Team Profiles

Co-founder and editor-in-chief

Martin Raymond

Martin is co-founder of The Future Laboratory and editor-in-chief of LS:N Global. Martin is a well-known trend guru, having written several best-selling books on trend forecasting, including The Trend Forecaster’s Handbook and The Tomorrow People. Martin contributes regularly as an expert on trends and business for the BBC, Channel 4 and ITV.

Chris Sanderson

Chris Sanderson

Christopher is co-founder of The Future Laboratory, where he is responsible for delivering the company‘s extensive global roster of conferences, media events and Trend Briefings, which he presents in London, New York, Sydney, Melbourne and around the world.Clients who have booked one of his inspirational keynotes include luxury group Kering, the European Travel Commission, Retail Week, Selfridges, Marks & Spencer, Chanel, Harrods, Aldo, H&M, General Motors, BBDO, Design Hotels, Condé Nast Media and Omnicom.Chris presented Channel 4 TV’s five-part series Home of the Future and is a SuperBoard member of The British Fashion Council’s Fashion Trust.

Director of Foresight

Fiona Harkin

Fiona joined The Future Laboratory in 2022, having spent 20 years working in leading forecasting and insight agencies as a content director and a journalist, delivering strategic foresight and creative content to forward-thinking businesses. Fiona brings considerable cross-sector expertise to her role leading the LS:N Global site, ranging from the digital commerce and tech sectors to the fashion and media industries. What drew you to the world of trends and foresight?I never set out to work in this industry – which was still developing when I graduated – but I did set out to follow what truly interested me. By way of a BA in art history from The Courtauld Institute and an MA in fashion journalism from Central Saint Martins, I found myself working with words, trends and tech. I’ve written on so many different topics, from the latest tech trends to future-gazing consumer predictions, and the future of retail to the latest cultural, design and arts insights. I’ve even dabbled in science fiction too. What I love most is the constant learning, the need for endless curiosity and the pattern-spotting – and then translating all this into really useful business information and seeing clients work successfully with it.The very best bit? It’s a role that has taken me around the world, from São Paulo, Singapore and Moscow to Miami, Austin, Tel Aviv and Las Vegas. Unofficially, this involved dancing to Boney M’s Rasputin on a table in a Moscow nightclub; being given a virtual makeover in the online world Second Life while fending off indecent digital proposals; trying to cut it in a Boys’ Own world of chinos, Swiss Army backpacks and check shirts at various North American tech conferences before Women In Tech became a thing; being covered in fake tan for The Mirror; queueing until 3:00am in Texas rain nursing a pulled pork sandwich and a coronarita just to see my ultimate film crush unveil his latest arthouse flick; being allowed into one of Rio’s largest favelas to meet the talented women making the most beautiful clothing; getting lost photographing a cemetery in Buenos Aires; standing in an art installation of misty, rainbow-coloured rain in a fishing shed on a remote Japanese island; and having milk poured on my cornflakes by an immaculately turned-out waiter at the Hôtel Plaza Athénée, Paris.I think it’s the best job in the world.What makes LS:N Global unique?It’s the pairing of truly solutions-focused insight with strong, creative inspiration – backed up by The Future Laboratory’s wider and highly regarded expertise in foresight and strategy.

Dan Hastings-Narayanin

Deputy Foresight Editor

Dan Hastings-Narayanin

Dan joined The Future Laboratory in 2023 as deputy foresight editor of LS:N Global. An avid reader and writer, he has previously collaborated with over 20 magazines and news outlets worldwide and received a #30toWatch Young Journalist Award in 2021 by MHP Mischief. Obsessed with TikTok, Gen Z slang and Black Twitter, Dan leads The Future Laboratory’s research on youth and pop culture. What drew you to the world of trends and foresight? While studying magazine journalism, I encountered fashion trend forecasters while researching a piece. Their job sounded like the best of all worlds between anthropology, data analysis, fashion studies and journalism. I ticked only one of the boxes and immediately thought: ‘I’m not good enough for this.’ Life is definitely full of surprises. I’m now a trend forecaster doing precisely what 23-year-old me felt I was unqualified to do. What makes LS:N Global unique? Unique, that’s what we are. Although I loved my years as a B2C magazine journalist, I was always frustrated by Google’s power over my work and the lack of feedback from the readers. Thanks to LS:N Global’s business model, I don’t need to write articles based on what and how Google wants me to write. We’re not running after the news like everyone else is, we’re 100% in power. I can also talk directly to our subscribers and ask them questions about their needs and what they want to see us cover in the future because it’s a two-way street. We’re very privileged to have so much editorial freedom.

Olivia Houghton

Deputy Creative Foresight Editor

Olivia Houghton

Olivia joined The Future Laboratory as a junior researcher in early 2018. Now, as deputy creative foresight editor, she is responsible for leading the creative development of LS:N Global. Her role is to ensure the platform’s written and visual content sets new standards for digital communication.Contributing regularly to publications including Vogue and the Financial Times, as well as to industry events such as Cosmetics Business Live, Olivia is known as The Future Laboratory’s go-to expert for consumer trends in beauty, health and wellness.She is infamous for her nine-minute post-lunch naps and for challenging her colleagues to a tennis match or two.What drew you to the world of trends and foresight?I was always known as the ‘why’ child in my family – right up until adolescence – but it wasn’t until university that I really had a feel for trends and foresight.During my second year we had a module on trend forecasting and I was introduced to The Future Laboratory. While the company used to host a live project with my university, unfortunately this was paused for my class year. I was gutted, but it didn’t stop me messaging the head of people on LinkedIn every two weeks asking if there were any new job vacancies… And here I am today.What makes LS:N Global unique?The Future Laboratory and LS:N Global offer something unique to the world of market research, trend forecasting and strategic planning – creative research. Creative research is a distinct type of research that adds contextual and aesthetic value to our content. Our creative team ensure our research is inclusive of creative-led projects and/or projects of a high visual standard, as well as working on specific content with design implications. Alongside this, the team maintain LS:N Global’s progressive visual style through a combination of thorough visual research and external collaborations with our close network of creatives, and AI tools.

Senior Foresight Analyst

Alice Crossley

Alice joined The Future Laboratory in 2023 as a Foresight Analyst. As a culture-obsessed creative, she has written extensively about beauty, lifestyle and internet culture for publications including Dazed, i-D, The Face, GQ and Cosmopolitan.What drew you to the world of trends and foresight?I first came across the world of trends and foresight when I collaborated with The Future Laboratory on a piece about microdosing skincare for Dazed Beauty in 2021. I was immediately fascinated by the role of a foresight analyst and realised I wanted to do what they were doing instead. When I saw this job open up, I jumped at the opportunity; the grass is really greener!What makes LS:N Global unique/why does it add value?Every LS:N Global team member comes from a different background and has a unique area of expertise. This means some of the coolest and most creative minds shape each piece of content before it reaches the website. I could fall down the rabbit hole of reading (or admiring the visuals of) trend reports on LS:N for hours

Foresight Analyst

Simar Deol

Simar joined the Future Laboratory in 2023 as a foresight analyst. She has a background in fashion and cultural journalism and has studied Media and Communications both in her bachelor’s and master’s degree from NYU and LSE respectively. Simar leads the retail and travel & hospitality sector, while also having a keen interest in youth and pop-culture. What drew you to the world of trends and foresight? My interest in trends and foresight developed because of my personal interests combined with my curiosity as a cultural writer. I am fascinated by why consumers adopt certain trends, bypassing more obvious ones and how becoming a ‘cool-hunter’ can become a lifelong trait. What makes LS:N Global unique/why does it add value? LS:N Global is unique because of the high calibre of experts on the team. Each member comes from a different background, with varied experiences and interests, which reflects in our overall editorial output. Having sector-specific experts also allows for trends in each area to be interrogated thoroughly.

Foresight Analyst

Seyi Oduwole

Seyi joined The Future Laboratory in 2023 as a graduate intern working in both strategy and foresight before being promoted to foresight analyst in 2024. She has a background in retail buying and studied Fashion Buying and Merchandising at the London College of Fashion. Fascinated by innovation across many sectors, Seyi has a soft spot for what's new and next in travel and hospitality, retail, youth culture and consumer attitudes.What drew you to the world of trends and foresight?Since childhood, I have been eager to delve into the foresight world. My curious and data-driven analytical nature has always made me question ‘why?’ and dig for a deeper meaning in topics that interest me. From fashion to food, I am always on the lookout for the next big thing at the start of its inception.What makes LS:N Global unique?It’s the pioneering intelligence of its diverse team, which has its finger on the pulse of global culture and is always ahead of the curve in an ever-evolving landscape. At The Future Laboratory, thought-provoking perspectives are brought to the forefront and provide a richer viewpoint that challenges expected predictions.

Creative Foresight Analyst

Emily Rhodes

Emily joined The Future Laboratory in 2021 after graduating from Nottingham Trent University in fashion communication and promotion. As a creative foresight analyst, she pilots the retail sector, and leads the visual research for fashion and luxury, as well as contributing to LS:N Global’s daily content and design-focused pieces.With a keen interest in LS:N Global’s Future Spaces and Sustainability topics, she is an active member of the Lab’s regeneration taskforce, which is challenging the internal structure of the organisation to better its environmental consciousness.What drew you to the world of trends and foresight?My curiosity for the new and next and an eagerness to challenge existing practices drew me into the world of strategic foresight. I’m driven by my core values of regeneration and inclusion, and these push me to want to visualise a future that prioritises sustainability and instigates positive change for future generations.What makes LS:N Global unique?Throughout my studies I looked to LS:N Global for world-class strategic foresight that stretches beyond the fashion industry. Always seeking out projects that delved deeper into consumer behaviours and societal issues, I jumped at the chance to work for a futures consultancy that would challenge me to question everything I knew about trends.

Gabriela Białkowska

Creative Foresight Analyst

Gabriela Białkowska

Gabriela joined The Future Laboratory as a creative foresight analyst in early 2023. Her journey in trend forecasting began at Nottingham Trent University where she studied Fashion Communication and Promotion, but personal interests soon led her to the world of gaming, media and technology. With over three years of experience in these sectors, Gabriela is one of LS:N Global’s youth and media experts. She also contributes to the platform’s food and drink sectors after establishing a keen interest in food as a cultural phenomenon. What drew you to the world of trends and foresight? The world of trend forecasting initially caught my attention during my university studies and has stayed with me ever since. I’ve always considered myself a curious person, and as my desire for novelty grew, I realised that trends and foresight are a perfect blend of creativity and analytical thinking – everything I was looking for in a job. I even moved countries to shoot my shot in the industry. What makes LS:N Global unique? Uniqueness is at the core of what LS:N Global stands for. What I value most, however, is the diversity of expertise in our team. Whether it be our professional or cultural backgrounds, this diversity allows us to challenge conventional thinking and offer new ways of understanding the world around us and its future.

Savannah Scott

Savannah joined The Future Laboratory in 2020 as a Creative Foresight Analyst before being appointed Art Director in 2023. With a background in creative strategy, anthropology and graphic design, she now leads the visual direction for all TFL Studio’s in-house and client projects. A regular contributor to LS:N Global’s Design Direction reports and Macrotrends, Savannah is also the in-house expert on the design, food and drink industries. Born and raised in Cape Town, she leads the research and strategic foresight on the African market.

Strategic Futures Director

Rachele Simms

Rachele plays a pivotal role in nurturing the Strategy team and developing the quality of our strategic thinking.With nearly 15 years of experience, she combines her creative background and strong commercial acumen to define and realise future strategies for brands such as Shiseido, lululemon, Jameson and The Chalhoub Group.

Strategy Director

Louise French

Louise is one of the lead strategists at The Future Laboratory. With over 12 years’ experience in brand and innovation strategy, she works closely with clients such as Dell, Sony, Selfridges and Gulfstream to identify inspiring and revolutionary opportunities for change, and to develop practical strategic frameworks that provide the blueprints for putting the future first.

Senior Futures Analyst

Rachael Stott

Rachael is our strategic futures director and is responsible for leading strategic foresight projects that identify global sociocultural and consumer shifts that are set to affect future business growth. With over 10 years’ experience across mixed methodology research, Rachael’s future thinking has shaped our strategic foresight programmes and she has been the driving force in delivering strategic projects for a number of our key clients, including the likes of Google, Adidas, Spotify, L’Oréal and Warner Bros Discovery .

Director of Strategic Foresight

Alex Hawkins

Alex joined The Future Laboratory in 2018, working across its trends intelligence platform LS:N Global. He now leads the Applied Foresight division, overseeing commissioned foresight reports, research and presentations for clients such as Dior, Bacardi and Marriott.

Deputy strategic foresight editor

Darian Nugent

Darian creates tailored reports and thought-leading content across diverse industries. Unlocking future-facing strategies and new brand directions, Darian has written bespoke foresight reports for Jägermeister, Samsung and UBS. Before joining The Future Laboratory, she forecast fashion and youth lifestyle trends for Stylus.

Rhiannon Hudson

Presentations editor

Rhiannon Hudson

Rhiannon is tasked with transforming The Future Laboratory’s extensive research into impactful and strategic presentations that appeal to the eyes and mind. These presentations are often the first point of contact for brands seeking collaboration with our organisation. The role, which bridges Foresight and Strategy, affords Rhiannon the opportunity to work closely with clients to tailor content to their specific needs, as well as actively participating in the LS:N Global network. Her client list includes, but is not limited to, Google Hardware, BMW, Spotify, Warner, Dyson, Loungers, Dior, Ralph Lauren, Selfridges, JC Decaux, and Are Media

Account Director

Liam Radley

Liam joined The Future Laboratory in 2019 as part of the Client Development team. He is responsible for helping our clients to implement strategic planning across their business through our suite of products and services. With 15 years of experience in client-facing roles he provides all of our clients with a long-term, consultative partnership.

Account Director

Alena Joyette

Alena began her career at The Future Laboratory in 2008 as a Sales, Events, and Marketing Associate, eventually moving into a position where she could work more closely with our clients. Through our array of tools and services, Alena assists our clients in implementing strategic planning across their organisations. She offers all of our clients a long-term, consultative engagement based on her 20 years of expertise in client-facing jobs.Alena has also taken on the role of D&I coach inside the company. Alena's approach to diversity and inclusion support education within the business, mentor, and raise awareness with radical care, with the goal of extending this work outside the workplace to impact greater societal change so that people of all intersections can thrive.

Business Development Manager

Alice Oaten

Alice joined The Future Laboratory in 2023 and is part of the Client Development team. With a history of working in luxury retail, women’s health, FMCG services, and more recently, client development roles, she is adept at identifying and supporting clients’ challenges and goals.Alice’s combined experience offers a unique and personable approach to all customer interactions, ensuring that their needs are met through The Future Laboratory’s services.

Director of Marketing

Rodrigo Tobal

Rodrigo joined us in 2015, and is responsible for developing a 360-degree marketing strategy across The Future Laboratory and LS:N Global. He leads a team focused on maximising the company’s brand awareness and marketing reach in a bid to generate new demand for all services. He is also responsible for the CRM strategy, and works closely with account managers, client directors and new business to ensure a client-centric culture is at the heart of everything we do. With more than 10 years’ experience leading high-performing marketing teams, Rodrigo has a proven record of advising, planning and implementing B2C and B2B strategies for different brands, including Ogilvy, Farfetch and Condé Nast. Rodrigo brings a touch of Brazil to the Lab and is well known for his dance moves.

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