Ireland has undertaken a huge transformation since the global financial crisis. In the last few years, unemployment has fallen from about 15% to 5.4% in April 2019. It is expected that unemployment will fall below 5% in the next year, which the country will deem as ‘full employment.’ In an article by the Irish Times, … More ReCreate: The Social Enterprise Inspiring Creativity and a Better Planet
The Lisbon Investment Summit’s (LIS) slogan is #nobullshit. There are so many conferences that entrepreneurs, investors and corporates which lead to little more than stroking of egos and exchanging business cards. LIS 2019 was quite the affair. Over 2 days, about 1500 attendees packed into a former naval rope-making factory in the touristy suburb of … More Is the Future of Capitalism and Democracy a Ticking Time Bomb?
Sitting in a coffee shop in London run by Aussies, I felt a slice of home from the aroma of quality coffee! I was meeting with Lydia Hascott, who is the Head of Intrapreneurship at the Finance Innovation Lab. The Finance Innovation Lab incubates the people, ideas and movements building a financial system that serves … More The Finance Innovation Lab: Changing the Finance System to Strengthen People and Planet
Data today can be used to improve as well as hinder society. With large companies dominating data from our devices, it is important we create new networks that add value to society. Instead, they can help generate more equitable outcomes for people, place and the planet. There are some exciting emerging models of using data … More SynchroniCity: The EU’s Plan to Build the Ultimate Smart City Network
I had heard about Finland’s progressive culture and positive action on climate change. However, it wasn’t until I was on the ground and hearing from locals about clean tech, partnerships and new business models that I got a true sense of it. When I met with Tiina Kähö, Executive Director of Helsinki Metropolitan Smart and … More How Innovative Partnerships Can Transform Cities
Sweden is a hive of activity when it comes to social impact and environmental sustainability. I asked a local about the recycling situation in Sweden and he responded ‘We take recycling so seriously that it is almost an Olympic sport.’ The pride and passion of social impact and environmental sustainability seem to be ingrained in … More Meet Some Swedish World Changers!
Debating which ramen I should buy in a Tokyo supermarket, an older Japanese lady decided it was the perfect time to start a conversation. She spoke in very fast Japanese about how the Fukushima disaster has changed agriculture in Japan and means that a lot of food is now imported from overseas. She looked at … More Sustainable Travel Guide: Tokyo
Written by Rob Lee, Experience Design Leader in Melbourne, Australia. Human Centred Design has the potential to change the world, but it needs to change. How so? IDEO has most popularly used principles and tools of HCD to transform communities in developing countries. The business world has also adopted many aspects of this into their … More Can Human Centred Design Change the World?
The plastic epidemic has reached a crisis point and there is growing acceptance that practices must change. These practices must be acknowledged from both a business and consumer level. Businesses need to minimise the plastic in production and we as consumers need to look for alternatives. However, it is often perceived as ‘too hard’ to … More 5 Practical Tips to Reduce Your Waste
The Olympic and Paralympic games are an exciting time for viewers around the world. As the Olympics and Paralympics will be held in Tokyo next year, I have been asking locals if they are excited. The general consensus is a subtle eye roll and an even more subtle shake of their head. When I ask … More How the 2020 Olympics Could Change Japan for Good
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