Building an inclusive ecosystem in Oxfordshire

Last week we delivered our first Equinox community engagement with innovation event, in partnership with BIPC Oxfordshire, and the Marmalade Festival.

Equitable Innovation Oxfordshire – Meet the Ecosystem, brought together leaders, practitioners, and community voices to explore what it means to build an inclusive, place-based innovation ecosystem. From grassroots organisations to those scaling impact beyond Oxfordshire, the discussion highlighted the challenges and opportunities in widening access to innovation.

The event was opened by  Martin Reeves (Chief Executive, Oxfordshire County Council) and Dr Olga Kozlova (Director of Innovation, University of Oxford), who set the tone for a thought-provoking and insightful discussion.

The panel featured an inspiring group of speakers:
Rick Mower (RAW), Danny R. (Construction Site Safety), Gift Igbin (SocialGift), Cat Diamond (Supported by Research), Annie Davy (Flo’s – The Place in the Park / Oxfordshire County Council), Rob Chapman (Neya), Sarah Burrows (Children Heard and Seen), and William E. Arinze (The Drone Rules).

Skilfully moderated by Bridget Holligan (Equinox,) and Ryan Johnson (BIPC Oxfordshire), the panel discussions explored themes of equity, access, collaboration, and the importance of community approaches to innovation.

The event was extremely well received, with the panellists adding real insight to the conversation. What came through strongly was the importance of community and collaboration in building inclusive and impactful organisations and ecosystems, something that resonated with many attendees and sparked conversations that went on after the event ended.