Our Leadership Team
At Shaping Tomorrow, we do more than observe the future - we engage with it, shape it, and help others do the same.
Our leadership team brings together innovators, strategists, futurists, and technologists who are not only experts in their fields, but passionate explorers of what lies ahead.
We embrace the unknown with curiosity and creativity, constantly evolving ourselves and our solutions to meet the accelerating pace of change. Each team member brings their own unique perspective, enriching our collective ability to anticipate, adapt, and lead.
United by a shared commitment to continuous innovation and human-centered foresight, we are proud to help organizations everywhere navigate complexity and unlock the opportunities of tomorrow.
Meet the team that leans into the future - every day.
Matthew Richardson - Co-founder & Chief Executive Officer
What does Shaping Tomorrow mean to me?
I co-founded Shaping Tomorrow just days before the birth of my first child - in many ways, it’s one of my babies. What energizes me each day is meeting clients, gathering their feedback, and working with our development team to make their horizon scanning and foresight processes more efficient. Shaping Tomorrow is about building something meaningful: helping clients save time, streamline their work, and better prepare for the future. Every client interaction fuels my enthusiasm to innovate and continuously improve.
My biography
I am the co-founder and CEO of Shaping Tomorrow, where I lead the development of our fully automated, self-learning horizon scanning system, Athena. With over 25 years of experience across strategic foresight, AI innovation, and environmental policy, I work at the intersection of technology, strategy, and sustainable development. I’ve led foresight and risk information projects for government agencies, research institutions, and corporations worldwide. From environmental law consultancy to pioneering AI solutions, my focus has always been on harnessing complexity to deliver clarity and value for decision-makers.
My perfect weekend
‘Perfection’ is a tall order. For me, the ultimate weekend would involve both of my favourite activities: sailing and skiing. Ideally somewhere like southeast France, where you can sail one day and ski the next in the Alps Maritimes - or southwest Turkey, combining Mediterranean sailing and skiing at Saklıkent.
My LinkedIn
Matthew Richardson on LinkedIn
The place(s) I call home
Hurstpierpoint in Sussex, with cherished connections to Teddington, Dorset, Istanbul, and Hamble in Hampshire.
Jens Hansen - Strategy & Communication Director
What does Shaping Tomorrow mean to me?
Shaping Tomorrow offers uniquely powerful ways - through rich, future-oriented datasets and AI-powered co-pilots - to see how our possible futures may unfold. As a business strategist and investor, it enables me to focus on how best to interact with what is coming, without first having to build the complex insights and scenarios myself - it’s all right there.
My biography
Over the past 30+ years, I’ve had the privilege to work globally, blending vision and strategy, technology implementation, business model transformation, and people development. I’m passionate about inspiring strategic focus, entrepreneurship, and innovation in leaders and organizations. Today, my favorite role is as a futures and foresight facilitator and mentor. Drawing on my experience as an executive advisor, entrepreneur, CEO, strategist, and investor - and my studies in systems theory (MSc) and international business (MBA) - I focus on helping others benefit from the possibilities the future brings, every single day.
My perfect weekend
A perfect weekend would include a long hike in the mountains, either in great company for good conversation or alone for reflection. Or, active time with close friends over a homecooked meal. Or even a full weekend trip away with my wife - each bringing new inspiration, surprises, and reconnection.
My LinkedIn
Jens Hansen on LinkedIn
The place I call home
Zurich, Switzerland.
Dennis Draeger - Research Director
What does Shaping Tomorrow mean to me?
Mapping futures is challenging - especially connecting them to corporate strategy and present management - but thinking like a futurist should be second nature. To me, futures thinking should be culturally inherent, taught in simple ways from a young age. Shaping Tomorrow simplifies foresight tools, making them valuable and accessible for everyone - from academics to executives to individuals seeking motivation for their futures.
My biography
As Research Director at Shaping Tomorrow and lead consultant with Aiglatson Foresight Research, I help organizations see the broader, deeper, and longer view of the future. I specialize in horizon scanning, scenario planning, and qualitative technology forecasting, helping organizations innovate and manage uncertainty. I’ve consulted globally across industries, focusing on technology’s impact on society - from 3D printing's retail disruption to nanotechnology's EHS concerns to transhumanism’s legal questions. I believe the future constantly shifts, and organizations must maintain foresight to maximize opportunities and minimize threats.
My perfect weekend
Hiking in the hills with my family on Saturday, then back to the city for some street tacos. Sunday spent at church, with family, and relaxing with a good book.
My LinkedIn
Dennis Draeger on LinkedIn
The place I call home
Napier, New Zealand.
Graham Norris - Lead Futurist
What does Shaping Tomorrow mean to me?
To me, Shaping Tomorrow represents the frontier of smart working: humans augmented by artificial intelligence. The platform combines human-curated sources with AI’s synthesizing power, saving me an incredible amount of research time - and letting us focus more on what matters: meaningful futures.
My biography
My passion is blending psychology and foresight to help people cultivate a healthier attitude toward the future and make better decisions. Accelerating change breeds uncertainty - but the mindsets, tools, and skills of futures thinking allow us to embrace it rather than fear it. My doctoral research focused on change, adaptability, and mindfulness among knowledge workers in rapidly developing China. As change accelerates globally, our ability to create coherent and actionable views of the future will determine how successfully we navigate it.
My perfect weekend
Paddleboarding down the Thames - it’s a wonderful way to experience the river, exercise, and catch up with friends at the same time.
My LinkedIn
Graham Norris on LinkedIn
The place I call home
Maidenhead, United Kingdom.
Kerry Richardson - Marketing Director
What does Shaping Tomorrow mean to me?
Shaping Tomorrow has grown alongside me for many years, expanding my thinking about the world and the people in it. It allows me to easily research and discover new ideas - and have more informed, meaningful conversations with friends and peers.
My biography
Starting out as a manager in a large electronics company alongside brilliant cryptographers, I found my path in the early web world - and never left. Now as the UX specialist and Marketing Director for Shaping Tomorrow, I focus on making our powerful platform accessible and intuitive. I bridge the technical and human sides of innovation, balancing creativity with practicality, helping turn complex systems into simple, beautiful user experiences.
My perfect weekend
Spending time in my garden with my hands in the soil, watching wildlife, walking outdoors, socializing with friends in the evening, and cooking a traditional Sunday lunch for my family.
My LinkedIn
Kerry Richardson on LinkedIn
The place I call home
Hurstpierpoint, United Kingdom.
Edward Chanter - Chief Technology Officer
What does Shaping Tomorrow mean to me?
For me, Shaping Tomorrow is a series of ongoing technical challenges - and opportunities to make ideas a reality. My passion is building solutions that save people time. If I can create code that gives someone back an hour of their day, that's truly rewarding.
My biography
I’ve spent my career - since the mid-1990s - in web development, evolving with the fast-changing technological landscape. As Shaping Tomorrow’s CTO, I’ve architected and built every version of our platform since its inception. From coding to architecture to AI integration, I focus on continuously evolving our technology stack to keep us at the forefront of web and AI development. I believe technology should be an invisible enabler, allowing people to do more, faster, and better.
My perfect weekend
Relaxing at home with a good book or movie and great food. Cooking, wine, geopolitics, science fiction, and scuba diving are among my passions.
My LinkedIn
Edward Chanter on LinkedIn
The place I call home
Brighton, United Kingdom.