Foundations for Tomorrow / News

Media & Commentary

Articles, analysis and commentary on long-term governance, intergenerational fairness and the reforms Australia needs to build a future worth inheriting.

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Our articles, analysis, submissions, features, talks and recognition, all in one place.

Newsletter

2025 Year in Review

Looking back on a landmark year for Foundations for Tomorrow: the initiatives, partnerships and reform milestones that shaped 2025.

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The Feed

Australia's AI Productivity Gains Depend on Building Trust, Not Avoiding Rules

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The Feed

Beyond Deck-chair Economics: The Case for Transformative Reform

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The Feed

Economic Reform Won't Be Enough: Australia Needs Systemic Change

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The Feed

Building Together: Turning Momentum into Lasting Reform

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The Feed

Why We Need a Future Generations Approach: The Australian Imperative

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Analysis

2025 Federal Budget Analysis: Future Generations

An analysis of the Federal Budget through the eyes of a child born on budget night, tracing its implications for tax, care, climate and the Intergenerational Report's five major forces.

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Newsletter

A Year of Progress and Promise

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The Feed

What Can First Nations Systems Thinking Teach Us About Sustainable Land Management?

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Submission

Inquiry into the 2025 Federal Election

FFT made a submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters and made recommendations to move to four-year fixed-term elections to overcome short-termism in our system of government.

Media Release

Discussion Paper on National Conversation to Build the Australia We Want

At the November 2025 Parliamentary Group for Future Generations meeting, co-chairs Ms Ash Ambihaipahar, Senator Maria Kovacic and Dr Sophie Scamps, alongside Bernard Salt, launched the discussion paper for Building the Australia We Want.

Submission

Economic Reform Roundtable

FFT submitted recommendations to the Economic Reform Roundtable, calling for youth representation, a broader focus on long-term wellbeing, and the adoption of Future Generations Policy reforms. We stressed that Australia must move beyond short-term fixes to systemic change that secures a resilient and equitable future.

Press Release

The Wellbeing of Future Generations Bill

Independent MP Dr Sophie Scamps introduced the Wellbeing of Future Generations Bill to Parliament on 10 February 2025, the development of which was supported by Foundations for Tomorrow.

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Feature · Women's Agenda

'Leaving our kids a harder world'

Dr Sophie Scamps pushes government to consider young people in its decisions. The Bill was developed in consultation with Foundations for Tomorrow.

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Feature · The Conversation

Overcoming short-termism in Australia

Professor Susan Harris Rimmer, Board Director of FFT, and Dr Elise Stephenson, member of the Intergenerational Fairness Coalition, wrote on the potential of the Wellbeing of Future Generations Bill to help politicians overcome short-termism in Australia.

Feature · SMH

A commission for the next generation

“On Monday, Scamps proposed a commission to consider the wellbeing of the next generation out of concern that children today will be worse off than their parents unless the country acts on housing, tax, climate and other priorities.”

Feature · The Daily Aus

Covering the Wellbeing of Future Generations Bill

The Daily Aus covered the introduction of the Bill across their long-form, video and social media content, highlighting its positive contribution to discussions of intergenerational equity.

Winner

Together Towards Tomorrow

A collaboration between Ashoka and HSBC, which celebrates initiatives that unite people across generations to activate young people as leaders.

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Author · The Policymaker

A fair go for future generations of Australians

James Martin Institute for Public Policy: building on international initiatives, a Future Generations Commissioner in Australia could put long-term interests front of mind for today's policymakers.

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Launch

The For Our Future Policy Brief

On 21 November 2024, Foundations for Tomorrow launched the Future Generations Policy Brief, the culmination of two years of research, collaborative dialogue and consultative efforts to define a path forward for future generations policy in Australia.

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Research

A Fair Go for Future Generations Research Project

A collaborative initiative between EveryGen (an initiative of Griffith University), Foundations for Tomorrow and the Global Institute for Women's Leadership at ANU.

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Host

Intergenerational Town Hall

In collaboration with the Unlock the Future coalition and Orygen, Foundations for Tomorrow hosted an Intergenerational Town Hall, bringing together voices from grassroots advocates to high-level policymakers to craft a vision for the year 2100.

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Finalist

NSW Young Australian of the Year

The work of FFT was recognised through the Young Australian of the Year Awards, with Taylor selected as a finalist for the NSW Young Australian of the Year for her work advocating for the interests of future generations.

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Co-host

Intergenerational Fairness Summit 2024

Co-hosted by the Intergenerational Fairness Coalition, the Summit served as a launch pad for advancing intergenerational fairness and future generations policy in Australia.

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Workshop

Building Wellbeing into Policy and Action

Taylor presented at the Building Wellbeing into Policy and Action Workshop with the University of Canberra, VicHealth, Centre for Policy Development, Australian Unity and Seed Lifespan.

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Author · Lowy Institute

Answering the SOS of the United Nations

Clare Beaton-Wells, Head of Government Relations at FFT, writes about Australia's support of the Pact for the Future as a chance to shape reform of the global organisation.

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Author · Croakey

Is it time for Australia to legislate for the wellbeing of future generations?

Amie Furlong and Clare Beaton-Wells share insights from the For Our Future Policy Brief and highlight the economic, political, and commercial consequences of short-termism.

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Speaker

United Nations Summit of the Future

Clare Beaton-Wells, FFT's Head of Government Relations, represented FFT at the Summit of the Future alongside global leaders including Senators, former heads of state and current and former Future Generations Commissioners.

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Appointment

Network of Institutions for Future Generations

FFT Managing Director Taylor Hawkins was elected to the Executive Leadership Team of the Network of Institutions for Future Generations, whose mission is to build a global movement to protect the interests of future generations.

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Milestone

A Future Generations Act for the ACT

Independents for Canberra declared their commitment to making the ACT the first jurisdiction in Australia to introduce a Future Generations Act, building on the leadership of the national movement for a Wellbeing of Future Generations Act.

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Speaker · CEDA

State of the Nation

FFT's Director of Research and Policy, Hayley Whatman, spoke on intergenerational equity, with Taylor co-chairing a roundtable alongside CEDA CEO Melinda Cilento.

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Speaker

Early Childhood Australia National Conference

Taylor spoke alongside a lineup including the Hon Dr Anne Aly MP, Minister for Youth, on the essential role of civic engagement in unlocking the full potential of future generations of Australians.

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Speaker

Philanthropy Australia National Conference

Taylor spoke in the conference plenary about the role of 'next gen philanthropy' in combatting intergenerational inequality.

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Speaker

FWD+Organise Conference

Taylor shared key learnings and highlights from FFT's journey to date, and opportunities to support the For Our Future Campaign.

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Speaker

Now For The Long-Term

Amie Furlong, FFT's Research Lead, spoke on safeguarding the rights and needs of future generations.

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Speaker

Generations in Conversation

Taylor joined Professor Bobby Duffy from the Policy Institute, Danielle Wood, Chair of the Productivity Commission, and Jahin Tanvir, CEO of the Australian School of Entrepreneurship, to highlight the need to invest in intergenerational fairness.

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Speaker

Mackellar Youth Partnership Program

FFT Communications Advisor Anna Bezuglova joined Dr Sophie Scamps, Federal MP for Mackellar, to share insights on advocating for a Commissioner for Future Generations.

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Milestone

Future Generations Leadership Accelerator Refresh

FFT refreshed the Future Generations Leadership Accelerator, which has now supported more than 1,000 individuals globally.

Introduction

The Wellbeing of Future Generations Bill (2025)

On 10 February 2025, Dr Sophie Scamps MP introduced the Wellbeing of Future Generations Bill into the Australian Federal Parliament, seconded by Mrs Bridget Archer MP. Both Parliamentarians credited the work of Foundations for Tomorrow as pivotal to its development.

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Commentary

2024 Purpose of Government Pulse

Foundations for Tomorrow provided expert commentary on the findings of the 2024 Purpose of Government Pulse, a comprehensive study spanning 2015–2023 by the Centre for Policy Development.

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Facilitator

The Dubai Futures Forum

Foundations for Tomorrow co-hosted an interactive dialogue with the School of International Futures ahead of the United Nations Summit of the Future, convening cross-disciplinary leaders around ambitious action for future generations.

Co-host

The National Summit on Intergenerational Fairness

Foundations for Tomorrow co-hosted the inaugural National Summit of Intergenerational Fairness alongside Orygen Institute, Think Forward, EveryGen and the Foundation for Young Australians.

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Feature · Podcast

Dubai Future Horizons

Taylor Hawkins joins the Dubai Future Horizons podcast alongside two members of the Global Future Generations Ambassador cohort to discuss the evolution of futures and foresight practices.

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Speaker

The Global Parliamentary Congress

Foundations for Tomorrow shared insights on the future of governance, civic engagement and leveraging long-term solutions at the Global Parliamentary Congress in Lithuania.

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Presentation

A Contract for Our Future

Foundations for Tomorrow Co-Founder Bianca Goebel presents 'A Contract for Our Future' at Stockholm+50, capturing input from young leaders around the world.

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Speaker · WEF

World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, Davos

Taylor Hawkins, Foundations for Tomorrow's Managing Director, spoke about the challenges of fractured trust between young people and leaders, and how we can overcome this.

Relaunch

Future Generations Leadership Accelerator

Across four modules, young leaders are guided through the fundamentals of future generations thinking, examples of future generations policy in practice from around the world, and coached through creating their own Impact Roadmap.

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Presentation

Stockholm+50

Foundations for Tomorrow was invited to present highlights from the Future Generations Leadership Accelerator at the United Nations Stockholm+50 international meeting.

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Launch

The Awareness to Action Report

Foundations for Tomorrow launched the Awareness to Action report, amplifying the voices of young Australians in the design of a more just, equitable and sustainable Australian future.

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Convening

Global Future Gen Ambassadors

The Global Future Generations Ambassadors convened at the Dubai Futures Forum to amplify the voices of the next generation at the world's largest meeting of futurists.

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Feature · SMH

Voices from the Regions

The Sydney Morning Herald dove deeper into the findings of the 'Voices from the Regions' report, highlighting that regional Australians demand action, not obfuscation, on climate change.

Feature · Podcast

The Economists' Corner

CEDA's CEO taps into the concerns of young people today and how future generations will be impacted by climate change, joined by Deanne Stewart, CEO Aware Super, and Taylor Hawkins, Managing Director of Foundations for Tomorrow.

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Feature · Podcast

What's Your Cause

Join Mick as he explores the stories and passions of people who have found their purpose and cause and are making a difference in the world.

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Selection

2023 Kofi Annan Changemaker Program

The work of Foundations for Tomorrow was selected for the 2023 cohort of the Kofi Annan Changemaker Program, receiving support and guidance from experienced leaders and changemakers.

Speaker · WEF

World Economic Forum Annual Meeting

Taylor Hawkins represented Foundations for Tomorrow at the Open Forum during the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting to discuss 'turning words into actions'.

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Article · The Guardian

Young people's concerns for environment and government

Foundations for Tomorrow study gives insight into young people's concerns for environment and government response.

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Feature · 2SER Radio

Insights from the Awareness to Action Report

Holly Crockford, Co-founder of Foundations for Tomorrow, joined 2SER Radio to share insights from the Awareness to Action Report.

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Collaboration

Aware Super

Aware Super is a proud supporter of the Awareness to Action Report, which captures 10,000 responses from Australians under 30 to understand what matters to young people today.

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Keynote

Better Futures Forum

Taylor Hawkins represented Foundations for Tomorrow at the Better Futures Forum to discuss working across sectors and with government to enhance climate ambition.

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Article · The Examiner

What would enable more trust in Australian leaders?

When asked what would enable more trust in Australian leaders across government and industry, almost half of respondents said 'action'. Is it that simple?

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Article · Mumbrella

Who is responsible for addressing climate change?

The Awareness to Action report demonstrated that the majority of respondents believed government is most responsible for addressing climate change, with large-scale enterprises the second most cited entity responsible.

Article · Textbook Ventures

A chat with Darcy Small, Kua Coffee

Innovation and entrepreneurship form the cornerstone of a better and brighter future. We chat with Darcy Small, co-founder of Kua Coffee and Director at Foundations for Tomorrow.

Article · The Examiner

Attracting and retaining youth talent

Organisations that bring value-based decisions to the forefront of their strategies, and help young people thrive in the workplace, will continue to stand out and attract energetic youth talent.

Feature · Global Shapers

Empowering the Gold Coast community

Empowering the Gold Coast community to create impact in health, climate change and shaping our city's future through dialogue and action.

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Article · Eco Voice

Turning awareness into action

It's time for Australian leaders to turn our awareness of key policy challenges into meaningful action. We need to reset our leadership culture, because at this rate, we will continue to lag on the most important issues facing this country.

Article · Girlfriend Magazine

What does Australia look like after COVID-19?

A new study wants you to decide what the country looks like after COVID-19.

Video

The Launch of the Awareness to Action Report

Amplifying the voices of thousands of young Australians, the Awareness to Action consultation offered a youth-led vision for a more just, equitable and sustainable Australian future.

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Video

A Contract for Our Future

FFT Co-Founder Bianca Goebel presents 'A Contract for Our Future' at Stockholm+50, drawing on input from young people around the world into a call to action for all leaders to protect the needs of future generations.

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Video

The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting

Taylor Hawkins represents Foundations for Tomorrow at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting to discuss 'Tackling Youth Mistrust'.

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