Dr. Frank Shaw is a business strategist, process consultant and futurist working with a wide variety of organisations in business, government, the voluntary sector and health. The Centre for Future Studies, an independent think-tank, was formed by Frank Shaw in 1996 to assist organisations in understanding what the future may hold in store, and through that knowledge to enable them to make better strategic decisions today. Over the past ten years the Centre has gained international recognition as an authoritative source of knowledge about key trends and developments in business and society.
Formerly a strategic advisor to Canadian Prime Minister, Pierre Trudeau (1973 – 78), Frank has been an advisor to government, trade and industry for over 30 years. Over this period, he was a visiting lecturer at McGill University and Programme Director of an inter-provincial research team pioneering the application of scenario planning models to strategic development. He has worked for many of the past and present Fortune Top 500 companies throughout the world.
Frank is a member of the editorial board of Foresight and European Editor of the futures journal On the Horizon. He is the author of many published articles and papers on the theory and practises of future scenario planning and is invited to speak at conferences around the world.
Frank is currently a visiting professor at Cairo University.
He is the creator of “Hole in the Fence”, a children’s living skills programme designed to help children aged 6-9 to cope with the pressures of growing up. Over 1/3 million copies have been distributed throughout the western world. Frank is also involved in the Excellence in Cities Programme designed to encourage talented sixth formers to enter higher education and excel in their chosen subjects.
- Specialties:
- Futures Observatory programmes
- Scenario planning
- Creativity & innovation
- Group facilitation
- Keynote presentations
Education: McGill University
PhD, Communications Methodologies, October 1970 – June 1972
Dissertation titled “The application of the behavioural sciences to effective communications techniques”. 1972. Published in Journal of Social Psychology, Oct 1972.
Interests:
Children's education, technology, time travel.
Groups and associations:
Royal Society of Arts, Strategic Planning Society, Institute of Directors, Market Research Society.
Honours and awards: Designated one of the top ten influential thinkers in the world by Time Magazine 2003.