Keynote Speakers

It is a pleasure to introduce to you our confirmed Keynote Speakers: Rosa Alegria (Brazil), Maija Setälä (Finland), Elizabeth Strickler (USA) and Erik F. Øverland (Germany): 

Rosa Alegria

Futurist, Director of the Millennium Project and Teach the Future in Brazil, CEO Perspektiva Consulting in Strategic Foresight, Brazil

Rosa Alegria has been a professional futurist for the last 21 years. Prior to that she worked as a business communication executive in large companies for 20 years. She is a pioneer in strategic foresight in Brazil, an international consultant and a lecturer. Rosa Alegria is recognized as one of the most influential women futurists in Latin America.

Rosa Alegria has a BA in Language and Literature at University of São Paulo (Brazil) and Masters Degree in Futures Studies at University of Houston Clear Lake (USA, 2001). She has specialty in sustainability/post-development at Schumacher College (UK), in Global Management and Diversity at Morehouse College, Atlanta (USA) and in Creativity at CCL Center for Creative Leadership, California (USA).

Rosa Alegria is CEO of Perspektiva, trends, scenarios and strategies consulting. She is co-founder of futures research group at São Paulo Catholic University; co-founder of the startup Pangera – a start up that promotes intergenerational dialogue; member of the executive board of the World Federation of Futures Studies (WFSF); professional member of the Association of Professional Futurists (APF); director of the Millennium Project in Brazil – global network of researchers on the future and director of the Teach the Future movement in Brazil.

Maija Setälä

PhD, Professor in Political Science, University of Turku, Finland

Maija Setälä is a professor in political science at the University of Turku. Setälä specialises in democratic theory, especially theories of deliberative democracy, direct democracy and democratic innovations. She has led a multi-disciplinary research consortium “Participation in Long-Term Decision-Making (PALO)” (2017–2022), funded by the Strategic Research Council of the Academy of Finland. She is also a co-editor a book “Democracy and the Future” (with Michael K. MacKenzie and Simo Kyllönen; EUP, 2023).

Elizabeth Strickler

Director of Entrepreneurship Programs in the Creative Media Industries Institute, Georgia State University, USA

Elizabeth Strickler is the Director of Media Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Creative Media Industries Institute at Georgia State University. She teaches media innovation to undergraduate and graduate students and works with major labels and cultural icons to build web3, blockchain, and virtual production strategies. Her April 2021 TEDx talk is considered canonical viewing for those entering the nft/metaverse space and she presents regularly on the topic.

Elizabeth Strickler holds academic positions in both the Business School and the College of Arts and Sciences, where she has received multiple grants to research innovation and XR in higher education. Her goal is to help others start businesses, tell immersive stories, and build a stronger cultural economy. She believes most people can learn most things and have fun while doing so. Her eclectic interests can be seen in her academic credentials, holding a BA in Philosophy, BS in Computer Science, and an MFA in Digital Filmmaking and Art.

Erik F. Øverland

PhD, President and Chairman of the Board, World Futures Studies Federation (WFSF), Germany

Erik F. Øverland is the President of World Futures Studies Federation (WFSF) (2017–2025). Today he is also Counsellor, special Envoy for Education and Research at the Norwegian Embassy in Berlin. Until recently he was a policy advisor to the Minister of Education and Research in Norway, and a guest lecturer at the Free University in Berlin and University in Stavanger on Foresight Management issues.

Dr. Øverland has published several books and scientific articles about futures studies, and is one of the most experienced foresight practitioners in Norway. Dr. Øverland was the Project Manager of Norway2030 by the Norwegian Government (1998-2001) and has conducted futures studies for agencies and business enterprises both in Norway and abroad.