The Future Report

How do you think your morning routine compares to that of the average Aussie?

Does it involve getting up early or sleeping in, drinking a caffeinated beverage at home or grabbing one once you’re out the door?

And importantly, is that beverage hot, or iced?

We were recently commissioned by Nespresso to uncover Aussie coffee habits, with a focus on their morning routines.

In this week's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with Research Executive at McCrindle, Uteng Masuku, to discuss these insights.

Retail has transformed more in the last five years than the last five decades — from the rise of eCommerce to the evolution of customer expectations and delivery speeds.

In this week's episode, our podcast producer, Holly Schaaf, sits down with Director of Advisory at McCrindle and Future Report host, Ashley Fell, to unpack recent research that McCrindle conducted for Australia Post’s eCommerce Industry Report.

You can access the full report here:

https://ecommerce-report.auspost.com.au/

Students, parents, employers, and policymakers all have growing and shifting expectations for schools and educators.

From curriculum updates to wellbeing initiatives, career preparation to technological integration, education is being asked to do more than ever before.

In this week's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with Director of Strategy at McCrindle, Grant Dusting, to explore what’s driving these changes and what educators need to be prepared for.

As we look toward 2035, we are on the cusp of a new era in education - one that will be shaped by the emergence of Gen Beta, the first generation born entirely into a world of advanced technology and digital connectivity.

These young learners, born from 2025, will experience an education system unlike any before, offering exciting opportunities to rethink how we teach, learn, and support future generations.

At McCrindle we have just launched our annual education future report, which this year is focused on reimaging education towards 2035.

In this week's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle’s Founder and Principal, Mark McCrindle, to explore what education could look like in the future.

You can access our 2025 education report here, or on McCrindle Plus:

https://mccrindle.com.au/resource/report/reimagining-education-towards-2035-report

Today, the journey to parenthood is influenced by a complexinterplay of career aspirations, financial considerations, and evolving cultural norms.

While the desire to have children remains strong, many people are reevaluating the timing and feasibility of starting a family.

Recent research by McCrindle sheds light on these shifting dynamics, revealing how modern life is redefining what it means to become a parent.

In today's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with Managing Director at McCrindle, Sophie Renton, to delve into these insights.

Welcome back to another season of The Future Report!

Have you ever wondered how popular your name is?

Or perhaps you’re about to welcome a little one, and you are deep in the world of name lists, baby books, and family opinions.

Each year, McCrindle analyses the top baby names across Australia — and the 2025 results have just been revealed!

In this week's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with Research Executive at McCrindle and key author of this report, Abby Robinson, to unpack these results, including the trends, the surprises, and what they tell us about today’s parents.

The charities and not-for-profit sector is a significant contributor to Australia.

For decades, charities have been making an impact and caring for those in need.

The operating environment for organisations, however, is increasingly complex.

Organisations are navigating technological change, tightening regulations and reporting, demographic and generational change, and cost-of-living pressures, which are altering the giving landscape.

Understanding the psyche of donors, therefore, is critical to ensuring sustainability and future impact.

In this week’s episode and to wrap up Season 14, our host,Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle’s Managing Director, Sophie Renton, to discuss some brand-new research about how and why people give to not-for-profits.

Many people are intimidated by data, believing that withouta background in mathematics or statistics, they are not equipped to engage with it.

However, most data is not the heavy, academic material - and you don’t need to be an expert to effectively use data in a presentation.

In this week’s episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle’s Founder and Principal, Mark McCrindle, to discuss how data can be used as a storytelling tool.

Consumer behaviour is evolving faster than ever, shaped by economic pressures, technology, and generational preferences.

In this week's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with Marketing and Insights Strategist at McCrindle, Luke Davies, to dive into how different generations are spending, saving, and shopping—and what this means for businesses and brands.

The generations as consumers infographic: https://mccrindle.com.au/resource/infographic/generational-consumer-profiles/

Have you ever worked with someone of a different generation and found it to be a bit of a challenge?

Well, you’re not alone.

In a recent study, we uncovered the different priorities, expectations and preferences of each generation at work.

In this week's episode, our podcast producer, Holly Schaaf, sits down with Social Researcher and Director of Advisory at McCrindle, Ashley Fell, to discuss these insights.

The pace of generational change is accelerating, with each new cohort bringing fresh perspectives and reshaping the world faster than ever before.

We call this phenomenon, “Generation Acceleration.”

In this week's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle's Principal and Founder, Mark McCrindle, to discuss what this acceleration means for society and organisations.

We live in an increasingly connected world, with that set to only continue in the future as we undergo what some call “the third digital revolution”, driven by artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.

Despite this, people are seeking balance by stepping away from their screens — a movement we have labelled the “Digital Detox.”

This trend highlights a growing awareness of the need for mental and physical well-being in the digital age.

In this week's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle’s Managing Director, Sophie Renton, to explore this phenomenon.

Economic uncertainty has led to a shift in consumer behaviour, with many opting for what we’re calling “Consumer Compromise.”

From prioritising needs over wants to finding value in second-hand goods, today’s consumers are making smarter, more deliberate choices.

In today's episode, our Future Report podcast producer, Holly Schaaf, sits down with McCrindle’s Director of Advisory and podcast host, Ashley Fell, to discuss this shift and its implications.

Despite advancements in technology and innovation, productivity growth has slowed — an intriguing phenomenon known as the “Productivity Paradox” (as we have called it!).

As workplaces adopt new tools and processes, the question remains: why isn’t output increasing at the same rate?

In today's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle's Founder and Principal, Mark McCrindle, to explore this topic.

2025 is shaping up to be a landmark year for infrastructure.

With cities expanding and populations growing, we’re going to see an era of major development projects, which we’ve deemed to be our first trend of 2025, titled the “Big Build.”

These projects aim to accommodate future generations, reshape urban living, and improve connectivity.

In today's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle's Director of Solutions, Geoff Brailey, to unpack this trend set to shape the year ahead.

Welcome back to another season of The Future Report!

The year 2025 marks not only a new year, but the beginning of a whole new generation.

That’s right - from 2025 we will welcome Generation Beta into the world.

To kick off Season 14, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle’s Founder and Principal, Mark McCrindle, to discuss this new generation and their future.

Although we are futurists, we do think it’s wise to look back at the past, for context and helpful insights about what might lie ahead.

As 2024 draws to a close, we are going to reflect on the year that has been.

In this final episode of season 13 and of the year, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle’s Managing Director, Sophie Renton, to discuss some of the memorable things we’ve lived through in 2024.

As we approach the middle of this decade, the world continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, shaped by demographic, economic, and social shifts.

An understanding of the transformative trends set to shape 2025 is essential.

Why?

Because the future of an organisation rests in its relevance and innovation.

That is why, every year at McCrindle, we release our predictions for the trends set to shape the year ahead.

These are based on our thought leadership, which is grounded in research.

After all, we have the privilege of conducting around 100 insights projects and almost 200 speaking engagements each year, so our team are regularly observing, researching and commenting on the future, and the trends set to shape it.

In today's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with social researcher and futurist, Mark McCrindle, to explore the five trends we believe will have a big impact in 2025.

How often do you get distracted by your digital device?

Do you feel like you spend too much time on social media?

Do you wish it had never been invented?

We are in a unique era where society is now questioning technology and taking steps to reduce its impact on their life.

In today's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle’s Managing Director, Sophie Renton, to investigate this topic from our trends of 2025 research.

In recent years, we have witnessed the greatest transformation to work in a century.

The rapid rise of AI and machine learning, as well as the shift towards hybrid work, and redefined employee expectations, have all reshaped the world of work, and in turn the role of Human Resources (HR) leaders.

Organisations are increasingly looking to these HR leaders to inform strategy, recognising that the alignment of people to processes and technology is crucial to success.

That is why we were commissioned by Workday to conduct research into The Forever Forward HR Leader.

In today's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle's Director of Strategy, Grant Dusting, to discuss some of the insights from this study.

A futurist can be described as someone who studies the future and makes predictions about it based on current trends.

As you can imagine, it’s a fascinating profession to be in, and one that we love to explore.

In today's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle’s Principal and futurist himself, Mark McCrindle, to discuss the behaviours of a great futurist.

Consumers today are different to that of the past.

They have different expectations, different values, and subsequently, different expectations of the brands they engage with.

Thus, if companies want to connect with current and future consumers, they need to do things a little differently.

In today's episode, our podcast producer, Holly Schaaf, sits down with podcast host and social researcher, Ashley Fell, to discuss the future consumer.

Younger Australians, particularly Gen Z and Gen Y, are optimistic about their future financial prospects.

Yet some of our latest research reveals that financial anxiety remains prevalent, especially among Gen Z, who report worrying about their finances more than any other generation.

Although this is true, many younger Australians are still taking proactive steps toward financial freedom, investing and building wealth while juggling personal aspirations like work/life balance and homeownership.

In today's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle's Director of Solutions, Geoff Brailey, to discuss the findings from McCrindle and MLC’s new 'Financial Freedom' report, which explores the financial aspirations, anxieties, and preparedness of Australians.

Welcome back to another season of The Future Report podcast!

Last week, Mark McCrindle and Ashley Fell had the pleasure of speaking at the second iteration of SXSW in Sydney - a conference for global creative professionals seeking future industry trends and adventurous new ways of thinking.

In today's episode, our podcast producer, Holly Schaaf, sits down with our host, Ashley Fell, to discuss McCrindle's recent involvement with this great event.

You might think that Baby Boomers and Generation Z are worlds apart in their work ethic and values, but our latest research challenges those assumptions, revealing surprising similarities and debunking some common stereotypes.

In this final episode of season 12, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle's Managing Director, Sophie Renton, to explore how each generation approaches work, what they value most in their colleagues, and how these insights can help create more harmonious and productive workplaces.

By 2025, Generation Alpha will become the largest generation. Shaped in a digital and virtual world, they are certainly different to previous generations. But how are they viewed among the other cohorts? This was the focus of one of our latest insights reports.

In today's episode, our podcast producer, Holly Schaaf, sits down with McCrindle's Director of Advisory and Future Report host, Ashley Fell, to discuss these fresh insights.

In today's fast-evolving workplace, the convergence of multiple generations brings forth a tapestry of perspectives, experiences, and approaches that profoundly shape organisational culture.

That’s why we have made this the focus of our latest research report - Cultivating Healthy Intergenerational Teams.

Through this research, we have uncovered not just the challenges but also the opportunities that arise when generations collaborate effectively.

In today's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle’s Managing Director and author of this report, Sophie Renton, to discuss some of these latest insights.

When you think of parents today, which generation do you picture?

And how are current parents parenting differently to those of the past?

In today's episode, our podcast producer, Holly Schaaf, sits down with McCrindle's Director of Advisory and Future Report host, Ashley Fell, to discuss these insights.

Generation Z describes those born between the years of 1995 and 2009. That places them in their late teens and twenties, today.

Like the generations before them, they have unique fashions, music and trends that define them.

This emerging generation can feel like a bit of an enigma to some people, which is why we have decided to check in with Gen Z again.

In today's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with two of her Gen Z colleagues, Luke Davies and Holly Schaaf, for the second part of their discussion on this generation.

At the beginning of each year, we formulate a series of trends, spanning categories like demographic, economic, generational, and technological, that we think will shape the year ahead.

As we have reached the middle of 2024, we thought it would be worth taking a look back to check in on some of these trends, and how these have played out.

In today's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle’s Director of Strategy, Grant Dusting, to discuss these insights.

You might have heard it said that Australia has an ageing population, which is the growth in the number and proportion of older people.

Australia isn’t unique in the sense that many other countries are also facing this trend.

Nonetheless, it has some big implications for society, healthcare, and the economy.

In today's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle’s founder, and renown demographer, Mark McCrindle, to discuss this trend and some of the implications.

Welcome back for Season 12 of The Future Report podcast!

The Paris 2024 Olympics is just around the corner, and so our team at McCrindle decided to investigate how Australians plan on engaging with this year’s Olympics.

We asked questions like;

Will they be watching?

What sports are they most interested in turning in to?

Will they be watching alone or with others?

In today's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle's research specialist, Anna Colthorpe, to discuss some of these latest insights.

The waves of change impacting the education sector are perhaps unparalleled.

There are the demographic trends of new generations entering the classroom, combined with the challenges of attracting and retaining younger staff amidst an ageing of the profession.

Added to this are technological transformations, social changes, funding challenges and global influences.

In today's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle’s Founder and Principal, Mark McCrindle, to unpack and explore the trends shaping the future of education.

Generation Alpha are growing up in more technologically integrated times than any generation before them.

While it is inevitable that they will engage with screens in the future, parents today are delaying their children’s engagement with devices and setting up social media accounts.

In today's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle's Media Research Specialist, Anna Colthorpe, and Senior Researcher, Shannon Wherrett, to unpack some of the nuances of this complex topic.

Schools are not just buildings where students come to learn - they can be important places for connection and belonging.

But what exactly is the role of schools within the larger community? And how do all stakeholders contribute to creating a nurturing environment for our students?

In today's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle's Managing Director, Sophie Renton, to unpack some of the insights from our recently released report on building thriving school communities.

Growing up in technologically integrated times brings both benefits and challenges - particularly for parents raising this generation.

Our latest McCrindle Insights report delves into the perspective of Gen Alpha parents as they seek to raise Gen Alpha in today's age.

In today's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with research executive at McCrindle and author of this report, Abby Donaldson, to discuss these insights.

The year 2025 marks not only the middle of the 2020s as a decade, but the beginning of a whole new generation of people.

That’s right - from 2025 we will welcome Generation Beta into the world.

Although people of this generation haven’t even been born yet, we can predict some things about them based on the context that will surround them.

In today's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle's Founder and Principal, Mark McCrindle, to introduce this new generation.

It is not uncommon for people to fear public speaking.

Yet it is an important skill to hone.

In today's episode, our podcast producer, Holly Schaaf, sits down with podcast host and professional speaker, Ashley Fell, as she shares some of her top public speaking tips.

At McCrindle, we are fascinated by people, including how they live, work, shop and engage with the world around them.

One data set that reveals a lot about the living aspect is the RLB Crane Index, as it tells us a fair bit about where people live, why they choose to live in the places they do and a look into where growth areas are.

In today's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle's Director of Solutions (and McCrindle's Director of Cranes effectively!), Geoff Brailey, to discuss these insights.

Welcome back to another season of The Future Report podcast!

At McCrindle, we love to talk about people in generations. Every time we conduct a study, it is the first place we go to see differences in responses.

We believe in it.

However, we also think it is important to consider the downsides or challenges of categorising individuals into generations.

In today's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle’s Managing Director, Sophie Renton, to explore and discuss the pros and cons of generational analysis.

The not-for-profit sector is a vital part of our communities. They support those in need, serve communities and shape nations.

In today's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with social researcher and McCrindle's Managing Director, Sophie Renton, to discuss the insights from our latest not-for-profit report, exploring how, where, and why people give to charities.

Our Trends of 2024 tell a story of shifting perceptions, technological innovation, generational changes, and ultimately the unfolding future.

In today's episode, our guest host, Holly Schaaf, sits down with social researcher and Future Report host, Ashley Fell, to explore two of our top trends for 2024 - community redefined and the grandparent economy.

For decades, charities have been making an impact and caring for those in need. The operating environment for organisations, however, is increasingly complex. Organisations are navigating technological change, tightening regulations and reporting, demographic and generational change, as well as rising cost-of-living pressures, which are altering the giving landscape. Understanding the psyche of donors, therefore, is critical to ensuring sustainability and future impact.

In today's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with social researcher and author of our recent NFP report, Sophie Renton, to discuss the insights from this latest publication.

You can also register for the virtual event on these insights here: https://mccrindle.com.au/resource/event/2024-nfp-trends-virtual-event/

In today's episode, our guest host, Holly Schaaf, sits down with social researcher and Future Report host, Ashley Fell, to discuss some reflections on their recent trip to the U.S.A., particularly surrounding conferences post-pandemic and the ever-growing recognition of Generation Alpha's impacts.

Our team at McCrindle have formulated some predictions around the top trends set to shape the year ahead. From demographic changes to economic trends, technological transformations and generational insights. In today's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle’s Director of Strategy, Grant Dusting, to unpack two trends in particular - real environment and the growth reckoning.

As we look ahead to 2024, we have formulated some predictions around the top trends set to shape the year ahead. From demographic changes to economic trends, technological transformations and generational insights.

In today's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle’s Director of Strategy, Grant Dusting, to discuss four of these fresh insights.

In an era defined by rapid technological advancements and global shifts, conferences and gatherings are undergoing significant transformations. From changing audience dynamics to the integration of human-centric technology, the future of conferences and events is marked by innovation, inclusivity, and purpose. In this episode our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with Mark McCrindle to explore the key trends influencing conferences and events.

In 2024, the world of work is undergoing a profound transformation, with businesses grappling with the intricate balance of hybrid work, remote setups, and traditional office routines.

It's not just about the logistics anymore; it's about the profound implications of where we choose to work.

In today's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with social researcher, Mark McCrindle, to delve into the concept of 'Superiofficey' - an emerging trend reflecting the perceived superiority attached to being physically present in the workplace - and unpack the nuances of this phenomenon to ultimately shed light on the benefits and challenges of different work modes.

As 2023 draws to a close, it’s worth taking the time to reflect on the year that has been.

From demographic changes to social trends, consumer shifts, and technology trends.

In today’s episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle's Managing Director, Sophie Renton, to reflect on the year that was 2023.

Consumers today want to have a positive impact with their money and purchases.

So, how does this translate to behaviour, especially when it comes to fashion?

In today’s episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle's Research Strategist, Jason Authers, to unravel the complex relationship Australians have with ethical fashion, as highlighted in the Baptist World Aid Australian Ethical Consumer report.