Dragonfly Thinking at the World Governments Summit in Dubai
Dragonfly Thinking was featured at the Edge of Government exhibition during the World Governments Summit 2025 in Dubai from February 11 to 13. This global event brought together policymakers, thought leaders, and innovators to explore bold approaches to today's most pressing challenges.
Anthea Roberts and Australia’s Ambassador to the UAE, Ridwaan Jadwat
Dragonfly Thinking at the Edge of Government
The Edge of Government 2025 exhibition, organized by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation, presented interactive experiences that challenge visitors to think differently about governance. This year’s theme was The Butterfly Effect, which recognises that every choice sets change in motion, and even small decisions here can create magnified effects across the world.
Dragonfly Thinking was among the 10 showcased innovations, with the organisers asking the question: “What if governments thought like a dragonfly?”
Interactive Exhibition Highlights
The exhibition featured an interactive display on Dragonfly Thinking, highlighting three case studies:
1. Australian National Risk Assessment: Led by John Blackburn AO, this initiative focuses on enhancing economic, environmental, and health resilience, as well as reducing public distrust in institutions.
2. Sustainable Development in Low-Income Countries: Conducted by the Development Intelligence Lab, this study explores strategies to promote sustainable development in economically disadvantaged regions.
3. Fostering AI Innovation and Diffusion: Managed by the AI CoLab, this project examines methods to accelerate AI innovation and its adoption across various public and private sectors.
These case studies demonstrate the diverse applications of Dragonfly Thinking in addressing complex challenges across different fields.
The Power of Dragonfly Thinking
Our founder and CEO, Anthea Roberts, delivered a talk on “The Power of Dragonfly Thinking in a New Economy,” introducing the audience to our Risk, Reward and Resilience Framework and the potential for AI tools to help us understand and act in complexity.
Discussions with Global Leaders
Anthea also engaged in discussions with notable figures, including Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai. These exchanges highlighted the growing interest in applying multi-lens thinking to navigate complexity.
We were also grateful for the support Dragonfly Thinking received from Australia's Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Ridwaan Jadwat, and the Australian Consul-General in Dubai, Bryony Hilless.
Global Engagement & Next Steps
Our participation in the World Government Summit 2025 facilitated meaningful discussions with international leaders and innovators. As we continue to develop and expand our platform, we look forward to further collaborations that help shape innovative approaches to today’s complex challenges.
If you're interested in exploring Dragonfly Thinking, the AI CoLab is currently allocating limited trial licenses. Get in touch with the organizers to see how to connect and apply this approach in your own work. See https://join.aicolab.org and contact the organisers at aicolab @treasury.gov.au.
To see a visual recap of the event, watch the following video: