Efforts to combat complex problems like poverty, climate change, economic development, health care and preparing for an aging population have proven resistant to the same old methods of designing and implementing public policy. Increasingly, leaders are looking for new approaches to tackling these challenges. 

Social Innovation refers to new ideas that resolve existing social, cultural, economic and environmental challenges for the benefit of people and planet. A true social innovation is systems-changing – it permanently alters the perceptions, behaviours and structures that previously gave rise to these challenges. When addressing complex public policy challenges, the ideal is for groups of stakeholders and citizens/system users to co-design for social innovation. 

IPAC Hamilton is pleased to invite you to join us for a panel discussion on the "Alchemy of Social Innovation" with Nabil Harfoush Associate Professor at OCAD in  Strategic Foresight and Innnovation, Dr. Peter Szatmari, Professor and Head of the Division of Child Psychiatry at McMaster University, Mark Chamberlain, President and CEO of Trivaris and past chair of both the Jobs Prosperty Collaborative and Hamilton's Poverty Roundtable. Discussants will include Dr. Stephen McBride, Canada Research Chair in Public Policy and Globalization and Hamilton City Manager, Chris Murray. This promises to be a stimulating - possibly paradigm-shifting - discussion of how we take on 21st century challenges. There will be an opportunity for audience participation. 

Panelists' Biographies

As well as a being a Senior Fellow at OCAD, Nabil Faroush is also a Director at Tides Canada, a Fellow at the University of Philadelphia's Dept of Design, Engineering and Commerce , a Council member for Toronto the Regional Immigrants Employment Council and a President and Chief Wisdom Officer at Manara International Resources Inc. - among other things.

Dr. Peter Szatmari has worked in the field of autism and pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) for 30 years. Dr Szatmari holds the Chedoke Health Chair in Child Psychiatry. He is Director of the Offord Centre of Child Studies.  He is a founding member of the Canadian Autism Intervention Research Network (CAIRN) a national network of parents, clinicians, policy makers and scientists dedicated to launching a research agenda in early intervention in autism.  He consults regularly to government agencies in Canada, the U.S. and internationally on research and on treatment services for children with ASD. 

Mark Chamberlain is the President and one of the founding partners of Trivaris Ltd., a commercialization company focused on transforming ideas from concept to sustainable businesses.  Investing in and growing early-stage companies, Mark strives to create businesses, jobs and a culture of innovation under a Trivaris brand that is “not just for profit”. 

Mark served as a member of the Board and Chair of the Commercialization Committee of the Ontario Centres of Excellence for six years; served seven years on the Board and two years as Chair of the Hamilton Community Foundation; served six years as Chair of the Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction and was recognized with the Hamilton Distinguished Citizen of the Year for 2007 for his work on reducing poverty in Hamilton.  He was appointed to the National Council of Welfare, an advisory body to the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development on matters of concern to low-income Canadians.  In 2010, Mark was inducted into the Hamilton Gallery of Distinction.  He is currently Chair of the Hamilton Jobs Prosperity Collaborative; Chair of the Innovation Factory and a member of McMaster University Board of Governors.

Discussants

Dr. Stephen McBride joined McMaster in 2010 as the Canada Research Chair in Globalization and Public Policy. His current research examines two major world crises: the economic crisis that began in 2008 and the ecological crisis we face through climate change. His focus surrounds the employment effects of both.

Chris Murrray has been Hamilton's City Manager for three years.  He has spent considerable time moving forward on the City’s priorities and evaluating its delivery of citizen-centred services.  Under his leadership, the City has experienced its lowest tax increase since amalgamation and is forging ahead with a number of City building initiatives including public transit implementation, the Pan Am games, and a renewed focus on the downtown and waterfront. Chris has a deep interest to addressing the needs of people living in Hamilton’s code red neighbourhoods.

A registered professional planner, Chris has 20 years experience implementing public works projects, including his most well known, the Red Hill Creek Valley Project.  During this time Chris directed the redesign of this controversial project including the development of a series of landmark agreements with Six Nations. Chris also initiated the planning framework for Hamilton’s growth management strategy (GRIDS).

IPAC Hamilton is grateful to the City of Hamilton, City Manager's Office, for its participation as a venue sponsor