The Future Report

The education sector sits at the heart of so many communities. And yet they're facing a lot of change. From generational to demographic and technological - all these trends are shaping the future of education. In this week's episode, our podcast producer, Holly Schaaf, sits down with McCrindle's Director of Advisory and podcast host, Ashley Fell, to talk about how thriving schools stay...

Consumer behaviour is always changing, and brand managers probably wish it was simple to understand and respond to. But, it’s a bit more complex than that. That’s why we made the focus of our recent consumer insights report about the megatrends shaping the consumer landscape – framed through paradoxes. In this week's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle’s Managing Director, Sop...

As you may have heard, we recently celebrated 20 years as a business here at McCrindle! It’s an exciting milestone, and we’re fortunate to have team members who've been part of the journey for over 12 years now (and counting!). In this week's episode, our podcast producer, Holly Schaaf, sits down with McCrindle's longest standing employees - Creative Director Ben Duffin and Director of...

Since the dawn of time, humans have told stories. Around campfires, in books, through film, and now, in business and data. But why? Because stories connect us. And when told well, they make ideas stick, bring data to life, and inspire action. In this week's episode, our podcast producer, Holly Schaaf, sits down with Future Report host and Director of Advisory at McCrindle, Ashley Fell, to talk abo...

Attracting and retaining great people in an organisation is no easy feat. A key part of thriving organisations is the people who work for them, how engaged they are in their work, and whether or not they feel part of the culture of their organisation. But what is culture? It can be hard to define and even harder to measure. That is why we developed a cultural health index. In this week's episode,...

You might know McCrindle for our research, our infographics, or our keynote presentations. Well, this year we’re celebrating something pretty special - 20 years since McCrindle was founded! In this week's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle's Principal and Founder, Mark McCrindle, to reflect on two decades of trends, team, and transformation. We're exploring where...

You might be thinking a lot can change in 10 years. Or, you might feel like nothing really does! But when you zoom out and look at the data, you’ll find we’re already on the edge of enormous transformation. From population milestones to Olympic moments, retirement waves to airport megaprojects, the 2030s is set to be anything but boring. At McCrindle, we’ve been mapping these shifts for decades. A...

You might love generational analysis, or you might critique and dismiss it. At McCrindle, we’ve spent decades researching generations— and coined the term Generation Alpha — but we also believe in listening to the critics. Whatever perspective you hold, we’re diving headfirst into the Reddit threads, TikTok comments, and water cooler conversations that ask: Are generational labels like Gen Z, Mill...

It took years for technologies such as the telephone, radio and the TV to reach mass adoption. Yet now, technological change happens in mere months. The latest iteration of technological change is Artificial Intelligence, and the uptake of it is occurring at a pace that hasn’t been seen before and shows no signs of slowing down. In this week's episode, McCrindle's Advisory Executive, Holly Schaaf,...

How do you think your morning routine compares to that of the average Aussie? Does it involve getting up early or sleeping in, drinking a caffeinated beverage at home or grabbing one once you’re out the door? And importantly, is that beverage hot, or iced? We were recently commissioned by Nespresso to uncover Aussie coffee habits, with a focus on their morning routines. In this week's episode,...

Retail has transformed more in the last five years than the last five decades — from the rise of eCommerce to the evolution of customer expectations and delivery speeds. In this week's episode, our podcast producer, Holly Schaaf, sits down with Director of Advisory at McCrindle and Future Report host, Ashley Fell, to unpack recent research that McCrindle conducted for Australia Post’s eCommerce In...

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.