The decisions that will define the next decade are being deferred in the name of the next quarter.
Taylor Dee Hawkins helps leaders make decisions when the future is harder to read than ever. A globally recognised expert in strategic foresight and long-term governance, she turns one of the most demanding disciplines in modern leadership into something audiences and organisations can actually use.
She is Co-founder and Managing Director of Foundations for Tomorrow, the organisation behind the Wellbeing of Future Generations Bill introduced to Federal Parliament in 2025. An award-winning leadership development specialist, she is Foresight Practice Lead at Leading Initiatives Worldwide, and has worked with globally recognised brands such as Google, adidas and Salesforce. She is also Lead, Client Intelligence and Delivery at Raksha Intelligence Futures and a Non-Executive Director of the Medical Indemnity Protection Society.
Internationally, she sits on the World Economic Forum’s Global Foresight Network Advisory Board, advised the United Nations Foundation ahead of the UN Summit of the Future, and co-authored Future Generations Policy, Governance and Leadership: Ending ‘Policrastination’ (Springer, 2026). She has addressed audiences at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, the Dubai Future Forum, several United Nations conferences and the Australian National Press Club.
Talking Points
Future-Ready Leadership
Most leadership development teaches people to get better at managing the world as it is. Taylor asks a more demanding question: what would it take to lead toward what the world could be? Drawing on her work at the intersection of leadership, foresight and systems change, she gives executive audiences the judgement and the practical tools to stop optimising for the next quarter and start building genuine command over what comes next. This isn’t a talk about predicting the future. It’s about who leaders need to become to meet it.Future-Ready Leadership
Key Takeaways
• Why most long-term thinking stays at the level of aspiration, and the specific moves that take it further
• How to identify the structural forces inside your organisation that pull every decision back toward the short term
• The difference between performative vision and futures literacy that holds up under scrutiny
• Practical tools that replace the fantasy of forecast accuracy with decision-making that stays coherent under pressure
• A working framework for self-leadership as the foundation of long-horizon judgement
The Intergenerational Advantage: Why Friction Is the Signal, Not the Problem
Most organisations treat generational tension as something to manage or minimise. Taylor reads it differently. Friction between generations is usually a reliable signal about leadership, culture and how work actually gets done. The differences that get reduced to stereotypes about work ethic, loyalty or communication style almost always point to something deeper: questions about trust, progression, meaning and adaptability. Leaders who can read those signals build teams that are more resilient, more collaborative and demonstrably better at adapting through change.The Intergenerational Advantage: Why Friction Is the Signal, Not the Problem
Key Takeaways
• How to read generational friction as a diagnostic for leadership and culture, not a HR problem
• A practical lens for distinguishing generational stereotypes from the structural issues actually driving workplace tension
• How to build multigenerational cultures that increase learning, retention and collective performance
• Why the ability to lead across generations is becoming a defining commercial advantage in periods of rapid social change
Influence Without Authority: Building Coalitions Across Hard Lines
The old architecture of authority is eroding. Title, tenure and institutional position no longer carry the weight they once did, just as the problems facing organisations and societies demand greater coordination, trust and collective action. The leaders shaping this era are not relying on hierarchy. They are learning how to build influence across systems they do not control. Taylor brings a rare credential here: she has built cross-party political coalitions and shifted institutional behaviour at national and global levels, including building the cross-party support that brought the Wellbeing of Future Generations bill to Federal Parliament. She gives leaders a practical, ethically grounded framework for influence that holds when formal authority is limited or absent.Influence Without Authority: Building Coalitions Across Hard Lines
Key Takeaways
• Why traditional models of authority and credibility are losing effectiveness, and what is replacing them
• How to map the influence landscape inside any organisation: the leverage points, the coalition partners, the constraints
• The difference between transactional and relational influence, and why trust-based networks create longer-lasting change
• How to create momentum in rooms where you have no formal authority
• Why ethical influence consistently outperforms manipulation in environments shaped by complexity and distrust
Working Across Difference: The Leadership Capability That Decides the Decade
The hardest problems facing any organisation are no longer solvable by any single team, function or perspective alone. Yet one of the most persistent temptations in leadership is the easier path: building loyalty by drawing lines between people instead of building the capability to work across them. It produces short-term unity. It quietly weakens long-term performance. Diverse leadership teams already outperform homogeneous ones on innovation and resilience, but the deeper insight is that organisations that learn how to work constructively through difference outperform those that cannot. Taylor reframes difference as a leadership asset, and gives audiences the tools to build trust across fault lines, hold tension without collapsing into division, and create the conditions for coordinated action.Working Across Difference: The Leadership Capability That Decides the Decade
Key Takeaways
• How to hold tension and disagreement without rushing into defensiveness or false consensus
• Why division-based leadership weakens long-term performance even when it creates short-term alignment
• Practical ways to design conversations and decision-making processes that strengthen shared ownership
• Why the ability to collaborate across differences is becoming one of the defining competitive advantages of the next decade
Master of Ceremonies
Taylor is the kind of MC who makes a room feel fully present. She prepares deeply, adapts in real time, and moves through live moments with ease, whether she’s following the runsheet or working with the unexpected. Her instinct for pacing and audience energy is matched by a moderator’s curiosity: she asks the questions audiences actually want answered, and guides panel conversations beyond rehearsed talking points into something more honest. She holds a room with intelligence, warmth and well-timed humour, and treats the work of MCing like the strategic discipline it is. If your event needs someone who will care about it as much as you do, Taylor is that person.
Master of Ceremonies
Video
Taylor Dee Hawkins | Founder of Foundations For Tomorrow. Renowned Speaker on our Collective Future
Taylor Dee Hawkins, a renowned Speaker and expert on leadership, dives into the responsibilities of young leaders and citizens to innovate and collaborate on critical issues such as climate change, justice, and equity. She emphasises the importance of creating infrastructure to support effective leadership and decision-making, urging us to push through challenges and embrace collaboration. Taylor explores the essential qualities future leaders need to drive a vision of a just, equitable, and sustainable world. Learn how to equip yourself with the tools and insights necessary to meet today's crises head-on and lead with confidence and creativity.Audio
She expertly manoeuvres the topics and tensions while using her personality to put participants at ease. She’s a magnet for attention and respect, which she returns in multiples. Taylor is a ... keep reading World Economic Forum
After a recommendation from a senior leader in financial services, Taylor was invited to speak as the keynote speaker at The Banking and Finance Oath's (The BFO) Young Ambassador Awards evening in June 2021. Taylor was invited to speak about the role young people can play in driving positive change, thus contributing to a more just society. Taylor also provided great inspiration to those young ambassadors who - as apart of the 12-month Young Ambassador Program - are charged with raising awareness of the importance of ethics, self-reflection and individual accountability in financial services. Taylor was an engaging, authentic and passionate speaker and connected with her audience. Taylor quickly understood the purpose of The BFO and nailed the brief after just one discussion and remained in contact with us to keep us across the research and great work she was carrying out with Foundations of Tomorrow.
I had the pleasure of working with Taylor on a complex, high-profile project that we were launching in Sydney for the first time. Throughout the entire process Taylor demonstrated incredible professionalism, integrity and creativity to ensure that we maximised the project's outcomes. She is able to adapt her communication style to the audience and strategically respond to learnings to refine project delivery. I would not hesitate to work with Taylor in the future, I've tried, and know that she will benefit whichever project or business she works with next.
From the minute I met Taylor, she exuded quiet confidence and humility. She speaks about her achievements in a way that showcases her skills and attributes without being boastful, yet never diminishing what she has done in her short life. She manages to strike a balance that is both aspirational for young women while also being highly relatable.
Taylor Hawkins is an exceptional leader whose working style and competencies are truly admirable. Her calm, informative, and welcoming demeanour while hosting the podcast on our toolkit reflects her expertise and passion for sharing knowledge and stimulating discussions. Her ability to convey complex concepts with clarity and ease is commendable, making her an invaluable source of inspiration and guidance. Taylor is always ready to listen and challenge, and we're grateful for the opportunity to learn from her throughout our projects.
What impressed me most about Taylor was her inclusive approach to discussing different topics. She created an open and welcoming environment that encouraged individuals with diverse backgrounds and perspectives to contribute to the discussions. By actively listening to others' viewpoints and fostering a culture of respect, Taylor facilitated meaningful dialogues that broadened our understanding of key issues in national security leadership. Taylor's engagement with all attendees was truly commendable. She demonstrated a genuine interest in the participants' experiences and challenges, taking the time to address their concerns individually and provide valuable insights and guidance. Her ability to connect with each person, ensured that everyone felt heard and valued throughout the workshop. Taylor' senthusiasm for the subject matter and her passion for empowering women wasprofound. She consistently maintained a high level of energy and her expertise was evident throughoutthe session. Taylor highlighted both theoretical andpractical examples of leadership, creating strong links to the overall theme of national security. Via the use of engaging presentation slidesshe was able to expand on a range of concepts, ensuring all were accessible to the participants.
Taylor was incredibly professional, well-spoken and a wonderful addition to our conference program!
We had Taylor co-host a 3 Day conference earlier this year. She had a strong willingness to assist with preparations leading into the conference with a deep focus on attendees and their experience. Throughout the 3 days, Taylor was incredibly engaging, professional and supportive, going above and beyond to serve every attendee. We will definitely utilise Taylor's hosting expertise at our future conferences.
Taylor presented a workshop to members of my cohort in late 2021. Despite there being a range of ages, she created a welcoming environment where all felt comfortable to participate. She is a calm and passionate presenter, speaking confidently to her content. Taylor struck the perfect balance between lecture style content and tailored activities that met the cohort where they were at, giving practical and tangible learnings which the participants continued to use after the session. In the lead up, Taylor was organised, easy to communicate with and all around delightful. I would love to work with her again, and couldnt recommend her more highly.
I invited Taylor to facilitate an interactive dialogue between world-class CEOs (members of the CEO Climate Alliance) and members of several global youth communities (including the Global Shapers Community) at COP26 in Glasgow which took place in November 2021. The objective was to bring these groups together to increase mutual understanding and open doors for collaboration on climate action. At the front of the room, Taylor is comfortable and her facilitation style is professional and accessible. She expertly manoeuvres the topics and tensions while using her personality to put participants at ease. She's a magnet for attention and respect, which she returns in multiples. Taylor is a competent, confident and well informed speaker, a thoughtful listener and a charismatic individual with the capacity to inspire, mobilize and organize others. A pleasure to work with, Taylor made coordination a breeze - even across a 10 hour time difference. She's wildly efficient, puts her full mind and heart to the task, and is extremely considerate. I have full trust in her abilities and can't wait to invite her back.
Your knowledge and passion for your field were evident in your inspiring, thought-provoking, and engaging presentation. We have received an overwhelming number of compliments from the delegates who felt captivated, inspired and motivated following your talk.
Taylor is an extremely talented, dynamic and an engaging presenter, speaker and facilitator. She has an incredible ability to make sure everyone she speaks with is heard, safe & seen. I've been very lucky to have Taylor as a facilitator for Flourish Girl for a few years now and she has been a positive role model to so many young women across Australia. Her deep care & passion for people is shown in the way that she speaks and listens to her audience. She is a big believer in meeting the audience with where they are at. Her wisdom is beyond measure and consistently goes above and beyond to share her latest opinions on important topics such as feminine leadership, international climate engagements & future interests of Australia. So many leaders & well established organisations can learn so much from Taylor.
