On May 2, 2023, the APEC Center for Technology Foresight (APEC CTF) and the Office of National Higher Education Science Research and Innovation Policy Council (NXPO) welcomed Mr. Adam Sharpe, Youth Participation Consultant at the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Founder and CEO of Futurely. Dr. Surachai Sathitkunarat, Executive Director of APEC CTF and Vice President of NXPO, hosted the meeting where the parties exchanged knowledge and experiences regarding forecasting trends that could affect social and economic development in the future.

Mr. Adam Sharpe is an expert in Foresight tools and is adept at engaging children and young people. He has over a decade of experience working with various organizations, including UNICEF, to design policies that promote the rights and well-being of children and young people. He uses gamification and various tools to enhance engagement with participants for maximum efficiency.

During the meeting, APEC CTF recognized the potential benefits of Mr. Sharpe’s work and plans to conduct a trial of this new process. The trial will aim to make policy planning with children and youth groups more accessible and effective.

Dr. Surachai Sathitkunarat expressed his satisfaction with the meeting, stating that it was an excellent opportunity to learn from Mr. Adam Sharpe’s extensive experience in using Game Foresight tools to empower youth and involve them in policy-making. He believes that the cooperation between APEC CTF and Mr.Sharpe will be valuable for promoting sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region.

Srichattra Chaivongvilan – Correspondent