Ariella Helfgott

• Biography/ Background

  Professor Ariella Helfgott is a globally recognised expert in strategic foresight, systems thinking, and collaborative change, with more than two decades of experience working across academia, government, and industry across 8 global regions. Her work focuses on co-creating sustainable, inclusive, and resilient futures through the integration of foresight, participatory processes, and systems-based approaches.

   

  She is currently Professor at the University of Adelaide, Program Director for Foresight and Decision-Making at the One Basin Cooperative Research Centre, and Director of Foresight and Strategic Learning at the World Energy Council (Global Secretariat), where she is activating the Council’s global network to build anticipatory capacity, enable systemic learning, and drive strategic dialogue on the future of energy across 100 countries.

   

  Professor Helfgott is also the Founder and Co-Director (with Stavroula Adameitis) of the SA Futures Agency, an independent foresight initiative dedicated to enabling South Australians to anticipate change, take strategic action, and shape better futures tailored to the state’s unique context. She also serves on the Futures Council of the ANU National Security College, contributing to national and international foresight for complex, rapidly evolving security environments.

   

  Previously, she established and led the Government of South Australia’s first whole-of-government foresight function as Director of Strategic Foresight in the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, supporting the development of over 30 long-term strategies across 19 agencies. She has also held senior foresight roles as Director of Scenarios at the World Energy Council, member of the Shell Scenario Team, and Director of Collaborative Futures. Her academic leadership includes research programs at the University of Oxford’s Environmental Change Institute, the Copernicus Institute at Utrecht University, Wageningen University, and the University of Adelaide.

   

  Her scholarly publications include contributions on resilience, adaptation, systems thinking, futures and foresight, strategy and decision-making, collaboration and collective action, bridging theory and practice across disciplines and sectors. Her research continues to shape approaches to climate adaptation, sustainability transitions, and participatory foresight worldwide.

   

  Professor Helfgott is passionate about mobilising empathy, foresight, and strategic learning to nurture caring, peaceful, and generative societies—both now and for generations to come.

Entry last updated: Tuesday, 1 Apr 2025