Announcing Another 60 Speakers
Our next 60 speakers, by the numbers:
- Founders: 27
- Executive Positions: 27
- Active Board Positions: 71
- Awards: 56
- Books: 22
- Countries: 10
- Incredible stories, lives touched, lessons learned, debts of gratitude: 201310234
Registration for SEWF 2013 is now open! Click here to take advantage of the Early Bird rate.
You can access all of SEWF 2013’s breakout session speakers here, but check out this sampling:
Sheetal Walsh, Founder, Shanti Life (U.S.), SEWF Session: “Culture Shock: Engaging Others in Your Success”
Shanti Life is a social enterprise that helps the poor to access resources for sustainable living and poverty alleviation. With over 15 years experience working in technology, venture capital, social entrepreneurship and philanthropy Sheetal has worked with thousands of entrepreneurs around the world. In 2009, she decided to apply her skills to help entrepreneurs in Indian slums and villages to build sustainable businesses by providing mentoring, training, microfinance and promotion of health and well-being. She is a spokesperson on the topic, having presented at Cambridge, LSE, Doha Forum, Big Society, House of Lords, TEDx and other prestigious forums. She first went to India in 1996 to work at the SOS Children’s Villages in Bangalore. Since then, she developed a passion to work in under resourced communities.
Audrey Poitras, President, Métis Nation of Alberta (Canada), SEWF Session: “Investing in Indigenous Social Enterprise”
Audrey Poitras is one of the highest profile Métis women in Canada. Audrey’s career in provincial Métis politics began in 1996 when she was elected to lead the Métis Nation of Alberta, as its first female President. From Métis identity to Métis rights and recognition, Audrey remains a key figure among Canada’s political leaders. Under her leadership, the Métis Nation of Alberta continues to be a model of success in representing and pursuing the social, political, and economic interests of the Métis people in Alberta. In addition, the credibility of the Métis Nation of Alberta continues to increase, as evidenced by activities over the past 16 years with Audrey Poitras at the helm where the legitimacy and accountability of the Métis Nation of Alberta has risen to unprecedented heights.
Charmian Love, Chief Executive, Volans (U.K.), SEWF Session: “Corporate Social Innovation”
Charmian works with leadership teams in corporations and country-based stakeholder groups to design and implement innovation strategies. In addition to her client work, Charmian also works on Volans’ research projects. Her recent report is The Future Quotient, launched in October 2011 in partnership with JWT, which focuses on the need for future-focused leadership and intergenerational innovation.
Prior to joining Volans, she co-founded the United Way’s GenNext Cabinet in Canada and is the Past Chair of The Flavelle Foundation. Currently, Charmian sits on The RSA’s Fellowship Council and the RSA’s Catalyst Selection Panel, and is an Advisory Board member of the Queen’s University Centre for Responsible Leadership.
Lillian Masebenza, Founding Director, Mhani Gingi (South Africa), SEWF Session: “Inclusive Economies are Ending the Poverty Cycle”
Lillian founded Mhani Gingi (literally means an Industrious Woman) Social Entrepreneurial Networks in 2004 and launched the organization in 2006, www.mhanigingi.com. The aim being to encourage women not to wait for something or somebody but use what they have to Create Wealth both economically and human capital - The organisation empowers women and youth through tailor-made skills training as well as linking their emerging businesses to markets and finance, thus helping them to improve both their livelihoods and that of their communities. Lillian also supports vulnerable groups as her social responsibility. For this innovative work she was awarded an Ashoka Fellowship in 2008. www.ashoka.org.
Jack Graham, Founder & CEO, Year Here (U.K.), SEWF Session: “From Serving to Service: Developing Social Impact Career Opportunities for Students”
Year Here is a new type of ‘gap year’ that challenges bright young people to a year of tackling social issues in their own backyard. Prior to fouding Year Here, Jack worked at the Young Foundation, one of the UK’s leading centres for social innovation, where he invested in and supported various education social enterprises and co-authored Growing Social Ventures, a report on the growing field of ‘social venture intermediaries’.
He is a 2013 Clore Social Leadership Fellow and is currently writing a report into how frontline service experiences, like Teach for America and AmeriCorps – develop US social and political leaders.
Mairi MacKay, Director of Society, British Council in East Asia (China), SEWF Session: “‘3 for 2023’, a Discussion: Three things public policy needs to do for Social Enterprise to thrive in 2023”
Dr Mairi Mackay currently leads a nine-country social enterprise programme that has provided training, access to funding and UK expertise to over 2500 social entrepreneurs in the region. Delivered with the support of 95 corporate, government and third sector partners, the programme also convenes policy dialogues between the UK and East Asia and promotes social innovation through campaigns that since 2009 have generated a media reach of 192 million.
In recent years Mairi served as Head of Greater China for Scottish Development International (SDI), directing four regional economic development offices to secure trade and investment opportunities for Scotland. Prior to her role with SDI Mairi was responsible for the development and management of GlobalScot – an internationally recognised Diaspora network of over 1000 successful global influencers and CEO’s who comitted their expertise to supporting Scotlands Economic Development agenda.
Chief Willie Littlechild, Commissioner, Truth & Reconciliation Commission of Canada (Canada), SEWF Session: “Mobilizing Efforts in Indigenous Social Finance and Enterprise”
Chief Littlechild is a respected lawyer and operates the law firm of J. Wilton Littlechild, Barrister and Solicitor, which is situated in the Ermineskin Reserve. He is a strong advocate for the rights of Indigenous Peoples and promoter of implementation of the treaties between the Indigenous Peoples of Canada and the Crown, now represented by the federal government. Chief Littlechild also served as the Chairperson for the Commission on First Nations and Métis Peoples and Justice Reform, mandated to review the justice system in the province of Saskatchewan.
Chief Littlechild served as a Member of Parliament from 1988 – 1993 for the riding of Wetaskiwin-Rimby. He served on several senior committees in the House of Commons and was a parliamentary delegate to the United Nations. Chief Littlechild organized a coalition of Indigenous Nations that sought and gained consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. He was re-appointed by the E.C.O.S.O.C. President to represent North America and has completed his second and final term as the North American representative to the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
Sarah Schulman, Visiting Scholar, Kennisland; Founder, InWithFor (Netherlands), SEWF Session: “Social Innovation Labs”
Sarah is a social problem-solver. She works with young people, older people, families, designers, social scientists, and policymakers to co-design, prototype, and spread solutions. That improve social outcomes, and reduce inequalities.
In 2009, Sarah co-founded InWithFor and worked in, with, and for The Australian Centre for Social Innovation building their Radical Redesign Team, developing the Working Backwards methodology, and launching 3 solutions: Family by Family, Care Reflect, and Weavers. Family by Family won the Australian International Design Award.
In 2013, Sarah is a Visiting Scholar at Kennisland where she is writing a book on measuring social good. Soon, she’ll launch InWithForward – a collection of stories and tactics for enabling good lives. Her writing can be found on sarahschulman.com.
Eve Blossom, Founder, Lulan Artisans (U.S.), SEWF Session: “Cross Cultural Collaboration: Managing Beyond Borders”
Eve Blossom is the Founder of Lulan™ Artisans, designers and producers of sustainable textiles that elegantly merge original contemporary designs with centuries-old weaving techniques. She works in partnership with more than 650 weavers, spinners, dyers and finishers in small workshops in Cambodia, India, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.
Blossom seeks to empower artisans through innovative new business models and celebrate their spirit, talents and traditions – giving them a strong voice for their futures. Lulan Artisans integrates design sensibility with social change and the company is charting new territory as a for-profit social venture. Lulan works closely with these individuals, paying sustainable wages, creating economic stability, growing local economies and assisting in other social benefits—such as education, housing, healthcare—as well as opening up new markets for their products.
Frequent lecturer on design and social change, trained-architect Eve Blossom is not only committed to environmentally responsible design, she is also intent on changing business methods to create economic options for artisans around the world.
