Annual Meeting

David Beurle

Founder & CEO of Future iQ

David Beurle is a world-renowned strategist, researcher and practitioner. He is CEO of Future iQ, a global foresight research and consulting firm, which he founded in 2003. Beurle helps clients “create future intelligence,” by anticipating the rapidly converging forces affecting their lives and livelihoods. He guides them to proactively define and shape their future with the goal of economic and community resilience and vitality. Clients include countries, regions, cities, tourism destinations, corporations, industries, nonprofits, universities and the U.S. Department of Defense, among others. One of his special interest is the future of regions, which he views as ecosystems for tackling defining issues, such as workforce gaps in supply and demand—a critical area for innovation and prosperity. 

Beurle has developed innovative methodologies, conducted original research and authored numerous papers that advance the field of foresight education and planning. He created The Future Game, a groundbreaking, widely used future simulation tool and pioneered the application of scenario planning to regions and rural industries around the world. He has led over 400 community visioning sessions and lectured at conferences in the U.S. and abroad. An engaging speaker, his strength is making future data relevant to clients’ needs and illuminating the “big picture.” He has designed Think-Tanks with experts, major universities and non-profits and authored benchmark foresight research papers on topics such as The Future of Manufacturing, Cities of the Future, The Future of Food, The Next Industrial Revolution and The Future of Urban Living. His original data research with communities has resulted in a significant growing database on the demand, needs and attitudes for future-based services and thinking. 

A native Australian, Beurle’s interest in the future began in his childhood growing up on his family’s farm. Prior to founding Future iQ, he honed his skills in research and systems-thinking as a Rangeland Scientist in the Outback for the Western Australian Department of Agriculture and for eight years as the Principal Advisor to the Minister of Primary Industries. His U.S. base is in Minneapolis, Minnesota.