Making a Difference national conference
MAKING A DIFFERENCE national conference
The conference focused on engagement, innovation and delivering social and economic impact. The event attracted an exceptional panel of contributors which was both international in profile and wide ranging in terms of leaders and key actors and agencies from across the sectors, including community, voluntary, private and public. The conference was chaired by Channel 4 News Anchor, Krishnan Guru-Murthy.
Introducing the event, Professor Andrew Wathey, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Northumbria University, commented that "now, more than ever, we need to explore the future shape of how all of us can work together, across our sectors, to improve our collective impact on local people and places - this conference offers the space to do that." He added that the conference came at a critical time for urban and community renewal, not just in the UK but globally too, particularly in a time of hard economic downturn: "The drive for improved and more responsive public services which meet the needs of our communities and businesses would have continued in the most begin of economic climates, however the downturn has increased the pressure for delivering this imperative".
Keynote addresses were delivered by The Rt Hon Hazel Blears MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and Irene Lucas, Chief Executive of South Tyneside Council. The Secretary of State was exceptionally positive about the work of the Programme and, in particular, the way in which it had demonstrated the wider role that universities have in engaging and empowering communities. She added that she intended to raise this with John Denham (Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills) to make sure this aspect of university provision was featured in the upcoming review/framework for higher education.
The conference programme also included a lively panel debate focused on issues of engagement and empowerment, chaired by Krishnan Guru-Murthy, with panellists including Su Maddock, Director of Whitehall Innovation Hub Carey Oppenheim, Director of the Institute for Public Policy Research and Paul Manners, Director of the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement.
Chair of the Urban Regeneration Programme, Professor Oisin MacNamara (Director of Research, Regional and European Affairs, Northumbria University) commented: "Through this initiative, we have risen to the challenge of creating new working relationships, practices and processes to deliver meaningful and measurable social and economic impact".
Whilst the conference marked the culmination of the Urban Regeneration Programme, Professor MacNamara added that it "also signifies the beginning of a new and exciting way ahead as we take new directions and explore new ways to empower and innovate to build on the programme's public value for the benefit of current and future communities".
programme information
The conference focused on engagement, innovation and delivering social and economic impact. The event attracted an exceptional panel of contributors which was both international in profile and wide ranging in terms of leaders and key actors and agencies from across the sectors, including community, voluntary, private and public. The conference was chaired by Channel 4 News Anchor, Krishnan Guru-Murthy.
Introducing the event, Professor Andrew Wathey, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Northumbria University, commented that "now, more than ever, we need to explore the future shape of how all of us can work together, across our sectors, to improve our collective impact on local people and places - this conference offers the space to do that." He added that the conference came at a critical time for urban and community renewal, not just in the UK but globally too, particularly in a time of hard economic downturn: "The drive for improved and more responsive public services which meet the needs of our communities and businesses would have continued in the most begin of economic climates, however the downturn has increased the pressure for delivering this imperative".
Keynote addresses were delivered by The Rt Hon Hazel Blears MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and Irene Lucas, Chief Executive of South Tyneside Council. The Secretary of State was exceptionally positive about the work of the Programme and, in particular, the way in which it had demonstrated the wider role that universities have in engaging and empowering communities. She added that she intended to raise this with John Denham (Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills) to make sure this aspect of university provision was featured in the upcoming review/framework for higher education.
The conference programme also included a lively panel debate focused on issues of engagement and empowerment, chaired by Krishnan Guru-Murthy, with panellists including Su Maddock, Director of Whitehall Innovation Hub Carey Oppenheim, Director of the Institute for Public Policy Research and Paul Manners, Director of the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement.
Chair of the Urban Regeneration Programme, Professor Oisin MacNamara (Director of Research, Regional and European Affairs, Northumbria University) commented: "Through this initiative, we have risen to the challenge of creating new working relationships, practices and processes to deliver meaningful and measurable social and economic impact".
Whilst the conference marked the culmination of the Urban Regeneration Programme, Professor MacNamara added that it "also signifies the beginning of a new and exciting way ahead as we take new directions and explore new ways to empower and innovate to build on the programme's public value for the benefit of current and future communities".
programme information
News
- Times Higher Award makes a difference 24th June 2010
- Collaborate to Innovate 4th November 2009
- NESTA PROVOCATION EVENT 1st October 2009
- Making a Difference 8th July 2009
- Making a Difference national conference 13th March 2009
Events
- Making a Difference national conference 13th March 2009
- Did we make a difference - 16 January 2009 16th January 2009