GCSI exploration period complete
Griffith Centre for Systems Innovation (GCSI - previously The Yunus Centre) was established in 2018 as an Engagement Centre within Griffith Business School.
GCSI's focus was on growing capabilities, mindsets and infrastructures to support transitions towards better futures for people, place and planet. The Centre pursued this work through action research and action learning partnerships, and through the design and delivery of high-quality postgraduate and undergraduate courses.
The five-year agreement ended on 4 November 2024. Griffith Business School is proud to have supported this innovation agenda, which continues to have ripples of impact locally and globally.
A key outcome of the initiative has been the successful incubation of the spin-out entity The Good Shift - which continues the work via a new platform and continues to host many of the outputs generated. Dr Ingrid Burkett, Dr Joanne McNeill and Dr Sidsel Grimstad are also continuing as Adjuncts with Griffith Business School.
GCSI Timeline
At the review point at the end of the exploration period, a decision was made to close the Centre and a small spin out organisation was incubated - The Good Shift.
The Centre's transition towards systems innovation as a focus came full circle with a name change to Griffith Centre for Systems Innovation.
GCSI narrowed its teaching focus to two MBA courses, Innovation for Impact and Demonstrating Impact for Good.
Adjuncts included Gael Surgenor, Dr Glenda Stanley, Kate Rich, Alex Hannant, Meaghan Burkett and Justin Sacks.
Through work and explorations the team strengthened the focus on systems innovation and evolved the areas of focus (Challenges) to swap out Circular Economy to a focus on Institutional Innovation – growing the capabilities, mindsets and infrastructures for organisations fit for transitions. Co-Director Alex Hannant returned to New Zealand, staying on as Executive in Residence, A/Prof Joanne McNeill accepted a position as Deputy Director.
The Centre appointed a diverse group of Executives in Residence and Adjuncts to explore Challenge areas with, including:
- Jimmy Pham
- Timothy O'Brien
- Jacob Birch
- Alex Hannant
Among other major pieces of work the team launched Homebase – a place-based innovation platform in partnership with City of Logan and other partners. An initial 2-year grant was truncated to 1-year due to government moves.
The Centre's work was increasingly influenced by mission-oriented approaches (which they named Challenge-led) because of its practical ambition to address complex challenges with collective efforts.
They identified three 'challenge' areas to direct the Centre's focus and appointed Executives-In-Residence to explore them alongside the team:
- Civic Innovation (with a team at The Southern Initiative)
- Systems Capital (with Craig North from Indigenous Impact)
- Circular Economy (with the founders of Coreo)
After Griffith University signed an MoU in 2018 with Muhammad Yunus' Yunus Centre, co-directors Alex Hannant and Ingrid Burkett were appointed.
The Centre operated as an 'enterprise' within the university with a focus on the 'business of social impact' offering learning and action research on the skillsets, organisational models and ecosystems that would enable more people to participate in the 'impact economy'.
The team appointed inaugural Fellows, all leading figures in the impact space, to inform practice and learning opportunities including Emma-Kate Rose, Tom Allen, Josh Murchie, Anna Guenther, Tony Sharp.
Location:
Nathan campus, Griffith University
170 Kessels Road, Nathan
Brisbane, Queensland 4111, Australia
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For student enquiries, including all current, prospective, international and research study questions, please contact Griffith University Student Connect.
