About

With this blog I intend to publish on both my personal and professional interests. This is why articles on Community Rights and Social Enterprise can be found next to articles on Wayne Rooney and links to my favorite songs on youtube…enjoy!

In 2010 I graduated from Kings College London with an MA in International Relations and a desire to build a career in the world of sustainability. After graduation I took an internship position with a lobby group called fairfood international (aimed at increasing the sustainability of the food and beverage industry.

Whilst searching for other opportunities I stumbled across The Waterways Project. I applied for an internship position and five months later I find myself engrossed in the world of social enterprise and working on two projects simultaneously:

The Waterways Project – In October I started as an intern providing research support to project leads, Mark Walton and Ben Metz. As the project began to gather steam it became clear that a greater commitment was required and I now find myself managing the project on a daily basis.

The scale of the project has force me to learn extremely quickly about how to project manage. I have also had the opportunity to develop communications and lobby strategies aimed at government and senior civil servants.

The projects goals are to ensure that the new waterways charity (set to replace British Waterways as a part of the reform of Arms Length Bodies and the transfer of public assets) will include a presumption in favour of community management, allowing community groups to bid for the management of their natural assets.

The implications of the project stretch well beyond the waterways and stage two is to explore similar models for the whole of the UKs natural infrastructure network.

Oxford Jam – The official fringe event to the Skoll World Forum on Social Entrepeneurship held in conjunction with the Said Business School at the end of every April, Oxford Jam provides an informal and innovative way for Skoll delegates and social entrepeneurs to connect and share experiences.

As event producer I am responsible for ensuring all aspects of the event run smoothly, coordinating timetables and attendees and organising sessions. This process has allowed me to meet  exceptional people within the social economy.

I hope to spend the next couple of years learning as much as I can about the social economy, its potential and future.