SHIFT: The Social Impact Unconference

Date and Time: Friday, 10 October 2025, 9 AM – 4:30 PM
Unleash Space – 20 Symonds St

SHIFT is a co-created, participant-led event where the content is shaped by you. The Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) is bringing together students and staff from across the University to explore the biggest questions and boldest ideas in social innovation and entrepreneurship.

In a true unconference format, the day’s sessions are built around the themes you share during registration. Whether you're passionate about climate action, equity in education, ethical tech, indigenous entrepreneurship, or something else entirely - this is your space to learn, collaborate and ignite change.

Expect dynamic conversations, inspiring speakers, and the chance to build your ideas into action with a community that cares.

• Co-create the agenda: Shape the event by telling us what matters to you when you register.
• Learn from changemakers: Conversations will be guided by a wide range of social impact leaders.
• Connect across disciplines: Meet staff and students who share your drive to make a difference.
• Grow your network: Engage with experts, facilitators and mentors working across the social innovation ecosystem.
• Experience an unconference: Break away from traditional formats - no lectures, just energetic, participant-led learning.
• Make the SHIFT: Walk away with new ideas, collaborators and inspiration for your social impact journey.

• Problem solving for impact: Learn how to identify and address pressing social and environmental challenges.
• Building better ventures: Explore strategies for creating ethical, sustainable, and socially responsible initiatives.
• Cross-disciplinary collaboration: Discover how to partner effectively with people from different backgrounds and areas of expertise.
• Aotearoa case studies: Gain inspiration from real-world examples of social innovation across New Zealand.
• Innovation tools and frameworks: Use practical methods like ideation, systems thinking, and impact mapping to shape your ideas.

An unconference flips the script on traditional conferences. Instead of a top-down agenda, content is created by the participants. You’ll pitch topics, join spontaneous sessions, and contribute your experience. This format empowers authentic conversations, surprising insights, and real connection. Expect to participate, not just sit and listen.

Dr Marissa Kaloga

Marissa is a Hynds Lecturer of Entrepreneurship at the University of Auckland. Her research and teaching focus on the roles of social innovation and social entrepreneurship in the transition to a more just and sustainable world.

Nicola Nation

Nicola is passionate about using business to drive social and environmental change. She holds degrees in Law and Commerce from Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington and has over 15 years’ consulting experience in the public and private sectors, including roles at MBIE, Kiwibank, Deloitte, and the World Bank. Since joining Ākina in 2018, she has served as Tumu Whakarae (Chief Executive) from 2021, leading a team dedicated to creating positive impact for people and the planet.

Laina Raveendran Greene

Laina Raveendran Greene is CEO of Angels of Impact, a serial entrepreneur and investor empowering women to drive social change. With a career across 47 countries and experience at ITU, INTELSAT, Cisco, and Juniper, she was one of Singapore’s earliest female tech founders. Since co-founding Angels of Impact in 2016, she has supported women and Indigenous entrepreneurs with capital and capacity building, achieving a 100% loan repayment rate. Laina also teaches social entrepreneurship and sustainability at NUS and NTU, and is a Fellow of the Edmund Hillary Fellowship.

Rowan Yeoman

Rowan works at the intersection of innovation, technology, and social change. He created the Social Lean Canvas, used globally to strengthen social enterprise models, and co-founded ventures including TeamDB, SuperBenefitDAO, and All In For Sport DAO. Previously, he co-founded Startup New Zealand, helped grow the Ākina Foundation, designed accelerator programmes worldwide, and invested in early-stage startups and social enterprises.

Aphra Green

Aphra leads the Social Investment Agency’s central agency functions, driving the adoption of social investment across the public sector. Her work spans policy development, legislative reform, setting standards, and supporting sector-wide change.

Emily Preston

Emily has over 20 years’ experience in social innovation, social enterprise and non-profit capability building across Aotearoa, Australia and the UK. At Ember Innovations she supports changemakers working to improve mental health and wellbeing, and also serves in governance and advisory roles focused on creativity, social connection and positive ageing. Curious and people-centred, Emily is passionate about placing lived experience at the heart of solutions.

Hema Sridhar

Hema has close to two decades of experience in government, specialising in defence, national security and emerging technologies. She has held senior advisory roles at the Ministry of Defence, including Chief Science Advisor, and worked closely with the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor to inform strategic policy and governance. Hema also co-led two major government reviews of the science and innovation system and the university system.

Leanne Gibson

Leanne is Programme Director of the Hynds Foundation, a charitable trust supporting initiatives across Arts, Community, Education, Environment, and Health, with a focus on fostering creativity, enterprise, and entrepreneurial potential. Formerly at Manurewa High School Business Academy, Leanne led the Maara Kai project, developing an enterprise model for fresh produce through collaborative, co-designed partnerships.

Note: there will be a Qualtrics form sent out to hone themes following your initial expression of interest.

If you have questions about the programme, please contact cie_programmes@auckland.ac.nz

The Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship provides a world of opportunity to participants so that they can stand-out and create value through innovative careers and start-up creation.

CIE is New Zealand’s leading University entrepreneurship centre, winning 14 international awards since 2020.