NSC Futures Hub hosts Australia launch of ‘Global Strategic Trends: Out to 2055’

The ANU National Security College's Futures Hub hosted a special futures event, the Australia launch of Global Strategic Trends: Out to 2055 (Seventh Edition) (GST 7) publication, in conjunction with the United Kingdom’s High Commission to Australia, Defence Futures team at the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence and Australia’s Department of Defence. 

About the report 

The Global Strategic Trends – a publication by the UK Ministry of Defence – seeks to improve foresight and encourage better strategic choices to shape the future. GST 7 is the latest iteration of this longstanding futures process.  

The Global Strategic Trends publication has long been a beacon of strategic foresight, guiding decision-makers with a framework for thinking about the future and the latest edition builds on two decades of multidisciplinary analysis.  

GST 7’s findings highlight the interconnected nature of global drivers of change, where cooperation and confrontation coexist in a world increasingly influenced by complex power dynamics: shifting allegiances, fluid interests and emerging technologies. While challenges such as global climate, inequity, resourcing constraints and governance stresses grow, GST 7 also identifies opportunities for humanity to leverage human innovation, resilience and multilateral cooperation to shape a more sustainable, equitable future. 

Futures workshop 

Representatives from His Majesty’s High Commission to Australia, members of the Australian Defence Force, our academic and futures community and members of the Australian Public Service were in attendance. 

Participants also tested their strategic nous in a futures workshop which tackled some challenging alternative futures for Australia and the Indo-Pacific region in 2055, drawn from the trends identified in the GST 7. 

We would like to thank everyone who participated in the event and made it a success.