Episode Details

"If we talk about the future, we need to have the future [a.k.a. the next generation] at the table."

Are you interested in upcoming urban trends? What do you think about the need for investigating multiple futures in foresight? How can we utilise different timeframes to prepare for the future?

Interview with Petra Hurtado, Chief Foresight and Knowledge Officer at the American Planning Association. We will talk about her vision for the future of cities, urban trends on different time scales, the future of workplace, technology, and many more.

Petra Hurtado, Ph.D., serves as the Chief Foresight & Knowledge Officer at the American Planning Association, where she spearheads APA’s foresight practice to foster innovation and resilience in planning. Holding a Ph.D. in urban planning from the Vienna University of Technology, Petra specializes in strategic foresight, futures literacy, urban futures, emerging technologies, urban sustainability, and environmental psychology. Before APA, she worked globally as an advisor, planner, and educator in sustainability. Petra has taught as an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland and Vienna University of Technology, covering foresight, sustainability, and environmental psychology. A sought-after keynote speaker, she has presented at global conferences and guest-lectured at institutions like Harvard GSD and Virginia Tech. Passionate about empowering communities, Petra blends academic rigor with practical insights to inspire action and drive positive change in dynamic urban environments.

Find out more about Petra through these links:

• Petra Hurtado on LinkedIn
• American Planning Association website
• American Planning Association on LinkedIn
• @APA_Planning as American Planning Association on X
• @americanplanningassociation as American Planning Association on Instagram
• American Planning Association on YouTube
• APA Foresight website
• Imaginable - book on scenario planning by Jane McGonigal

Connecting episodes you might interested in:

• No.222 - Interview with Adam Dorr about technology as applied knowledge
• No.324 - Interview with Fin Moorhouse about regulatory backlash
• No.338 - Interview with Alison Watson about the next generation in the built environment
• No.351R - 2025 Trend Report for Planners

What was the most interesting part for you? What questions did ari