What are we going to do with all this future?

This question has followed me across the places I’ve lived and the systems I’ve moved through. People make sense of change in their own ways — and those interpretations shape the futures they believe are possible.

For me, futures work isn’t prediction; it’s perspective. It’s noticing the assumptions we carry, the stories we inherit, and the choices that shape what comes next. My role is to bring clarity and intention to that process so people can begin answering the question for themselves.

Four diverse young men in graduation robes and academic regalia standing outdoors with arms around each other, smiling and celebrating.

How I think and Work

I work at the intersection of strategy, systems thinking, and human behaviour. I’m interested in why we make the choices we do, how we interpret change, and what becomes possible when we challenge the stories we’ve inherited.

My practice is rooted in clarity, curiosity, and grounded optimism. I don’t do hype. I don’t sell certainty. I help people imagine and think better.

I’ve worked with UN agencies, governments, universities, international NGOs, and multinational teams across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Each context brings its own histories and expectations, yet a familiar question keeps surfacing: how do we imagine the futures we want, and begin moving toward them?

Romano Theunissen is sitting at a dining table with a white dog blocking him from doing work, in a room with brick walls and wooden furniture.

How My Background Shapes My Work

I grew up in South Africa during a period of deep transition — an experience that shaped my understanding of how power, policy, and possibility intersect. It instilled a lasting commitment to equity and a belief that transformational change is not only possible, it’s necessary.

I’ve since lived in six countries across the world. Moving between cultures, identities, and systems sharpened my awareness of how different groups understand the world, their pasts, and the futures they imagine.

I studied Futures Studies formally under some of the field’s most influential thinkers. My practice has also been shaped by teaching, facilitation, cross-cultural collaboration, and years of working with teams navigating complexity. I’m drawn to the points where data meets story, where strategy meets culture, and where uncertainty meets opportunity.

My work integrates foresight with de-colonial and feminist perspectives, paying close attention to how power, narratives, and institutions shape what is considered possible. These lenses help me ask: whose future is being imagined, who holds power in that process, and what alternatives might lie beyond dominant stories?

Romano Theunissen smiling and pointing at a conference schedule sign at the Tamkang World Forum for Youth Leaders 2017.
Part of a man wearing glasses and a gray hat, standing in front of a sign that reads 'Center for Futures Intelligence and Research (C-FAR)' in both Chinese and English.

How I Work With Clients

People describe my work as clear, challenging, and grounding. I’m not interested in jargon or performance. I focus on helping people and teams see their situation honestly, make sense of complexity, and build real capability.

I create spaces where groups can ask better questions, surface blind spots, test assumptions, and explore possibilities without losing sight of practical realities. The work is serious, but the environment doesn’t have to be heavy. I bring structure, psychological safety, and a sense of play into the room.

Most organizations don’t struggle with information; they struggle with perspective. Short-term pressures, inherited assumptions, and narrow decision-making get in the way. Teams trust me because I listen deeply, don’t rush to conclusions, and am willing to name uncomfortable truths when they matter. My role is not to impress — it’s to make things clearer.

Group of people attending the Asia-Pacific Future Networks Conference 2018, standing in front of a conference banner.

Outside Work

When I’m not facilitating workshops, teaching, or working with teams, you’ll usually find me:

  • Falling off a climbing wall

  • Chasing a ball across a hockey field

  • Listening to podcasts on politics, philosophy, sport, and current affairs

  • Stealing as much sun as possible — preferably on a beach

  • Enjoying an espresso or long black (no milk, no compromises)

  • Saying yes to something new — a skill, a place, or a way of seeing

Romano Theunissen climbing an indoor climbing wall with various colorful holds and grips.
Romano Theunissen playing field hockey on a green field, with some spectators watching from behind a fence in the background.
Romano Theunissen and his nieces at a playground, standing behind a wooden fence with trees in the background.
Romano Theunissen with a beard and dark hair, wearing a dark blue shirt and beige shorts, sitting on a railing overlooking a coastal landscape with trees, islands, and the ocean under a partly cloudy sky in Costa Rica.
Romano Theunissen lying on the floor beneath an indoor climbing wall with multicolored holds after falling off.
Romano Theunissen sitting on a beach towel with a hat and sunglasses, giving a thumbs-up, with a body of water and green hills in the background under a cloudy sky.
Romano Theunissen sitting on the beach with his black German shepherd dog, both facing towards the water with modern buildings in the background.
Three siblings standing on the beach near the ocean with waves, a clear sky, and distant land or mountains in the background.
Romano Theunissen sitting on rocks in front of a lush green landscape with Arenal volcano in Costa Rica in the background, partially covered by clouds.
Romano Theunissen in a white shirt sitting at an outdoor cafe table, holding a cup of coffee, with a city street view in the background.
Romano Theunissen playing field hockey on a grassy field, wearing a yellow jersey, black shorts, and yellow shoes, with other players partially visible nearby, surrounded by a fence and buildings in the background.
Romano Theunissen climbing an indoor bouldering wall with colorful holds, in a large gym with a metal ceiling and windows.
Romano Theunissen paddleboarding in the ocean with a blue sky and scattered clouds overhead.
Romano Theunissen is holding his two young nieces, one on each arm. The girl on the left is smiling, holding a pink balloon, and wearing a white shirt with a tutu. The girl on the right looks serious, wearing a black top and a pink tulle skirt.
Romano Theunissen and his black dog sitting on a sandy beach smiling at the camera, with trees and buildings in the background.

What are you going to do with all your futures?

If you’d like to work on that question together, get in touch.