The futurist's futurist

For more than 35 years, HRCFS, under the guidance of Director Jim Dator, has helped individuals and organisations of all kinds explore alternative futures, as well as training several generations of consulting and academic futurists, in the art of inventing and pursuing preferred futures.

But what about preferred futurists?

Exciting news from the futures community: Jim Dator tops the list.

Says Mike Jackson (via email), Chairman of UK-based foresight intelligence service Shaping Tomorrow:

In a recent poll, Shaping Tomorrow asked its 600+ futurists members in its Foresight Network to say who their favourite futurist was of all time. Hazel Henderson and Jim Dator shared topsite with Joe Coates in third.

It's worth pointing out that Dator is the only full-time academic of the three, which is significant because despite his extensive, ongoing extracurricular work as a consultant and speaker, the respect he has earned among futures practitioners comes through his influence as a teacher and colleague, more than through being a public figure.

So, this poll result -- honour though it certainly is -- does not come as a complete shock to us, Dator's colleagues and students. He has over the years taught and mentored hundreds of students here in Hawaii, and challenged and transformed the thinking of thousands of clients and others, in audiences all around the world. Although we can be sure in view of his astonishing modesty that he won't particularly relish the attention, it remains for us to say --

Thank you, Jim, and congratulations!