Welcome to the first Thinkers in Residence newsletter for 2018 - we intend to send these newsletters out more frequently in future to keep you informed what's going on with the Thinkers Program but with the purpose economy in South Australia more generally.

We are delighted to host our next Thinker in Residence Dr. Ilse Treurnicht who is visiting us as part of the Social Capital Residencies line-up.

Ilsa defied the GFC to transform the  MaRS Discovery District  into one of the world's leading innovation hubs and who is widely considered to be one of Canada's most influential women.

Ilse's residency will contribute crucial expertise on the role of the private sector in the purpose economy and ways to develop thriving innovation precincts for commercial and social impact.

This includes her insights in to the unique value propositions of the existing precincts in Adelaide and her expertise in cross-sector collaboration for the development and commercialisation of IP
 
Time with Ilse is limited so we will be hosting one large public event only: 
Building the Future on Purpose - a vision for inclusive growth in SA this event is not to be missed. Tickets are selling fast, so we recommend booking immediately.  BOOK HERE
 
You'll find below information about the action being taking to implement the insights from each of our Thinkers, a recap of the  ' Three Zeros' events we held in March with Nobel Peace Prize winner, Muhammad Yunus, and we've also included an update on some great reads as well as info on what else is going on around town. 

Following Ilse's visit we will be welcoming the return of our Allyson Hewitt  in July, as well as hosting a two-part residency with Guy Turnbull in September and November. Guy is an expert in mutuals and coops in the care-sector - stay tuned for more information!

Following Ilse's visit we are expecting Guy Turnbull  and the return of Allyson Hewitt so stay tuned!

If you like what you see, we hope you will consider attending, joining, donating, partnering, volunteering and help us inspire action for a fairer world.

As always we value your feedback on what we are doing so please get in touch!
 
With thoughtfulness,
 
Kate Jarrett & Rose Lacoon Williamson, The Thinkers Team

           


NEW IDEAS IN OLD (RAH) PLACES...

In one of Adelaide's most iconic site s , you will hear one of Canada's most influential business leaders speak to her experience as the CEO of the MaRS Discovery District
and her  insights gained as our latest Thinker in Residence on her vision for inclusive economic growth in South Australia.

We will learn how she integrated social outcomes in the ground up creation of Canada's largest innovation hub, which has set the bustling epicentre of Toronto as a world leader in business, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Following Ilsa's Oration there will be a panel comprising leading South Australian women from the private, community and university sectors.

Please join us after the Oration for drinks and networking.

This event will be held in the foyer of the old Royal Adelaide Hospital and is absolutely not to be missed!  Tickets are limited so secure your seat now.

Date: Wed. 2 May 2018
Time: 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm ACST
Location: Main Foyer, Old Royal Adelaide Hospital, North Terrace
Price: $15 / $10 Concession (includes networking drinks)


PARTNER PROJECTS FOR SOCIAL IMPACT
 
Did you know that the Thinkers in Residence program has partner ed with more than 40 organisations to support a suite of initiatives and prototypes that develop the purpose economy in SA?
 
We are currently updating our website with news on the range of projects that we are working on collaboratively with clusters of our partner organisations across the not-for profit, government, private and university sectors. This includes: 
  • A network to increase the number of BCorp (or for Benefit) certified companies in S.A. - supported by Torrens University and Free Range Futures, two leading SA B-Corps.
  • With the help of TACSI, the Wyatt Trust, and many others we've started mapping the Social Innovation Ecosystem in South Australia.
  • The development of an Impact Investment Strategy for South Australia, with the Social Impact Investment Network of SA.
  • Supporting the establishment of Northern Purpose Business Network with the Stretton Centre, the Northern Economic Plan and others to raise awareness of the opportunities in the purpose economy - particularly though social procurement.
  • Working with the South Australian Centre for Economic Studies to survey social enterprises in South Australia.
  • Helping Carers SA who are leading some work exploring innovative approaches to providing better transport options in the care sector.
  • Supporting Regional Development Australia on how to better measure social impact in our regions.
  • Working with Helping Hand Aged Care on new social enterprise models, including exploring the opportunities for inclusive economic growth through workforce diversity.
  • Support for developing best practice for employee ownership models organisations providing services as part of the NDIS.
  • Engaging the banking, finance and public utility sectors in adopting shared value approaches to their corporate strategy, products, services and investments.
  • Working with Community Living Australia and others in the disability sector to explore what a cooperative business model would look like in sharing front and back end services.
Stay tuned for more information about these projects over coming months or feel free to contact us about how you can get involved.
 
The Thinkers program brings experts from around the world to help us as South Australians make the change we want to see in our community. They can act as the catalysts for change, but ultimately it is us who must be the change makers. We hope you will be part of it. 

RECAP - NOBEL PEACE PRIZE WINNER MUHAMMAD YUNUS' VISIT TO ADELAIDE,  MARCH 2018

We teamed up with a range of organisations to bring renowned Nobel Peace Prize winning economist and entrepreneur Professor Muhammad Yunus to South Australia in March.
 
In his whirlwind two-day visit, the bestselling author of 'Banker to the Poor,' Professor Yunus recorded a podcast  and, through a range of events, offered his vision of an emerging new economic system that can save humankind and the planet. 

He explores this further in his new book, 'A World of Three Zeroes: The New Economics of Zero Poverty, Zero Unemployment, and Zero Net Carbon Emissions'essentially asking the question: "How can we make the three Zero's possible here in South Australia?" 
 
If you missed out on seeing Professor Yunus while he was in Adelaide, you can watch his public lecture online: 

This led to a landmark announcement
We are so pleased to announce that while Dr. Yunus visited South Australia, the  University of Adelaide signed an MOU to create a new Yunus Social Business Centre (YSBC). We will keep you updated with its progress.


DELIVERING PROCUREMENT WITH IMPACT - ADELAIDE
 
This comprehensive one-day course (10 May) is designed for all of those undertaking or interested in social procurement. The course brings together international best practice, local case studies and practical step-by-step guidance to support social procurement practice that drives real social and local economic benefits as part of a robust procurement framework. Book Here
WHAT WE'RE WATCHING


WHAT WE'RE READING
100 Solutions to Reverse Global Warming  

How Your Desire for Impact, Personal Growth and Community is Changing the World

ProBono Australia

Organizations are no longer judged only for their financial performance. Rather, they are being evaluated on their impact on society.

Imagine if SA's politicians took policy risks - and we let them...
In a complex and constantly changing world, "safe" policy answers won't cut it for a state like South Australia, argue Brenton Caffin and David Pearson.

WHAT ELSE IS ON

PRESENTATION - Gaming and Social Impact. 27 April, 5.30pm - 7.30pm. Hear from one of Australia's leading games companies about the opportunities to harness the burgeoning games industry to create social impact outcomes across the health and care sectors and generate pathways for social inclusion.  Dan Thorsland of Adelaide based international gaming company, Mighty Kingdom will discuss the unique opportunities that gaming can provide to create social impact followed by an "in-conversation" style discussion and Q & A with Speciailst Thinker in Residence, Ilse Treurnicht. Limited FREE places available.  BOOK TICKETS

WORKSHOPS - Mark Cabaj for Together SA
1 May 2018.Together SA brings you a unique opportunity to attend 2 fantastic workshops held by Mark Cabaj international Collective Impact expert and thought leader on community and complexity, social innovation, strategic learning and evaluation. Workshop #1: Prototyping Our Way to Social Innovation 8:45am - 12:15pm. Workshop #2: Developing Strategy for CI Work 
1:00pm - 4:30pm.
  BOOK TICKETS 

WORKSHOP - ANZSOG two-day workshop: Leading Impactful Innovation in the Public Sector  15 May 2018 David Albury, Director of Innovation Unit Ltd, UK  Draws on a wealth of international learning and research, this interactive two-day workshop is designed to broaden and deepen senior leaders' ability to devise and implement innovative strategies to tackle pressing issues in their organisations.   BOOK TICKETS