Jury 2025

Jennifer is the Director of Internationalisation at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts at Edith Cowan University in Western Australia. She holds a PhD in Cultural Musicology, focusing on music and visual culture in early modern Europe. Specifically, her research examines the cultural politics and performativity of Renaissance festivals. Currently, her work explores the liminality and intersectionality of art, research, and social innovation. She is the Founder and Creative Director of The Metamorphosis Project: Art as Research, Research as Art. This initiative seeks to break down research siloes and examine the impact of multi-sectoral collaboration across academia, industry, and the arts. In November 2024, Metamorphosis published its inaugural journal, marking a milestone in its mission. Additionally, Jennifer serves on the Board of Directors for Regional Arts Western Australia and the Centre for Entrepreneurial Research and Innovation. Through these roles, she continues to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and champion the integration of creative and academic practices.

Bonface is a visionary African storyteller and international multidisciplinary artist who bridges indigenous wisdom, theatre, and social transformation. Rooted in the rich traditions of African storytelling, his work merges performance, participatory art, and healing-centered approaches to reimagine pathways for peace and systemic change. Driven by a deep belief in the power of imagination to reshape realities, Bonface founded Mama Afrika Theatre Lab for Peace and Imaginable Futures—a creative space where artistic expression becomes a catalyst for rethinking global challenges. His practice engages communities in co-creating narratives that foster dialogue, resilience, and new possibilities for regenerative futures. With an MA in Peacebuilding from the University of Manitoba, Canada, and currently pursuing a PhD in Peace and Conflict Studies, Bonface merges artistic practice with research, exploring how social art can disrupt entrenched power structures, inspire collective healing, and ignite action. Through his work, he invites artists, changemakers, and communities to dream boldly and reimagine the futures we need.

Ifi is an oceanographer and creative researcher at the Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC). Specializing in participatory art-science facilitation and ocean literacy, she fosters dialogue and co-creates new narratives about the ocean. With a master’s in Water and Coastal Management, she has worked across five countries in diverse roles. Her experience spans coastal management, marine cartography, and environmental assessments of offshore wind farms and submarine cables. A lifelong water enthusiast, Ifi has been a competitive swimmer, skipper, water chemist, and photographer. She seamlessly blends scientific expertise with artistic expression to deepen connections between people and marine ecosystems. Fluent in multiple languages, she navigates different cultures as effortlessly as she navigates the sea. At ICM-CSIC, she brings all these elements together—exploring where art and science merge to inspire new ways of understanding and protecting our oceans.

Eulalia is a Polish art critic, curator, and expert in contemporary and public art. A member of AICA (International Association of Art Critics), she has curated over 100 exhibitions across Poland and Europe, including a major exhibition of Magdalena Abakanowicz. Since 2022, she has served as Director of the State Art Gallery in Sopot. Previously, she led the Polish Sculpture Center in Orońsko (2015–2019), where she worked on exhibitions featuring renowned artists such as Tony Cragg and Henry Moore. In addition to her curatorial work, she has been a dedicated researcher and lecturer in art history. With a deep interest in the intersection of art, environment, and public space, she explores how artistic expression can reshape landscapes and challenge narratives. Her work emphasizes the power of creativity to foster dialogue, inspire new perspectives, and contribute to collective well-being.

Derek is a worldknown futurist, educator, and speaker specializing in experimental futures and transformative education. As President of The Futures Lab, Inc., he has advised over 170 corporations, governments, and institutions worldwide, shaping long-term strategies. In addition to his consultancy work, he teaches at universities in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the USA. He also actively supports futures education initiatives across Africa, fostering new approaches to learning. His work explores the fusion of multimedia, progressive culture, and emerging technologies to create more inclusive and regenerative futures. Throughout his career, he has led cultural innovation initiatives, founding Fringecore and Plutopia Productions, both known for pioneering projects. Notably, Plutopia Productions launched the SXSW “Living the Future” events, blending art, technology, and speculative thinking. Currently, his FutureXperience Lab continues to push the boundaries of multimedia-driven futures exploration. Furthermore, he is the author of Future Frequencies, The Augmented Learner, and Future Flow. His upcoming book, Future Rhythms, is set for publication in 2025.

Brigitte has been a member of the Executive Board of the Bertelsmann Stiftung since 2005. She is currently responsible for the programs “The Common Good”, the “Center for Sustainable Communities”, “Health”, and “Digitalization”. During her tenure, she initiated the founding of the non-profit consulting company PHINEO, and the patient portals “Weisse Liste” and “ZiviZ – Zivilgesellschaft in Zahlen”. Internationally, Brigitte has contributed significantly to the discourse on impact investing. From 2001 to 2014, she served as Chair of the German Stroke Foundation’s Executive Board. Afterward, she assumed the Chair of the Board of Trustees. She is also a member of the Supervisory Board of Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA and Bertelsmann Management SE. Additionally, she serves as a member of the Bertelsmann Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH. Beyond these roles, Brigitte has her own investment vehicle that supports startups aligned with the SDGs.

Fran Erazo is the co-founder of Culturans, a Mexico City–based NGO that integrates art, culture, and social innovation. His work focuses on creating sustainable cities and fostering futures rooted in humanity. With a background in art, architecture, philosophy, and urbanism, he promotes art as a tool for social change. For over a decade, he has actively engaged citizens in transforming their communities through creative interventions. He has also built global partnerships that connect public, private, and civil society sectors. By fostering collaboration, he helps drive environmental innovation and community-led development. His approach highlights creativity’s role in reimagining urban spaces and strengthening social resilience.

Huijun is a strategic communicator and environmental advocate who integrates storytelling, diplomacy, and policy to inspire collective action for sustainable futures. With over 15 years of experience in international public relations, she has led communications strategies focused on climate change, biodiversity, and sustainable development. Through her work, she bridges voices across sectors and cultures, fostering meaningful collaboration. Her career includes key roles at the EU Policy and Outreach Partnership in China, the China Entrepreneur Club, and the EU-China Environment Governance Programme. In these positions, she has played a vital role in promoting cross-cultural dialogue and advancing environmental initiatives. Passionate about the transformative power of art, media, and diplomacy, Huijun works to amplify the narratives that drive real change. She believes that by reshaping planetary narratives, we can inspire more inclusive, sustainable, and regenerative futures.

Gerrit Jan is a reknown mentor, strategist, and connector of ideas and people. As a fellow at We Are Changemakers, a global incubator for social and impact-driven entrepreneurs, he leads international expansion and mentoring efforts. With his boutique agency, What Would The Birds Say, he is curating a new conference set for March 2026 in Europe—an event designed to bring together artists, collectives, and labs to explore pathways toward a future worth arriving at. Gerrit Jan thrives on flow, energy, and thoughtful provocation. He is a big- picture thinker, exceptional at strategy, and prefers to leave the details to those who love them. Music scores his daily work, setting the rhythm for creativity, collaboration, and impact.

Jan is the President of the Visionary Ethics Foundation (VEF) in Costa Rica. With extensive experience across Latin America and the Caribbean, Jan has led initiatives that empower communities, foster sustainability, and drive systemic change. She has held key roles at the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA/OAS) and served as Country Representative in Jamaica and Haiti, where she developed programs in microenterprise, women’s empowerment, and conflict resolution. Her work integrates cultural dialogue and indigenous knowledge, reinforcing her commitment to ethical and regenerative futures. She believes that conscious evolution and ethical leadership are essential for sustainable governance and inclusive societies built on cooperation and compassion. Having grown up across multiple continents, she developed a deep appreciation for diverse cultural perspectives. Her career later took her to Haiti and Costa Rica, where she expanded her impact. Dedicated to building bridges between cultures and ideas, Jan continues to foster meaningful collaboration for a more just and sustainable world where our human rights and Nature’s rights are the number one priority.

Johan is a passionate advocate for renewable energy and climate justice, working at the intersection of policy, finance, and sustainable transformation. As the outgoing Head of Secretariat for the Africa-EU Energy Partnership (GET.pro) in Bonn, he collaborates with global partners to advance Africa’s just energy transition. His work focuses on fostering international cooperation to drive sustainable energy solutions across the continent. Previously, he served as CEO of the South African Wind Energy Association and Chair of the South African Renewable Energy Council. In these roles, he played a key part in shaping policy and investment strategies for sustainable power solutions. With over 20 years of experience in energy and climate protection, Johan is also an internationally accredited mediator. He is dedicated to fostering collaborative, cross-sector solutions that contribute to regenerative futures. In recognition of his impact, he was awarded the 2015 Global Sustainable Leadership Award by the World CSR Congress in Mumbai, India.

Maggie is a globally recognized futurist and designer celebrated for her award- winning contributions in both fields. As Chief Futurist and CEO of Futures Present, she helps organizations and individuals envision futures, thereby enabling them to make informed decisions in the present. In addition to her work in strategic foresight, Maggie is deeply passionate about empowering museums and guiding the public to embrace complexity through futures work. Her dedication to education and research is further reflected in her current pursuit of a SMARTlab practice-based PhD in Architecture and Design Research at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. Furthermore, she actively shares her expertise by lecturing at post-graduate institutions worldwide, fostering a global dialogue on futures thinking and innovation.

Marcelo’s research and practice unfold in two strands: participatory governance and cultural democracy.  His focus is on working collaboratively with communities, sector support, research, and organisational strategy to help improve participatory practice.  He is the Director of Applied Live Art Studio, a social practice art studio.  His exhibition From Birth till Death: Scrolled Life Stories was nominated for Museum + Heritage Awards, Exhibition of the Year 2021. From this experience he published Community Engagement as Museum Exhibition in Engage: The International Journal of Visual Art and Gallery Education, Issue 45 on Class and Inequality (2021). His studio work can be found in the permanent collection of the London Museum.  He created and delivers the Central Saint Martin College of Art & Design Short Course: Creative Health & Wellbeing through Artmaking since 2019. Marcelo has co-founded various mutual aid groups and networks internationally and delivers consultancy around organisational leadership and development in the cultural sector as well as professional coaching and mentoring.

Nicole is the Board Director at the Institute for Art and Innovation, and a seasoned manager in art, science, and innovation. With over 20 years of global experience, she specializes in inter- and transdisciplinary collaboration. Throughout her career, she has consistently bridged artistic research, social innovation, and sustainable practices.. Her leadership in water-related initiatives—such as The Universal Sea, Ocean Future Lab, and Sustainable Coastal Futures—highlights her dedication to environmental regeneration through art. In recognition of her efforts, she received the German Award for Sustainability Projects in 2024 for her work with the Art For Futures Lab.. Recently, she co-founded The Futuring Alliance to drive transformative innovation. Additionally, she is pursuing a PhD at Film University Babelsberg, researching Social Art for Transformation. Previously, her WHITECONCEPTS Gallery, active for more than a decade, served as a vibrant space for interdisciplinary dialogue and experimental art practice.