Esports is Changing the World w/ Paul J. Foster
FUTURES Podcast
Global Esports Federation CEO Paul J. Foster shares his insights on the role games could play in shaping the future of society, how artificial intelligence may transform the gaming ecosystem, and why esports could emerge as a strategic platform for economic development and diplomacy. Paul J. Foster is President and CEO of the Global Esports Federation (GEF), where he has been instrumental in shaping the organisation’s vision and expanding its global presence. Under his leadership, the GEF has focused on promoting esports as a platform for social impact, inclusion, and innovation....
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Artificial Biological Intelligence w/ Adrian Woolfson | World Governments Summit 2026
FUTURES Podcast
Geneticist Adrian Woolfson shares his insights on designing life with artificial biological intelligence, the possibility of creating new species, and the responsibility that comes with rewriting the rules of evolution. Adrian Woolfson is the co-founder of Genyro, a California-based biotechnology company specialising in synthetic genome design and construction. Born in London, he studied medicine at Balliol College, Oxford, and was formerly the Charles and Katherine Darwin Research Fellow at Darwin College, Cambridge, working at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology. He is the author of the...
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Applied Science Fiction w/ Stephen Oram
FUTURES Podcast
Science Fiction Author Stephen Oram shares his insights on collaborating with scientists to transform research into speculative storytelling, using near-future fiction to explore the ethical implications of emerging technology, and leveraging narrative to foster public engagement with science. Stephen Oram writes near-future science fiction, exploring the intersection of messy humans and imperfect technology. He also works with scientists and technologists on projects that explore possible future outcomes of their research through short stories. He is published in several anthologies,...
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Why Machines Can’t Replace Us w/ Neil Lawrence
FUTURES Podcast
Computer Scientist Neil Lawrence shares his insights on what machine intelligence can teach us about being human, the risks of relying on technologies that prioritise efficiency and scalability over ethics, and the hubris of efforts to extend or upload human consciousness using AI. Neil Lawrence is the inaugural DeepMind Professor of Machine Learning at the University of Cambridge. He has been working on machine learning models for over 20 years. He recently returned to academia after three years as Director of Machine Learning at Amazon. His main interest is the interaction of machine...
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Prototyping Near-Future Worlds w/ Liam Young | Dubai Future Forum 2024
FUTURES Podcast
Architect Liam Young shares his thoughts on how science fiction can be a powerful tool for prototyping new possibilities, why problems like climate change urgently need planetary-scale solutions, and how speculative design can inspire meaningful cultural transformation. Liam Young is a designer, director, and BAFTA-nominated producer who operates in the spaces between design, fiction, and futures. Described by the BBC as ‘the man designing our futures’, his visionary films and speculative worlds are both extraordinary images of tomorrow and urgent examinations of the environmental...
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Decoding Animal Communication w/ Jane Lawton | Dubai Future Forum 2024
FUTURES Podcast
Earth Species Project’s Jane Lawton shares her insights on how artificial intelligence is used to decode animal communication, how new technology challenges human-centric views of intelligence, and how the ‘voices’ of other species can inform conservation efforts and influence rights-for-nature debates. Jane Lawton has over 30 years of international experience working with leading organisations focused on sustainable development and nature conservation. Throughout her career, she has explored various pathways to solve the complex puzzle of living sustainably on Earth. She has held senior...
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Merging Technology & Nature w/ Koert van Mensvoort | Dubai Future Forum 2024
FUTURES Podcast
Philosopher Koert van Mensvoort shares his insights into humanity’s ever-evolving relationship with nature, how integrating technology and biology can support ecology, and the possibility of becoming an interplanetary species. Koert van Mensvoort is an artist and philosopher best known for his work on the philosophical concept of Next Nature, which revolves around the idea that our technological environment has become so complex, omnipresent, and autonomous that it is best perceived as a nature of its own. He is the Director of the Next Nature Network. Koert aims to better understand our...
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Intergenerational Futures Thinking w/ Adam El Rafey | Dubai Future Forum 2024
FUTURES Podcast
Young Change Advocate Adam El Rafey shares his thoughts on why ability, not age, should determine opportunity, how to reimagine education towards problem-based learning, and how the adaptability of the younger generation will prepare them for an increasingly uncertain future. Adam El Rafey is a 14-year-old change advocate, public speaker, and innovator. He is a learning enthusiast passionate about urban planning and transport, reforming education, breaking down barriers, and inspiring others to follow their curiosities and find their voices at any age. He is the youngest university student in...
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Intelligence Augmentation w/ Prof. Pattie Maes | Dubai Future Forum 2024
FUTURES Podcast
MIT Media Lab’s Prof. Pattie Maes shares her insights on using technology to enhance human potential and agency, developing wearable systems to support cognition and learning, and designing ethical human-centred artificial intelligence. Prof. Pattie Maes is the Germeshausen Professor of Media Arts and Sciences at the MIT Media Lab. With a background in Artificial Intelligence and Human-Computer Interaction, her research focuses on human augmentation and how wearable, immersive, and brain-computer systems may assist people with memory, decision-making, and other functions. Netguru selected...
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Dreaming the Future w/ Pierre-Christophe Gam | Dubai Future Forum 2024
FUTURES Podcast
Conceptual Artist Pierre-Christophe Gam shares his thoughts on the transformative power of imagination to shape reality, the potential of the African continent to become a global leader, and how to dream futures that reflect our individual aspirations and collective desires. Pierre-Christophe Gam is a French-born conceptual artist whose contemporary multimedia installations investigate the future through myths, technology, and dreams. Trained as an interior architect at ENSAD in Paris and CSM in London, he founded TOGUNA WORLD, a digital-native research laboratory that merges art, design, and...
info_outlineGlobal Esports Federation CEO Paul J. Foster shares his insights on the role games could play in shaping the future of society, how artificial intelligence may transform the gaming ecosystem, and why esports could emerge as a strategic platform for economic development and diplomacy.
Paul J. Foster is President and CEO of the Global Esports Federation (GEF), where he has been instrumental in shaping the organisation’s vision and expanding its global presence. Under his leadership, the GEF has focused on promoting esports as a platform for social impact, inclusion, and innovation.
Foster’s extensive experience spans over two decades in the Olympic movement, including roles at the International Olympic Committee (IOC), where he led teams at more than 12 Olympic Games and served as Head of Protocol, Events, and Hospitality. His background also includes leadership positions in major international events such as Expo 2020 Dubai and Expo 2025 Baku, Azerbaijan.
Bonus episode recorded live from the World Governments Summit 2026 at the House of Impact on 05 February 2026.
Full-Video Version:
ABOUT THE HOST
Luke Robert Mason is a British-born futures theorist who is passionate about engaging the public with emerging scientific theories and technological developments.
He hosts documentaries for Futurism, and has contributed to BBC Radio, BBC One, The Guardian, Discovery Channel, VICE Motherboard and Wired Magazine.
CREDITS
In Partnership with the World Governments Summit
Producer & Host: Luke Robert Mason
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