Michelle van Rooyen is a researcher and foresight practitioner focused on advancing inclusive, long-term development pathways across Africa. She holds a Master’s degree in Futures Studies (with distinction) and works at the intersection of socio-economic transformation, systems change, and anticipatory governance.
Michelle is currently a Researcher in the African Futures and Innovation programme at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), where she contributes to foresight initiatives, long-range forecasting and development modelling using the International Futures (IFs) platform. Previously, she was a Research Associate at the Institute for Futures Research (IFR), where she worked on horizon scanning, cross-sector foresight publications, and the design and facilitation of strategic foresight processes for both public and private sector partners.
Her approach bridges data-driven modelling with imaginative foresight to help unlock transformative possibilities for Africa’s future.