Colin Russo

Dr Colin Russo is a professional futurist, facilitator and award-winning engagement expert. Dr Russo has worked for twenty years as a policy and projects officer in coordination roles for state and local governments e.g. in the Department of Environment and Department of Mines and Energy, Queensland. He worked for Director General’s and CEO’s Offices and continues to work with executive and policy staff and their stakeholders.

Following ten years delivering engagement services from Communication and Policy Branches of the City of Gold Coast, Dr Russo currently delivers engaging futures workshops, using futures thinking and action learning methods. Dr Russo provides advice on the co-creation of 'smart city' strategy development and delivery. His PhD in Futures Studies is entitled “Engaging Futures: futures methods transforming governance” and was researched at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. Dr Russo's Bachelor of Business and Master of Business studies at QUT also focused on engagement of stakeholders using innovative group and community engagement methods.

In addition to teaching in the tertiary education sector in Business, Training and Development and Workplace Psychology early in his career, Dr Russo contributed to the Journal of Futures Studies and the Futures journal. He has written about city futures, smart state futures and alternative engagement futures.

Most recently, he has presented work from his PhD to audiences in the USA, Taiwan and Australia. In May 2016 he was a facilitator of the two-day workshop Aboriginal Workforce Futures 2030, for the Victorian State Government, Melbourne. In February 2017, he presented and facilitated the two-day workshop UCQ 2027, for more than 100 people, in Brisbane.

Dr Russo resides in greater Brisbane with his wife Heidi and daughter Juliette. His email address is colinrusso@engagingfutures.com