Innovation Ecosystem Leader Development Program

Innovation Ecosystem Leader Development Program

Innovate Moreton Bay is a proud partner of the Queensland Regional Innovation Benchmark (QRIB) project. A research project led by USC which aims to assess regional businesses' innovation capability and performance.

The project is now calling on 'thought leaders' and 'doers' in the Moreton Bay Region community to participate in an Ecosystem Leader Community of Practice (CoP).

Ecosystem leaders emerge to lead regional communities in innovation and entrepreneurial activities, because they are personally motivated, or due to their formal positions within Council, economic development agencies, NGOs or private sector support organisations.

Ecosystem Leader development

The QRIB project seeks to empower a decentralised group of regional ecosystem leaders from the regional partners through developing a (CoP). Online resources and a structured program, consisting of seven webinars supplemented by professional conversations of the ecosystem leaders will occur March to June 2021. This component of the QRIB project will strengthen links, interactions and engagement between and across Queensland's network of regional innovation ecosystems.


The QRIB community of practice aims to support ecosystem leaders to develop an in-depth understanding of regional entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystems based on an empirically researched Australian framework. We use this framework so ecosystem leaders can envision the complexity and dynamics of their own local ecosystems, and, importantly, to support them to better understand how the different elements and interactions influence their local situations. Each workshop is structured to help ecosystem leaders develop a critical systems thinking approach to interpreting and better understanding the drivers and constraints in their own ecosystems.

Gaining the ability to think using a systems approach will help leaders realise why some projects within their unique ecosystems work, while others do not. Developing a systems approach will help leaders to appreciate what are key drivers, where there are confounding influences and how to better make changes to overcome challenges.

This is a structured CoP where ecosystem leaders will be guided through a process to better appreciate their own situation, interpret challenges and opportunities, and share their experiences fortnightly, in structured online conversations, supported by online resources.

FAQs

Who should participate in the CoP?

Ecosystem leaders are thought leaders and ‘doers’ in your regional community with a track record of “give-first” to their local business community.

Participants can be from local innovation hubs, council, community groups, economic development agencies, leading small firms and advisors, Chambers of Commerce, investment networks, and/or the education and research sector.

The most important prerequisites for participating in this unique learning experience are being prepared to commit time and effort into gaining a new way of thinking; and using that insight to interpret and share their own experience, understanding and lessons into the Community of Practice workshops. These leaders will be participants in an evolving knowledge network on regional ecosystems.

What is the time commitment?

A time commitment of 2 hours per fortnight is required:

  • 30 minutes preparation
  • 1-hour participation during the Community-of-Practice conversation
  • 30 minutes “What’s next?”- reflection after the CoP conversation

What are the benefits for participants?

  • Understanding the key drivers and influences in your own local ecosystem
  • Using that knowledge to better provide appropriate support for entrepreneurs and businesses in the community
  • Sharing your personal learnings among leaders in other regions and learning from their examples and experiences
  • Share your best-practice examples and your failures
  • Learn from other regions successes and challenges
  • Identify the confounding influences and opportunistic leverage points in the regional system that could be addressed to make a thriving ecosystem possible
  • Identify and make the most of regional drivers and support opportunities to develop a thriving ecosystem

How to get involved

To learn more or to nominate for the CoP contact:

steve.butler@mbrit.com.au / 0412 911 546