The future we want:
event series wrap-up

Across three events in Auckland, Melbourne and Sydney, we shared The future we want, our latest study exploring how people feel and think about the future. 

From Melbourne’s Italian martini bar Pepe Parlour to Sydney’s vinyl record bar, Baptist St. Rec. Club, we brought marketers, innovators and insight professionals together over cocktails, 
canapés and conversations about what everyday Australians and New Zealanders want from the future. 

More than 60% of Australians and New Zealanders say the future they want isn’t defined by technology, but by spontaneity, control and meaningful connection. This came through in the research and was echoed in the conversations we had throughout the evenings. 

As technology becomes more embedded in our lives, people are thinking carefully about how we preserve what makes us human – from protecting individual thought and creativity to maintaining the basic human care that can’t be automated. 

“Humanity is a muscle we don’t want to weaken. If you don’t use it, will you lose it?” 

At the same time, there’s a real appetite for discovery. People want to keep learning, experimenting and pushing themselves, even when that means getting things wrong 
along the way. 

For brands, it’s a reminder that the future isn’t simply about what technology can do. It’s about how we use it to create more meaningful experiences, give people greater agency and keep human connection at the centre. 

Thank you to everyone who joined us across the three events and helped bring the conversation to life.