Social innovators know that social innovation is not a fixed address. We do not find the permanent solution to the complex problems that face our societies and our environment. What we can do is increase our understanding of and our capacity to respond to such problems in continuously innovative ways.

Join Dr. Frances Westley, best-selling co-author of Getting to Maybe: How the World is Changed (2006), as she shares new insights into understanding complexity and transformative change, and the critical dimensions of “maybe”.

Six years after the publication of Getting to Maybe, Dr. Westley reveals her insights into exciting new thinking and practice to create conditions for social innovation. Her presentation will include ideas and examples to highlight:
•    The importance of resilience concepts – strategies for both increasing and decreasing pockets of resilience within our social systems
•    The potential of social innovation design labs for supporting system change
•    The connective role of institutional entrepreneurs and their relationship to the inventiveness of social entrepreneurs

Frances Westley is one of the world’s leading experts on social innovation. As the Director of the Waterloo Institute for Social Innovation and Resilience (WISER) at the University of Waterloo, she leads an active research team that is exploring the dynamics of how change happens in complex, linked social and ecological systems.  The WISIR staff and faculty team has launched the Graduate Diploma in Social Innovation (sig.uwaterloo.ca) and is educating and networking professionals from all sectors across Canada, to work together for significant innovation on our shared, systemic challenges.

Join Dr. Westley for this public lecture as she shares new insights into social innovation.

Tuesday September 18, 2012, 7:00-8:30pm

UVic Social Sciences and Math Building, Room A104

For more information call 250-472-4539