The Future Generations Fellowship
2026 marks the inaugural cohort of the Future Generations Fellowship, a structured, year-long program that embeds young leaders across all areas of our work. Fellows will work alongside parliamentarians, policymakers, and civil society partners, contributing to research, advocacy, and collaborative initiatives that shape the future of intergenerational governance in Australia.
The launch of this Fellowship reflects FFT’s commitment to enriching the experience of the young people, while enhancing the credibility and consistency of our intergenerational leadership practice. By positioning young Australians alongside established decision-makers within design and governance processes, the Fellowship will build lasting capability, shared stewardship, and a culture of long-term thinking, reinforcing FFT’s position as a national leader in intergenerational collaboration.
Dr Planning Saw is a youth advocate, researcher, and doctor passionate about health equity, public health, and youth participation in research and policy. He has co-authored multiple publications in the Medical Journal of Australia, including contributions to the Future Healthy Countdown 2030 consensus statement (a national partnership of MCRI, ARACY, and VicHealth), as well as papers on youth decision-making, youth-led approaches to health equity, and the rationale for lowering the voting age. He is currently leading a Photovoice study exploring how young people are affected by the economic and commercial determinants of health, using participatory methods to amplify lived experience in research and advocacy.
Planning is Co-Founder of Global Health Youth Connect, a youth-led non-profit advancing health literacy and the social determinants of health in schools and communities. He also serves as Youth and CALD Representative on the ALIVE National Centre Governance Committee, and is a member of both the Future Healthy Countdown Working Group and the Western Sydney University Young and Resilient Research Centre Advisory Board.
In 2024, he was recognised as Rising Star in Youth Health by the Australian Association for Adolescent Health.
Planning Saw (he/him)
Tanisha is a proud Kanolu woman committed to social justice, equity, and self-determination. She is deeply passionate about contributing to the betterment of First Nations youth and communities. Since completing a Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Griffith University in 2020, she has worked across the not-for-profit sector in career support and program development roles.
Tanisha aspires to be a leader who drives meaningful, practical change, particularly in advancing education equity and expanding opportunities for young Australians to shape their own futures. She is motivated by a strong commitment to supporting systems and initiatives that empower First Nations people and strengthen communities for the long term.
Tanisha Frescon (she/her)
Matthew is currently an Honours student at Griffith University exploring the role of Australia’s multiculturalism in foreign policy, its influence on regional youth perceptions, and whether Australia’s cultural diversity is a source of soft power and regional engagement. He recently completed a Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Government and International Relations at Griffith University. Matthew’s interest in future generations policy, and in law, policy, and governance reform, was encouraged by a research placement with Foundations for Tomorrow in November 2022, and led to continued engagement with Foundations for Tomorrow as a research advisor in a volunteer capacity.
Matthew has previously been a research assistant with Griffith University’s Policy Innovation Hub, and is currently a research assistant with the Griffith Law School. He was also a member of the Review Team assisting Professor Susan Harris Rimmer (the Independent Reviewer) with the first independent review of the Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld).
Matthew Day (he/him)
Lucy is a digital transformation professional with four years’ experience working across technology consulting and in-house product roles. As a product manager, she specialises in designing and delivering user-centred digital and data solutions, with experience spanning retail, healthcare, government, and mining sectors. Her work focuses on translating complex needs into practical, scalable platforms that create measurable impact.
As a Foundations for Tomorrow 2026 Fellow, Lucy is deeply interested in the intersection of digital innovation and future generations policy. She is motivated by the potential for technology to support long-term, sustainable outcomes when paired with inclusive co-design and systems thinking.
Lucy Wang (she/her)
Emmett is an experienced policy researcher, having worked in a number of policy and project management roles and state and federal departments. With a background in international relations and ethics, his research has focused on the intersection of technology, security, and ethics.
Emmett is a firm believer in interdisciplinary approaches to policy and advocacy and in the importance of promoting youth perspective in politics and international affairs, having held leadership positions with the Young Australians in International Affairs and the Young Diplomats Society in Melbourne.
His most recent research has focused on justice constrained longtermism, the social construction of threats from emerging technologies, and the mechanisms for international coordination in addressing global risks, such as climate change and transformative technologies.
Emmett Howard (he/him)
Paris has a strong commitment to sustainability and social justice through roles in the non-profit sector. Looking to achieve long-term lasting community impact that is supported by sustainable outcomes, inclusion, and equitable opportunities for future generations.
She has a bachelor's degree in both Biochemistry and International Studies and a professional background in people-focused roles from climate advocacy to engagement with rural and remote areas, balancing strategic thinking with practical execution in order to empower communities.
She is motivated by seeing the good in people and the belief that lasting impact is built through trust, collaboration, and a community-first mindset.
Paris Riebeling (she/her)
Maggie is a digital marketing and communications professional with a strong interest in advocacy, social impact, and future-focused leadership. With experience across a range of non-profit organisations, she specialises in digital storytelling and strategic communication to engage communities and inspire meaningful action.
Her work centres on creating compelling content and creative strategies, developing digital campaigns, and collaborating with diverse teams to amplify mission-driven initiatives. Maggie brings a creative blend of creative direction, graphic design, and digital marketing skills to elevate organisational voices and foster genuine connection with audiences.
As a Foundations for Tomorrow Fellow, Maggie is driven by a belief that policy and long-term decision-making should be accessible and relevant to young people. She is passionate about breaking down complex ideas, empowering youth through education, and supporting intergenerational fairness so young voices can actively shape the decisions that affect their future.
