Australia's foremost systems innovation strategist merging design thinking with community development. Currently shaping national policy through Griffith University's Systems Innovation Lab while advising global institutions like UNDP.
We've followed Ingrid Burkett's transformative career as she redefines the intersection of design thinking, systems change, and community empowerment. With 25+ years shaping social innovation ecosystems, Burkett emerges as Australia's leading voice in sustainable systems transformation.
This seminal 2020 paper redefined pandemic recovery strategies through a social innovation lens. Burkett's team analyzed 147 community-led initiatives across 12 countries, developing a modular framework for localized regeneration. The work introduced the "Civic Scaffolding" concept - institutional architectures enabling grassroots innovation while maintaining systemic coherence.
Burkett's 2023 essay series deconstructs linear sustainability models, proposing instead "living systems" approaches adapted from ecological principles. Through case studies ranging from Indigenous land management to circular textile economies, she demonstrates how complexity-aware frameworks increase intervention longevity by 300-400% compared to traditional programs.
This 2021 research collaboration with agricultural communities pioneered new metrics for assessing regenerative farming impacts. Burkett's team developed the "Triple Layer Value Assessment" tool now used by 38+ organizations to quantify ecological, economic, and social capital simultaneously.
Burkett prioritizes interventions addressing root causes rather than symptoms. Successful pitches demonstrate understanding of multi-level systems mapping, like her work redesigning Queensland's disaster recovery protocols through community capability networks[6]. Include clear diagrams showing how proposed solutions interact with existing structures.
With her background in graphic facilitation, Burkett favors projects using visual collaboration tools. Reference her "Change Canvas" methodology from the Roadmap paper when proposing community engagement strategies[2]. Pitches should outline co-creation phases with timeline benchmarks.
As Board Member of Impact Investing Australia, Burkett seeks models blending capital streams. Successful proposals reference her work on Melbourne's social impact bonds or Brisbane's community energy trusts[6]. Include clear ROI frameworks addressing both financial and social returns.
"True innovation happens when we stop trying to disrupt systems and start learning how to dance with their complexity."
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