As we prepare for the Istanbul Innovation Days 2025, we are publishing a series of videos featuring thought leaders who have shaped our understanding of institutions. In this conversation, Sir Geoff Mulgan, co-founder of the Institutional Architecture Lab (TIAL), speaks with Derek Walker, the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, about embedding long-term thinking into today’s decision-making and the institutional innovations needed to safeguard the interests of generations yet to come.
Walker’s role was established under Wales’ pioneering Wellbeing of Future Generations Act, celebrating its 10th anniversary. The legislation was Wales’ response to delivering on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It requires public bodies—from the Welsh Government to local councils and health boards—to develop long-term plans and actively consider how today’s actions impact future generations. In this independent role, Walker serves as a “conscience for future generations.” He advises, monitors, and—when necessary—calls out public bodies for inadequate progress. He notes the boldness of this institutional setup: a government funding an independent commissioner with the authority to critique its own actions.
Yet, Walker emphasizes that his role is not about opposition, but constructive collaboration. For Walker, the challenge is balancing today’s needs with those of tomorrow, acknowledging pressures like elections, budget cycles, and demands to focus on the present. Yet he emphasizes that this isn’t about ignoring the present—it’s about finding solutions that serve both today and the long term, win-win solutions. He notes, “If you don’t think 25 years ahead, 50 years ahead when you’re taking decisions, then you’re never going to find the solutions that meet the needs of today and of tomorrow.”
The key, Walker says, is getting beyond one-year, three-year, or even ten-year thinking. He also points out that young people often get this, because they have longer futures ahead, but “We all want a better tomorrow — we’ve all got a stake in the future.”
Globally, more countries and institutions are beginning to explore future-oriented governance, including the European Union’s Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness and the UN’s recent commitment of a Special Envoy for Future Generations. Walker encourages international peers to learn from Wales’ decade-long journey, but cautions that “there is no one-size-fits-all”. Each context requires tailored approaches—some may adopt commissioners, others may develop different models.
Importantly, Wales’ approach is enshrined in law, making it harder for future-oriented governance to be sidelined. Walker’s role breathes life into that law, ensuring that public bodies not only comply but deliver real impact. Walker concludes with a call for wider replication and adaptation of future generations institutions globally. As climate emergencies, nature loss, and long-term health trends intensify, he emphasizes, “we have no choice but to act for both the short term and the long term.”
