Future Crunch is a group of scientists, artists, technologists and entrepreneurs. We think there are new and better ways of doing things in the 21st century. Our mission is to foster intelligent, optimistic thinking about the future, and to empower people to contribute to it.
We specialize in the creation and delivery of mind-blowing, visually spectacular learning experiences, both in-person and virtually. These include traditional keynotes and workshops, as well as professionally produced, interactive digital presentations and online streaming experiences. If you’re looking for a product that delivers engaging, relevant content backed by world-class research, we can help.
We pride ourselves on ensuring that our knowledge is cutting edge, that our stories are tailored to a specific audience or industry, and that we deliver more value than we capture. We keep the facts sacred, and storytelling is at the heart of everything we do. Our team of un-like minds combine insights from different fields to create unexpected perspectives about the future. The idea is to say something new about the world in 2023.
We love science and technology, we think collaboration always trumps genius, and we believe that if we want to change the story of the human race, we have to change the stories we tell ourselves.
Tane Hunter
Cancer Scientist
Tané is a cancer researcher, bioinformatician, data scientist and science communicator. He is the CEO and co-founder of Future Crunch. He has a Masters in Bioinformatics from the University of Melbourne, and has worked for the Melbourne Royal Children’s Hospital diagnosing rare genetic diseases. As a data scientist and cancer researcher at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, he used artificial intelligence and non-invasive molecular biomarkers in DNA to improve treatments for people suffering from cancer. He's also a former United States mountain biking champion and an avid sailor.
Dr Angus Hervey
Political Economist
Angus is a political economist and a journalist specialising in the impact of disruptive technologies on society. He is a co-founder at Future Crunch. He was the founding community manager of Random Hacks of Kindness, a global initiative from Google, IBM, Microsoft, NASA and the World Bank to create open-source technology solutions to social challenges. He was also the first editorial manager for Global Policy, one of the world's leading international policy journals. He holds a PhD in International Political Economy from the London School of Economics, where he was the Ralph Miliband Scholar.
Rebecca Maklad
Influence Strategist
Rebecca is an advisor on purpose and a business influence strategist. As an authority in the professional speaking industry, she spent 15 years launching and advising the careers of the world's most respected CEOs, entrepreneurs, authors, and thought leaders. Since 2014, alongside the co-founders, Rebecca has built Future Crunch into a global thought leadership brand. She is the creator of Ignite, a consulting business that supports leaders to stand out and transform their expertise into real influence and the host of the DNA Of Purpose Podcast.
Dr Shasta Henry
Ecologist
Shasta is a scientist and science communicator; a passionate adventurer, entomologist and educator. She has named beetles from the Amazon (and has one species named after her), guided white water rafts in Canada and once crocheted a hot air balloon. She's worked at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington DC, and is currently working at the University of Tasmania, where she received her PhD investigating the impact of fire on invertebrate communities in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.
Melissa Neighbour
Urban Planner
Melissa is an environmental town planner, community builder and sustainability specialist. She is the Owner of Sky Town Planning, a purpose-driven town planning consultancy based in Sydney. She has developed and implemented award-winning sustainable development projects across Australia, and is on a mission to activate sustainable forms of living in urban spaces of the future. She is a founding member of the World Economic Forum Sydney Shaper Hub, and was the National Convener for the United National Association of Australia Young Professionals Network.
Lilian Kikuvi
Diversity Evangelist
Lilian is a speaker, facilitator and consultant, who works with individuals and organisations to supercharge the gift of diversity in the workplace. She holds postgraduate diploma in psychology from the University of Wollongong and is a qualified counsellor, trained at the Australian College of Applied Psychology. Her thirteen years in the insurance sector, and her lived cross-cultural experience of more than two decades, has fuelled an obsession with harnessing the extraordinary power of inclusivity in the 21st century.
Rhea Mercado
Healthcare Humanist
Rhea is an accredited exercise physiologist who has spent 15 years decoding human rehabilitation and recovery. Working throughout her career as a business owner, Rhea understands the challenge of balancing the ‘mission and margin’ of healthcare practice. Finding her passion in workers compensation, Rhea’s core focus has been on humanising healthcare and encouraging other professionals to bring their flare, personality, and humanity inside the treatment room. Alongside her mentoring and training work, Rhea is the host of The Intelligent Rebellion Podcast and author of “Compo - A Rehabilitation Consultant’s Journey.”
Ehssan Sakhaee
Engineer & Cartoonist
Ehssan is a cartoonist, leadership educator, engineer, writer, philosopher and mindfulness practitioner. He has been lecturing at University of Sydney, UCLA Extension and Osaka University in the area of leadership, innovation and sustainability for close to a decade. He has founded a tech startup for measuring soft skill development (UpskillEQ) as well as an edutainment company (Wacky Wisdom) and Inspirational Management Australia using evidence-based personal and leadership development training.
Will Tait
Musical Philosopher
Will Tait is a songsmith, MC and presenter with a passion for inspiring wonder and revealing the hidden potential in situations and gatherings. He is an educational presenter, founder of Our Planet Enterprises, and the lead singer for 8Foot Felix, a theatrical multi-genre festival band touring in Australia and overseas. He is motivated by the idea that our modern global culture is reaching out for a new story about the workings of the world, a story in which we see ourselves as integrally connected to each other and our universe.
Sarah Rowan
Speed Painter
Sarah is Australia’s top female speed painter. She has been speed painting for over 15 years, bringing a vibrant, energetic and fun vibe to everything she does, and to date has painted at over 400 events raising over $175,000 for charity. Sarah is also a speaker who inspires her audiences to embrace their own creativity and authenticity. As part of the Future Crunch team, she helps create extraordinary experiences, allowing audiences to learn with both the heart and the head. She graduated from Converse College in 2003 with a BFA in Studio Art, and moved to Sydney in 2005 to expand her art horizons.