Welcome to Valuable Conversations with the UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose. Today’s guest is Rowan Conway, our instructor for the MPA module Transformation by Design. MPA alumni Níckolas Laport and Justin Beirold talk to Rowan about her circuitous journey to becoming a renowned expert in strategic design and public policy. We discuss her education and early career, and how she got involved with the London Olympics in 2012. We also talk about her work as Director of Innovation at the RSA, how she joined IIPP and became head of the Mission-Oriented Innovation Network(MOIN), and the challenges of participatory design. We hope you enjoy this conversation!

Guest Bio: Until very recently, Rowan was head of the Mission-Oriented Innovation Network MOIN at IIPP. MOIN brings together leading global policy-making institutions – including state investment banks, innovation agencies, cities and government departments to share the challenges and opportunities they face when trying to create and nurture public value.



As part of her work at the Institute, Rowan teaches strategic design and is module lead and course lecturer for the MPA module Transformation by Design. Prior to joining UCL, Rowan was Director of Innovation at the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) where she set up the RSA Lab, an experimental space that uses design methods to explore, prototype and test research insights and policy ideas with government agencies, NGOs, academic partners, NHS Trusts, businesses and social enterprises. She designed and led a range of action research programmes on the future of work, deliberative democracy, tech and society, circular economy and systems innovation. Prior to that, she has 15 years experience leading a wide range of design and engagement processes, notably the community participation in the design process for London 2012 Olympic Park. She holds an MSc in Responsibility and Business Practice from the University of Bath and is a PhD Candidate at IIPP.

- Read more about Rowan from the IIPP: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/public-purpose/people/rowan-conway

- Follow Rowan on Twitter: @RowanEConway

Learn about our MPA alumni hosts:

-Níckolas Laport: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/public-purpose/nickolas-laport

-Justin Beirold (Link) https://www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/public-purpose/justin-beirold

Follow IIPP on Twitter: @IIPP_UCL

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/public-purpose/

Production and music by Justin Beirold



For all podcast-related feedback and inquiries, please email justin.beirold.20@ucl.ac.uk