by Emma Becirovic - Ogunte contributor
One of the best ways to grow as a social entrepreneur is by attending an event where you will nurture your connections, increase your professional visibility, and learn from others through panels and debates. The right platform can contribute to your organisation’s learning culture both by bringing up-to-date knowledge, (or diverging opinions!) into your social enterprise and sending knowledge back out into your area of impact. Your confidence and credentials will also be reinforced by appearing at innovative events where you can share your valuable perspectives and experiences. Why not step onto the scene at some of the following events? Most are returning every year. Log them in your calendar to attend future editions!
- Broadening Horizons: Social Enterprise Mark CIC conference
When: 5th-6th June 2017
Where: the University of Winchester, UK
Themes: “Broadening horizons for social enterprise and pushing the boundaries of the traditional social enterprise market”. The event will challenge participants to think about the wider world, Brexit and the market opportunities. For Social Enterprise Mark Holders on the 1st day and other social enterprises on the second day.
- OuiShare - Cities of the World Unite!
When: 5th-7th July 2017
Where: Paris, France
Themes: Cities and citizens are at the heart of the next great transformation.
Join 1,500 visionaries, entrepreneurs and movement builders to explore how digital technologies and a more collaborative culture can address the great challenges of our time and build systemic change.
- Social Enterprise World Forum
When: 27th-29th September 2017
Where: Christchurch, New Zealand
Theme: “Ka koroki te manu – Creating our tomorrow”, is an invitation to create a global legacy of positive change and to take an active role in shaping the world’s future. Key streams: Social enterprise in recovery and regeneration; Global citizenship and international development. Nb: Bursaries available.
- Unleashed, powered by the Centre for Social Enterprise Development
When: November 2017, date TBC
Where: Ottowa, Canada
Themes: “Money, markets, people, and ideas”. A radical conference bringing together ‘thinkers, disrupters, and doers’ for one day to share their insights and experiences in the social enterprise field.
- Women in Enterprise Conference (WEC)
When: 24th-25th November 2017
Where: Kano, Nigeria
Themes: Discussing and cross-pollinating ideas on entrepreneurship. Run specifically with women in mind and designed to inform and inspire other women who already are or want to run their own enterprises.
- Fourteenth International Conference on Environmental, Cultural, Economic & Social Sustainability
When: January 2018, date TBC
Where: Cairns, Australia
Themes: Special focus is “forging solidarity: collective sustainability solutions in a fragmenting world”. This research network attempts to locate what is being experienced in the context of longer, broader and deeper views of the four fundamentals (environment, culture, economy, society) of sustainability.
When: Early March 2018
Where: Qatar
Themes: sustainable tourism; previous themes include youth development for
peaceful societies and sports as youth empowerment. Intends to inspire, inform and mobilize young delegates and to enable young people to take leadership roles in addressing local and international developmental issues
- SEED West Africa Symposium 2017
When: 20th July 2017
Where: Accra, Ghana
Themes: “Reinvent? Replicate! - Replicating Eco-Inclusive Enterprise Solutions for Green Economy and Sustainable Development in West Africa”. Bringing together over 100 enterprises, financial institutions, policy makers, business development service providers and civil society representatives this event aims to generate approaches to and explorations of the business models which will contribute to an inclusive green economy and sustainable development in West Africa.
When: 6th-7th September 2017
Where: Rome, Italy
Themes: “Creating a unified foundation for the Sustainable Development: research, practice and education". Inspired by the critical challenge of human, environmental, and economic sustainability concerning the present and future generations in a global-scale context
- Social Enterprise Policy and Practice
When: 7th September 2017
Where: Glasgow, Scotland
Summary: Bringing together 220+ social enterprise leaders, practitioners, supporters, policy makers and funders to gain insight, this annual event will let you share experiences and best practice, and network.
- Summit ’17- Social Enterprise Alliance
When: 18th-20th September 2017
Where: California, USA
- Annual Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs
When: 25th-27th September 2017
Where: Virginia, USA
- Social Capital Markets “SoCap”
When: 10th-13th October 2017
Where: San Fransisco, California
Theme: Socap convenes thousands of impact investors, world-class entrepreneurs, and
innovative cross-sector practitioners dedicated to increasing the flow
of capital toward social good.
- Social Venture Network- 30th anniversary conference and celebration
When: 7th-9th December 2017
Where: San Francisco, USA
When: March, 2018, date TBC
Where: Edinburgh, Scotland
What do you think of these events? What appeals to you, and what is lacking? We’d love to gain an insight from you, as women in social business, about what you want to find in an event, either as a visitor, co-sponsor or panel participant.