Owen Cooper is a Senior Advisor in the Futures Hub at the National Security College, ANU and is a leading Australian expert in strategic foresight and intelligence practice. Owen has led foresight workshops, tabletop exercises and training programs in futures thinking, intelligence analysis and structured analysis for numerous state and federal government agencies, as well as in Asia and the United States. Prior to joining the NSC, Owen spent 14 years in strategic intelligence analysis and tradecraft roles at the Department of Defence. He led methodology advice and support to the 2020 Defence Strategic Update, and deployed to Timor-Leste in 2010 in support of peacekeeping operations. Owen holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the University of Technology, Sydney, a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in history from the University of Sydney, a Master of Arts in Strategy and Management from UNSW and a Certificate in Intelligence Studies from the US National Intelligence University. Owen completed the Oxford Scenario Programme at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, UK in 2023.
Session Description
Today’s Decisions, Tomorrow’s Threats: A Futures Lens on Protective Security
In an era of accelerating change, effective protective security decisions require more than compliance – they demand insight, adaptability, and future-focused thinking. This interactive workshop introduces a practical framework for applying strategic foresight to decisions about security, safety, and risk, grounded in the principles of the Australian Government Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF).
Participants will gain a rapid introduction to key futures thinking concepts before engaging in a hands-on activity using curated trend and disruption cards. We’ll explore plausible future developments—technological, geopolitical, social – and assess their implications for protective security practice.
This session is designed for security professionals seeking practical tools to anticipate emerging threats, challenge assumptions, and enhance organisational resilience.
