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My name’s Liz and I’m a serial cause monogamist. From climate change solutions to Fairtrade to West Papuan independence, there have been so many causes that have heartened me, distressed me or encouraged me to get active. Too many to count.

When I attended the first Festival for the Future in late 2011 I was burnt out, unenthused and didn’t know what to expect. Festival for the Future turned out to be a perfect remedy: I listened to amazing stories, connected with awesome people and, most importantly, renewed my enthusiasm.

This year, I’m helping to promote the Festival. Our small team, headed by Festival Director Guy Ryan, is fully committed to the vision behind this national event.

What is the Festival vision? Sparking and growing ideas to advance New Zealand. Transforming 21st century issues, such as climate change, into opportunities. Opening up space to reframe entrepreneurship in a meaningful way.

The basis of this vision is the creation of new and innovative ideas.  For this to have a real effect, these ideas need to be put into action. This got me thinking:

 How do we go about turning world-changing ideas into action?

 It’s a big question, and we all have answers that work for us in different ways. At Festival for the Future, we’ve structured our weekend programme to create maximum benefit for participants. Below I’ve outlined five ways we aim to shake-up and support participants to shift headspace into legwork.

1. Learning from the best

We ask high-end experts to run workshops & seminars at Festival for the Future. In most cases the contributors are leaders in their field.

2. Connecting issues

We can’t tackle the big issues of our time in isolation. Therefore, we’re creating an experience that is truly cross-disciplinary and intergenerational: a breeding ground for innovation.

3. Getting inspired

If you don’t have the will, you’ll never find a way. Getting inspired – or for many of us, re-inspired – gives us the energy to do the hard yard. From passionate young leader Sacha McMeeking to sustainability visionary Alex Hannant from the Hikurangi Foundation, there will be more than 20 inspiring speakers at Festival for the Future.

4. Space to create and develop

Inspiration should be the fuel to create and develop our own ideas. At Festival for the Future, we’ve got heaps of seminars and workshops where you can work on your dreams and projects and get the resources and people-power you need.

3. Collaborating

Whether it’s providing the necessary skills and enthusiasm or simply looking with a different perspective, connecting and working with diverse people can make all the difference in getting an idea off the ground.

That’s our recipe for turning world-changing ideas into action. What’s yours?

Festival for the Future is a national event about ideas, innovation and action. Over 300 young leaders, professionals, thinkers and doers will engage with amazing speakers and action-packed workshops and seminars from 16-18 November at Te Papa.

To find out more about Festival for the Future, including ticketing, please visit www.festivalforthefuture.org.nz