Conference - Social Innovation for Refugee Inclusion: Welcoming remarks, Opening Speech, & Panel session "How the field has matured: A progress report, one year on"

Following the arrival of large numbers of migrants and asylum seekers in Europe from 2015 onwards, many non-traditional actors—from tech start-ups to social enterprises—have pioneered innovative solutions to foster the social and economic inclusion of newcomers. In the context of this experimentation, business has played a fundamental role, with companies on both sides of the Atlantic leveraging their potential as employers, donors, and partners in innovative alliances. This two-day conference reflected on how innovative initiatives for refugee inclusion can grow beyond pockets of good practice and inspire large-scale, long-term change. The event brought together a diverse group of public officials, business leaders, service designers, social entrepreneurs, civil society organisations, and refugee initiatives from Europe, the United States, and Canada.

This recording includes:

• Welcoming remarks from:
  • Adam Shub, Chargé d’Affaires, U.S. Mission to the EU
  • Daniel J. Costello, Ambassador of Canada to the EU
  • Elizabeth Collett, Director, Migration Policy Institute Europe
  • Cristian Pirvulescu, President of the Permanent Study Group on Immigration and Integration, European Economic and Social Committee

• Opening speech by Yara Al Adib, Design Consultant and Entrepreneur, From Syria with Love, Belgium

• Panel session: “How the field has matured: A progress report, one year on”
  • Chair: Tamim Nashed, Policy Officer on Refugee Inclusion, European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE)
  • Eric Young, The Social Projects Studio/Distinguished Visiting Professor of Social Innovation at Ryerson University, Canada
  • Luisa Seiler, Co-founder and Director, SINGA Deutschland, Germany
  • Mireia Nadal Chiva, Head of Community Development, ReDI School for Digital Integration, Germany