ISLAMABAD, Oct 30 (DNA):Pakistani futurist Khawaja Hammad Akbar has been elected Inclusiveness Officer of FLARE, a European research initiative aimed at promoting Futures Literacy in education, governance and innovation to help societies better navigate uncertainty, complexity and transformation.
Akbar was elected during the kick-off meeting of FLARE – COST Action CA25141 (Futures Literacy for Anticipatory Societies), held by its Management Committee in Brussels on October 19, 2026, said a press release.
The four-year initiative brings together researchers, educators, policymakers and practitioners from 33 countries to develop a common conceptual foundation for Futures Literacy, establish shared methodologies and assessment tools, and promote its integration into education and governance.
As Inclusiveness Officer, Akbar will contribute to ensuring that the initiative’s activities and growing community of practice accommodate diverse voices, disciplines and geographical regions.
The initiative also aims to develop ethics-by-design protocols, validate indicators for futures-oriented learning and policymaking, and strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration.
During the kick-off meeting, members elected the initiative’s leadership and participated in brainstorming sessions to exchange ideas and outline priorities for future collaboration.
Marina Andeva was elected Action Chair and Grant Holder Scientific Representative, while Sanna Ketonen-Oksi was elected Vice-Chair. The University American College Skopje will serve as the Grant Holder Institution.
Iryna Gerasymenko was appointed Grant Awarding Coordinator, while Andreia Damian will serve as Science Communication Coordinator.
The initiative will operate through four working groups focusing on theoretical and methodological foundations, applied futures and pathways to practice, futures literacy assessment and evaluation, and capacity and impact development.
The Management Committee comprises more than 50 members representing 33 countries.
FLARE is supported by the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST), which facilitates international research and innovation collaboration.
