Sanlam – Invested in the Future Sanlam UK

Before the global pandemic struck, many of us felt content amid busy social lives, nice holidays and furthering our careers. But 2020 left many of us questioning our old lives and considering where we will derive happiness from in the future having realised the importance of spending more time with our families, enjoying walks in the fresh air, and living a simpler life.

So, is there a secret to happiness? Despite all our technological advances, we have yet to fully understand what makes people happy, and how to disseminate that. With mental health issues on the rise, are people becoming less happy? As the world changes exponentially, we need to learn how to hold on to what we hold dear, and ensure our happiness remains intact as we navigate the future.

Miriam Akhtar, a leading practitioner of positive psychology talks to us about all aspects of happiness and wellbeing, and what it takes to feel good, live well and flourish.

Within weeks of covid-19 enforcing social distancing, we were able to book GP appointments online and conduct health consultations over our mobile phone. And within a year we had a suite of approved vaccines - a process that normally takes years, not months. These changes reflect a burgeoning revolution in healthcare. We explain why this is just the beginning.

Yet despite these rapid advancements, at the centre of the crisis was the fragility of our hospitals, which ultimately led to national lockdowns and economic hardship. As wards were turned over to covid patients, others were left waiting for life saving treatment.

How can healthcare technology be used to prevent this from happening again while also improving patient outcomes, caring for our ageing population, eradicating the threat of disease, and taking pressure off our creaking healthcare system? Will using home-based diagnostic scanning devices like phones and iPads become common-place, and can science enable faster diagnosis and personalised treatments that are more effective with fewer side effects?

The past 12 months has seen a dramatic change in our relationship with cities. Working from home, shopping online, home schooling and the Government’s instruction to “stay local” has meant that our city centres have gone from thriving metropolises to ghost towns. Many firms are considering their office space needs and national retailers are reducing their presence on the high street. Is this the time to rethink our cities?

Speaking in the 1960s, President John F. Kennedy said, “we will neglect our cities to our peril, for in neglecting them we neglect the nation”. But has covid-19 proved too big a challenge for our cities, highlighting their essentially Victorian premise which is now out of step with modern life meaning their future is indeed in peril?

Conversely, the technology revolution could provide the opportunity to develop new capabilities and re-think our cities and the way we live and work. Could Paris’s 15-minute city concept (where everything residents need can be reached within 15 minutes by foot, bike or public transport) become a reality? Will the trend towards urban growth continue, or will the pandemic and its aftermath continue to push people away?

Andrew Carter, Chief Executive of Centre for Cities, discusses the city’s future and how technology and the impact of the pandemic may or may not change metropolitan life.

Staying ahead of threats to our national and personal security has never been so complex. As new technologies such as artificial intelligence develop exponentially, everyone from nation states to disgruntled teenagers are finding ways to take advantage of our vulnerabilities. While the threat from global powers such as Russia and China grab the headlines, we explore why security is no longer about pure military might.

While the UK’s exit from the EU and the threat from global powers such as Russia and China grab the headlines, security is no longer about pure military might. The weapons of today are data, cultural influence and public perception. Recently we’ve seen cybercrime and espionage groups, such as the Russian ‘Fancy Bear’ group, becoming increasingly sophisticated in exploiting security, and they are often linked to government intelligence. At the same time, social media platforms have shown their power in galvanising large social movements, such as Black Lives Matter and Extinction Rebellion, even taking some of the blame for facilitating President Trump’s incitement of discord and giving rise to riots at the US Capitol.

We talk to Major General Jonathan Shaw, army veteran and the UK’s first Head of Cybersecurity. He separates threats from hype and explores the part cyber plays in geopolitics while describing a model of leadership that’s far more progressive than many imagine.

While the outlook for our economy remains unclear, so is the future of the pound in our pocket. The term “cashless society” was first coined in the 1990s, but only recently has it started to feel like a reality. The covid-19 pandemic has forced businesses to ditch physical currency for contactless payment, and as more of us shop online and use our smart phones and watches for instant payments, could the sight of a crisp £20 note become a thing of the past?

And what does the advent of digital currencies such as Bitcoin or Facebook’s ‘Libra’ mean for the future of our financial system and the way we buy things? Will we soon be juggling different currencies via our digital wallets?

In the first of our Invested in the Future events, Stephen King, a renowned global economist and bestselling author discusses the economic outlook and how our changing relationship with cash means the future of money has never looked so uncertain.