New Social Innovation Festival Announced

A new social innovation festival has been announced to take place in Derry~Londonderry on 19 October and Belfast on 20 October.

Described as 'A Get Together for Communities, Entrepreneurs and Innovators, to be part of the solution to build a better Northern Ireland for everyone', FuSIon Fest is brought to you by Social Innovation NI in association with the Building Change Trust, supported by the Department for Communities and managed by Innovate-NI.

The organisers said that by taking part in FuSIon Fest, you will help to promote stronger communities, healthier citizens, an improved quality of life, economic opportunity and healthy recreation by combating silo and traditional thinking. The intention is to have fun, meet interesting people and explore.

The Headline Keynote will be delivered by Sir Tim Smit KBE, Eden Project. Other speakers include:

• Deirdre Mortell: Social Innovation Fund for Ireland.

• Alan Mahon Brewgooder

• Mary McKenna: Technology Entrepreneur & Angel Investor 

• Carla McSorley, Customer Success Manager at FoodCloud

• Sandra Baillie, NICVA

• Conor Houston, Centre for Democracy & Peace Building

• Tiziana O’Hara, Cooperative Alternatives

• Rebecca Walsh, Service Designer, Northern Ireland Public Sector Innovation Lab

• Chiara Davalli, European BIC Network

• Leanne Monk Ozgul, Cofounder- Elemental Software

• Tony Doherty, Healthy Living Centre Alliance

• Una McKernan, Deputy Chief Executive, NICVA

• Jennifer Neff , Co Founder- Elemental Software

• Patricia Flanagan, Work West

• Ciaran Murray

• Joanne Morgan, Director of Community Development- Community Development & Health Network (CDHN)