The Future Report

Students, parents, employers, and policymakers all have growing and shifting expectations for schools and educators. From curriculum updates to wellbeing initiatives, career preparation to technological integration, education is being asked to do more than ever before. In this week's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with Director of Strategy at McCrindle, Grant Dusting, to explore wha...

As we look toward 2035, we are on the cusp of a new era in education - one that will be shaped by the emergence of Gen Beta, the first generation born entirely into a world of advanced technology and digital connectivity. These young learners, born from 2025, will experience an education system unlike any before, offering exciting opportunities to rethink how we teach, learn, and support future ge...

Today, the journey to parenthood is influenced by a complexinterplay of career aspirations, financial considerations, and evolving cultural norms. While the desire to have children remains strong, many people are reevaluating the timing and feasibility of starting a family. Recent research by McCrindle sheds light on these shifting dynamics, revealing how modern life is redefining what it means to...

Welcome back to another season of The Future Report! Have you ever wondered how popular your name is? Or perhaps you’re about to welcome a little one, and you are deep in the world of name lists, baby books, and family opinions. Each year, McCrindle analyses the top baby names across Australia — and the 2025 results have just been revealed! In this week's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits d...

The charities and not-for-profit sector is a significant contributor to Australia. For decades, charities have been making an impact and caring for those in need. The operating environment for organisations, however, is increasingly complex. Organisations are navigating technological change, tightening regulations and reporting, demographic and generational change, and cost-of-living pressures, wh...

Many people are intimidated by data, believing that withouta background in mathematics or statistics, they are not equipped to engage with it. However, most data is not the heavy, academic material - and you don’t need to be an expert to effectively use data in a presentation. In this week’s episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle’s Founder and Principal, Mark McCrindle, to discus...

Consumer behaviour is evolving faster than ever, shaped by economic pressures, technology, and generational preferences. In this week's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with Marketing and Insights Strategist at McCrindle, Luke Davies, to dive into how different generations are spending, saving, and shopping—and what this means for businesses and brands. The generations as consumers in...

Have you ever worked with someone of a different generation and found it to be a bit of a challenge? Well, you’re not alone. In a recent study, we uncovered the different priorities, expectations and preferences of each generation at work. In this week's episode, our podcast producer, Holly Schaaf, sits down with Social Researcher and Director of Advisory at McCrindle, Ashley Fell, to discuss thes...

The pace of generational change is accelerating, with each new cohort bringing fresh perspectives and reshaping the world faster than ever before. We call this phenomenon, “Generation Acceleration.” In this week's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle's Principal and Founder, Mark McCrindle, to discuss what this acceleration means for society and organisations.

We live in an increasingly connected world, with that set to only continue in the future as we undergo what some call “the third digital revolution”, driven by artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. Despite this, people are seeking balance by stepping away from their screens — a movement we have labelled the “Digital Detox.” This trend highlights a growing awareness of the need for men...

Economic uncertainty has led to a shift in consumer behaviour, with many opting for what we’re calling “Consumer Compromise.” From prioritising needs over wants to finding value in second-hand goods, today’s consumers are making smarter, more deliberate choices. In today's episode, our Future Report podcast producer, Holly Schaaf, sits down with McCrindle’s Director of Advisory and podcast hos...

Despite advancements in technology and innovation, productivity growth has slowed — an intriguing phenomenon known as the “Productivity Paradox” (as we have called it!). As workplaces adopt new tools and processes, the question remains: why isn’t output increasing at the same rate? In today's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle's Founder and Principal, Mark McCrindle, to explo...

2025 is shaping up to be a landmark year for infrastructure. With cities expanding and populations growing, we’re going to see an era of major development projects, which we’ve deemed to be our first trend of 2025, titled the “Big Build.” These projects aim to accommodate future generations, reshape urban living, and improve connectivity. In today's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with M...

Welcome back to another season of The Future Report! The year 2025 marks not only a new year, but the beginning of a whole new generation. That’s right - from 2025 we will welcome Generation Beta into the world. To kick off Season 14, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle’s Founder and Principal, Mark McCrindle, to discuss this new generation and their future.

Although we are futurists, we do think it’s wise to look back at the past, for context and helpful insights about what might lie ahead. As 2024 draws to a close, we are going to reflect on the year that has been. In this final episode of season 13 and of the year, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle’s Managing Director, Sophie Renton, to discuss some of the memorable things we’ve lived...

As we approach the middle of this decade, the world continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, shaped by demographic, economic, and social shifts. An understanding of the transformative trends set to shape 2025 is essential. Why? Because the future of an organisation rests in its relevance and innovation. That is why, every year at McCrindle, we release our predictions for the trends set to sha...

How often do you get distracted by your digital device? Do you feel like you spend too much time on social media? Do you wish it had never been invented? We are in a unique era where society is now questioning technology and taking steps to reduce its impact on their life. In today's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle’s Managing Director, Sophie Renton, to investigate this to...

In recent years, we have witnessed the greatest transformation to work in a century. The rapid rise of AI and machine learning, as well as the shift towards hybrid work, and redefined employee expectations, have all reshaped the world of work, and in turn the role of Human Resources (HR) leaders. Organisations are increasingly looking to these HR leaders to inform strategy, recognising that the al...

A futurist can be described as someone who studies the future and makes predictions about it based on current trends. As you can imagine, it’s a fascinating profession to be in, and one that we love to explore. In today's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle’s Principal and futurist himself, Mark McCrindle, to discuss the behaviours of a great futurist.

Consumers today are different to that of the past. They have different expectations, different values, and subsequently, different expectations of the brands they engage with. Thus, if companies want to connect with current and future consumers, they need to do things a little differently. In today's episode, our podcast producer, Holly Schaaf, sits down with podcast host and social researcher, As...

Younger Australians, particularly Gen Z and Gen Y, are optimistic about their future financial prospects. Yet some of our latest research reveals that financial anxiety remains prevalent, especially among Gen Z, who report worrying about their finances more than any other generation. Although this is true, many younger Australians are still taking proactive steps toward financial freedom, investin...

Welcome back to another season of The Future Report podcast! Last week, Mark McCrindle and Ashley Fell had the pleasure of speaking at the second iteration of SXSW in Sydney - a conference for global creative professionals seeking future industry trends and adventurous new ways of thinking. In today's episode, our podcast producer, Holly Schaaf, sits down with our host, Ashley Fell, to discuss McC...

You might think that Baby Boomers and Generation Z are worlds apart in their work ethic and values, but our latest research challenges those assumptions, revealing surprising similarities and debunking some common stereotypes. In this final episode of season 12, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle's Managing Director, Sophie Renton, to explore how each generation approaches work, w...

By 2025, Generation Alpha will become the largest generation. Shaped in a digital and virtual world, they are certainly different to previous generations. But how are they viewed among the other cohorts? This was the focus of one of our latest insights reports. In today's episode, our podcast producer, Holly Schaaf, sits down with McCrindle's Director of Advisory and Future Report host, As...

In today's fast-evolving workplace, the convergence of multiple generations brings forth a tapestry of perspectives, experiences, and approaches that profoundly shape organisational culture. That’s why we have made this the focus of our latest research report - Cultivating Healthy Intergenerational Teams. Through this research, we have uncovered not just the challenges but also the opportuniti...