Who We Are

The founding members of the Sustainable Future Planning & Design (SFP&D) development program are Peter Aughton and Merrelyn Emery. We are social systems scientists dedicated to diffusing a socio-ecological body of knowledge known as Open Systems Theory; which through the application of its translated participative planning and organisational design methodologies, produces profound benefits for individuals, organisations, communities and our living planet, Earth. We do this by offering OST-based training programs, consulting services and action research.

A most disturbing concern for us at the moment is the lack of collective action on climate change across all levels of society. Climate scientists have been warning us for more than 20 years that the Earth is getting hotter from anthropogenic climate change, but their warning is being ignored by many.

According to world renowned geophysiologist, James Lovelock, humanity is facing prolonged and unremitting drought and there is little time to left in which to act. Humanity must now plan to adapt to the consequences of climate change as well as attempting to reduce greenhouse emissions. Much of the continental areas will become barren because of drought. This will have appalling consequences for the already overcrowded nations like China, India, and parts of Africa.

Our OST research shows that despite the compelling evidence that our planet is in imminent danger of crashing there is not widespread alarm amongst the general population about tackling this potential life-threatening predicament. It’s business-as-usual for many.

To help government, organisational, educational and community leaders overcome this nonchalent attitude we initiated the SFP&D development program. It enables people with vastly different beliefs about climate change to collectively develop plans and work together to start taking adaptive and mitigating action now rather than waiting for a climate catastrophe.

Mr Peter Aughton

Peter

Peter is Managing Director of Amerin Pty Ltd and founding member of the Sustainable Future Planning & Design program.

Amerin is a social systems science research and consulting group offering holistic planning and organisational design solutions for a sustainable future. Peter has worked with managers and employees from the private and public sectors to plan and design sustainable organisations that significantly increase employee engagement, innovation and organisational performance.

The socio-ecological planning and design processes used by Peter are now being used by many successful organisations, including corporate giants such as Microsoft and Hewlett Packard. Since 1993 Peter has applied these processes with local and overseas corporations, SMEs and all levels of government. Some of his projects have involved working with large complex businesses such as Telstra, Westpac and Cisco, through to smaller enterprises like Sydney-based J Robins & Sons Pty Ltd (the only remaining large footwear manufacturer in Australia). Peter has also applied socio-ecological principles to develop strategies for the Victorian, New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmanian and Western Australian State Governments about the future of IT and Education.

Peter’s other professional experience includes research and management positions with the Exxon and Mars Corporations. Peter holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Chemistry) and Post Graduate qualifications in Education and Business Science (Operations Reseach) from the RMIT, Melbourne and Victoria Universities.

Professor Merrelyn Emery

Merrelyn is a founding member of the Sustainable Future Planning & Design program. She obtained her first class honours degree in psychology from the University of New England in 1964 and her PhD in marketing from the University of New South Wales in 1986. Merrelyn has worked in Psychology, Education Research and Continuing Education, mainly at the Australian National University. Since 1970 she has worked specifically to develop open systems theory as a practical conceptual framework and is currently an adjunct professor in Applied Human Sciences at Concordia University.

Merrelyn has published numerous articles together with a host of institutional research reports and 15 books, the latest of which is The Future of Schools. She is currently working on two research projects, the first of which will result in practical strategies for organisations and communities to more effectively address the causes and effects of climate change.The second will result in a book documenting the need for science in general to move from closed systems and reductionism to the reality of phenomena as open systems.

An invitation to join us

We need 'many hands to the pump' to assist organisations and communities develop adaptive plans to deal with the potential of catastrophic climate change. We are therefore inviting accredited OST practitioners to help us train government, organisational, educational and community leaders to run the SFP&D development program within their respective entities.

There is no cost for accredited OST practitioners to use this program to train others. We provide the know-how, digitised manuals and necessary briefings either face-to-face or over the Internet. All we ask of practitioners is that they email their workshop outcomes so we can produce local and global trend reports on beliefs and actions about climate change.

For those who want to help us train people to run the SFP&D program but are not accredited OST practitioners, the developmental pathway involves completing a short 'Theory and Practice of Making Adaptive Change' course followed by an optional "apprenticeship" program. For more information about the OST accreditation program please go to the SERVICES & PROGRAMS section or CONTACT US and complete the 'Enquiry Form' if you have any queries.

The following members of the OST community have offered their support for the SFP&D program.

Australasian colleagues

Dr John Barton

John Barton is Melbourne-based strategy consultant and educator and an Adjunct Reader in the School of Integrative Systems at the University of Queensland. His work emphasises the role of systemic thinking and system dynamics simulation modelling in business.

He has previously held senior management positions in the water industry, management consultancies and in education. Current and recent teaching assignments include the presentation of graduate programs in systems thinking, knowledge management, and strategy at the University of Palermo, Sicily, the Norwegian School of Management (in conjunction with the AIM), The Australian National University (ANU), RMIT University, and Monash University where he also supervises a number of PhD students in the Department of Management.

John graduated in mathematics from The University of Melbourne, subsequently studied graduate economics and econometrics at La Trobe University, and received executive education in management at the Sloan School of Management. His PhD (Monash University) was on the history and philosophy of systemic thought, with an emphasis on importance of open-systems thinking within the philosophy of science. John regularly publishes in the area of systems thinking and management.

Rod Sarah

Rod Sarah is an OD professional with an extensive background in strategic and operational management in the public sector, which he has successfully combined with a teaching and consulting role. Based in Melbourne, he currently lectures in systems thinking and theory as it relates to strategic foresight, organisation and business dynamics, knowledge management and sustainability at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. He also delivers corporate and public education programs in this field.

With qualifications in Economics, Business Management and Organisational Systems, Rod is due to complete his PhD later in 2010. His research draws on open systems theory and explores leveraging systems thinking and action research principles for organisational development as a part of a corporate strategic renewal program.

His passion is in helping people improve their own practice whether in organisational or community settings by increasing self-awareness and becoming more self-reflective practitioners. His recent work includes working with disadvantaged and unemployed teenagers and young adults to help them re-engage with the formal educational system.

North American and Latin American colleagues

Helen Maupin

Janis Nowlan

Aurelia Roman

Aurelia Roman has lived and worked in Europe and Canada, earning degrees in juridical sciences, human relations and human systems interventions. She is a Member of the Golden Key International Honour Society and is a North American Colleague of the Sustainable Future Planning & Design (SFP&D) development program, dedicated to diffusing a socio-ecological body of knowledge known as Open Systems Theory.

As part of her consultant practice, Aurelia has collaborated with educational institutions and non-profit organizations including the École nationale d'administration publique du Québec, where she participated in an action research project designing and implementing social integration programs for youth in government care.

With the goal of getting involved in meaningful work experiences that will create mutual joy and growth, she is currently involved with L'Institut de politiques alternatives de Montréal (IPAM), participating in research projects on citizen engagement and public consultation.