governance Committee, and is a member of both the Future Healthy Countdown Working Group and the Western Sydney University Young and Resilient Research Centre Advisory Board. In 2024, he was recognised as Rising Star in Youth Health by the Australian Association for Adolescent Health.
Tanisha Frescon
Proud Kanolu woman committed to social justice, equity, and self-determination. Works across the not-for-profit sector in career support and program development, with deep focus on education equity and opportunities for First Nations youth.
Tanisha is a proud Kanolu woman committed to social justice, equity, and self-determination. She is deeply passionate about contributing to the betterment of First Nations youth and communities. Since completing a Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Griffith University in 2020, she has worked across the not-for-profit sector in career support and program development roles.
Tanisha aspires to be a leader who drives meaningful, practical change, particularly in advancing education equity and expanding opportunities for young Australians to shape their own futures. She is motivated by a strong commitment to supporting systems and initiatives that empower First Nations people and strengthen communities for the long-term.
Matthew Day
Honours student at Griffith University exploring Australia's multiculturalism in foreign policy. Holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons)/Bachelor of Government and International Relations and has served as a research assistant at Griffith's Policy Innovation Hub.
Matthew is currently an Honours student at Griffith University exploring the role of Australia's multiculturalism in foreign policy, its influence on regional youth perceptions, and whether Australia's cultural diversity is a source of soft power and regional engagement. He recently completed a Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Government and International Relations at Griffith University.
Matthew's interest in future generations policy was encouraged by a research placement with Foundations for Tomorrow in November 2022, leading to continued engagement as a research advisor in a volunteer capacity. He has previously been a research assistant with Griffith University's Policy Innovation Hub and is currently a research assistant with the Griffith Law School. He was also a member of the Review Team assisting with the first independent review of the Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld).
Lucy Wang
Digital transformation professional with four years' experience in technology consulting and in-house product roles. Specialises in user-centred digital solutions across retail, healthcare, government, and mining sectors.
Lucy is a digital transformation professional with four years' experience working across technology consulting and in-house product roles. As a product manager, she specialises in designing and delivering user-centred digital and data solutions, with experience spanning retail, healthcare, government, and mining sectors.
As a Foundations for Tomorrow 2026 Fellow, Lucy is deeply interested in the intersection of digital innovation and future generations policy. She is motivated by the potential for technology to support long-term, sustainable outcomes when paired with inclusive co-design and systems thinking.
Emmett Howard
Experienced policy researcher with roles across state and federal departments. Background in international relations with a focus on technology, security and ethics. Formerly with Young Australians in International Affairs and the Young Diplomats Society.
Emmett is an experienced policy researcher, having worked in a number of policy and project management roles across state and federal departments. With a background in international relations and ethics, his research has focused on the intersection of technology, security, and ethics.
Emmett is a firm believer in interdisciplinary approaches to policy and advocacy and in the importance of promoting youth perspective in politics and international affairs, having held leadership positions with Young Australians in International Affairs and the Young Diplomats Society in Melbourne. His most recent research has focused on justice constrained longtermism, the social construction of threats from emerging technologies, and mechanisms for international coordination in addressing global risks such as climate change and transformative technologies.
Paris Riebeling
Strong commitment to sustainability and social justice through the non-profit sector. Bachelor's degrees in Biochemistry and International Studies, with professional experience in climate advocacy and engagement with rural and remote communities.
Paris has a strong commitment to sustainability and social justice through roles in the non-profit sector. She has a bachelor's degree in both Biochemistry and International Studies and a professional background in people-focused roles from climate advocacy to engagement with rural and remote areas, balancing strategic thinking with practical execution in order to empower communities. She is motivated by the belief that lasting impact is built through trust, collaboration, and a community-first mindset.
Ahna Maree
Bio coming soon.
Fellowship Supporters
The Future Generations Fellowship has been developed with the partnership and support of leading organisations committed to long-term thinking and governance reform.
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