Ian Axford Fellowships seminar: MJ Kaplan – Growing the Next Generation of Social Entrepreneurs and Start-ups in New Zealand

Fulbright New Zealand, IPANZ and the Ian Axford (New Zealand) Fellowships in Public Policy Board invite you to the third in a series of public seminars by this year’s three Ian Axford (New Zealand) Fellows in Public Policy.

About the author

MJ Kaplan, 2013 Ian Axford (New Zealand) Fellow in Public Policy

Mary Jo (MJ) Kaplan is President of Kaplan Consulting in Providence, Rhode Island, a Partner at Social Venture Partners Rhode Island and an Adjunct Professor at Brown University. During MJ’s seven month Ian Axford Fellowship exchange to New Zealand she has been based at the Ministry of Social Development in Wellington and worked in collaboration with ASB Community Trust, researching social enterprise with a focus on the youth pipeline and start-up enterprises.

Abstract

The report presents an overview of social enterprise in New Zealand with a focus on opportunities to grow the youth pipeline and start-up ventures. Social enterprise is in its very early stage in New Zealand. The report describes the meaning of terms and concepts and provides an international context.

The report describes characteristics of the Millennial generation and reasons for their inclination to pursue enterprise in general and social enterprise in particular. Several New Zealand case studies describe innovative enterprise programmes that target secondary students and serve as a foundation for future work in social enterprise. There are few academic papers and few supports for students who are interested in social enterprise in New Zealand. In contrast, social enterprise is growing rapidly in tertiary education in the US and the report presents case studies and action steps to accelerate opportunities in New Zealand.

The paper also introduces examples of start-up venture in the US and New Zealand, and describes the type of ecosystem supports the enable them to develop from idea generation to validation to development and growth. There are a growing number of start-ups and incubator hubs such as Enspiral in Wellington. However, there is currently no Government social enterprise policy or funding stream. The report concludes with proposed steps to develop a government policy and enabling framework.

Ian Axford (New Zealand) Fellowships in Public Policy seminars

Ian Axford (New Zealand) Fellowships in Public Policy are for outstanding mid-career professionals from the United States of America to research, travel and gain practical experience in public policy in New Zealand for seven months, during which time they are hosted at relevant government agencies in Wellington and work towards publishing a policy report. Their reports are launched at a series of seminars, and are subsequently available to download from the Fulbright New Zealand website.

There are three Ian Axford Fellowship seminars in 2013:

• Monday 19 August:
  April Ferrino – Improving the Quality of Age-Related Residential Care through the Regulatory Process;
• Wednesday 21 August:
  Eileen Harrity – Vocational Pathways: Using Industry Partnerships and Personalised Learning to Improve Student Outcomes;
• Friday 23 August:
  MJ Kaplan – Growing the Next Generation of Social Entrepreneurs and Start-ups in New Zealand.

The seminars are jointly presented by Fulbright New Zealand and IPANZ. Tea and coffee will be provided.

Registrations are required, at www.ipanz.org.nz