A busy start to April
- by Joe Iles
- |
- 15 Apr 2011
- |
- Tweet
Ellen’s had a busy couple of weeks, travelling the length the UK for various Foundation events. Here’s a summary of three recent highlights.
ReDesign challenge with National Grid
On 23 March, Ellen hosted a ReDesign Challenge at the National Grid UK Leadership Conference, at the IEC Ricoh Arena, Coventry. Approximately 1,000 members of National Grid’s UK leadership team attended the conference over the two days it ran. Ellen’s involvement centred around an hour and a half session each day during she presented to the groups about her journey to setting up the Foundation, and her belief in the business opportunities which are out there around the theme of the circular economy. The interactive workshop which followed enabled delegates to re-design part of National Grid using the principles of the circular economy model, and then selected teams presented their ideas to the whole group. It was hugely challenging for the teams, but the feedback was very positive.
IBM Start Jam
The IBM Start Jam took place on 5-7 April, and Ellen participated as a ‘Guest Jammer’ on 6 April.
Ellen led some interesting discussions, including:
- How do we ‘frame’ the changes, which have to happen to get maximum support from the population. Is this about a ‘green’ future – or simply ‘a future that works’ for all of us?
- Re-thinking the system: examples of ‘thinking differently’ which don’t rely on conventional behavioural change. A materials problem is taken hold of, and in fact turned into a solution through design at the beginning of the life of the product.
- How the challenges we face are an opportunity for innovation and creativity, and how young people respond well to this approach: focusing on what can be done, rather than what can’t.
© IBM Corporation 2011
Ellen was also joined in the Jam by Ken Webster of the Foundation’s Education Team. Ken took part in some lively discussions including one that asked ‘Can we change the way financial markets work?’. Ken argued that a paradigm shift is needed to make the long term a focus for business decisions; a shift that needs to happen in parallel with a move to a circular economy.
The Jam – an online discussion platform – featured participants from B&Q, Ogilvy, Citibank, Business in the Community (BITC), Start and a whole host of experts addressing key issues and encouraging collaboration.
You can review the Jam discussions until 31 May at the IBM Start Jam website.
EAUC Annual Conference
On Wednesday 13 April, Ellen travelled to York for the Annual Conference of The Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges. The event’s primary focus was on sustainability initiatives, projects and aspirations for the Higher and Further education sector.
Ellen’s keynote speech and Q&A to over 300 delegates focused on the circular economy, the Foundation’s vision and its approach for Further and Higher education change, and the central role of business as partners in the circular economy journey.
The conference gave attendees the opportunity to engage, learn, share ideas and network with their colleagues, and to help move thinking towards a more positive future.
Follow Ellen on Twitter
You can keep up to date with Ellen’s work by following her on Twitter @ellenmacarthur.
Leave your comment
Login to comment