Hackers, Fixers and Lone Rangers: The Future of Technology for Development?

Classes in social innovation, technology-for-development and design thinking have become increasingly popular in recent years. On the one hand, this might be seen as a good thing. After all, the world needs as many smart, engaged citizens as it can get, particularly when you consider the multitude of challenges we face as a planet. But does a career in social change really begin in the classroom, or out in the real world? How much social change is planned, and how much accidental? And which approach tends to lead to the most meaningful, lasting or impactful solutions? In his talk, Ken Banks will talk about the rise of innovation 'outside the system', and how this is beginning to challenge conventional thinking around social innovation and the source of technology-for-development projects and interventions.