Educating for Practice – Innovation Capability Approaches

Innovation is the game-changer that pushes us individually and collectively in our organisations beyond existing boundaries or limits and allows the world of business to continually advance. Learning and development professionals report that one of the most critical issues facing them is unlocking the latent innovation capacity that exists in their organisations to build a culture of innovation. (Innovation Capability Development in Ireland, 2019, p.3).

In educating for practice, our goal is to provide management and business graduates and professionals with the capabilities needed to propel the organisations of the future. This collaborative academic and business ecosystem event showcases best practice in innovation capability approaches across the Island of Ireland. Panelists discuss ‘developing research and innovation capability for sustainable collaboration’ across the innovation eco-system, offering insights through multiple lenses including InterTradeIreland, innovation researchers and Innovate Ireland.

InterTradeIreland has been helping small businesses in Ireland and Northern Ireland explore new cross-border markets, develop new products, processes and services and become investor ready for over two decades.

Innovate Island is a community of like-minded innovation professionals, academics and advisers who are keen to see Innovation become a core business activity across the whole Island of Ireland.

Speakers

Professor Felicity Kelliher

Professor Felicity Kelliher is a member of the Irish Academy of Management Council. An applied researcher, Felicity specialises in management capability development in small and medium sized enterprises.

Professor Gillian Armstrong

Professor Gillian Armstrong is a Professor of Business Education and is Ulster University Business School’s first Director of Business Engagement. She has been with Ulster University and Higher Education for almost 25 years and has been actively involved in the development and management of academic excellence within the Business School.  Deeply committed to supporting the growth and development of the regional economy, Gillian has sought to ensure that the Business School works closely with priority sectors to actively support the supply of skills and the attractiveness of Northern Ireland as a location to do business.

Alison Currie

Alison Currie is the Director of Innovation & Entrepreneurship at InterTradeIreland, leading an experienced team to enhance opportunities for cross-border trade and innovation co-operation. Alison has significant experience working in strategic management roles within the economic development & innovation ecosystem in Northern Ireland, Ireland and Scotland. Previously she was the Programme Director for an EU Interreg funded programme delivering cross border collaboration & innovation projects and beforehand was Operations Manager at InterTradeIreland leading on the delivery of cross border trade supports.

Professor Jimmy Hill

Professor Jimmy Hill is Vice President of Academic Affairs & Research at the National College of Ireland. A specialist in innovation and entrepreneurship, Jimmy will discuss how educator and academies of management can contribute to innovation ‘in’ practice.

Charlie Tuxworth

Charlie Tuxworth is a co-founder of the Innovate Island collaborative network, founder of Celsio, former FinServ Innovation Director, co-author of the ISO5600 series of innovation standards, and co-creator of F!Sk® - a comprehensive Framework for Innovation Skills. Charlie comes from an Enterprise Software background and delivers innovation management solutions and best practice to organisations across all sectors; both directly and on behalf of universities and government programmes.

Expert Panel Speakers

Simon Bailie

Simon Bailie is the CEO of Digital DNA, a leading media, publishing, and events company within the fast-growing tech industry. He is a highly experienced and innovative company executive with a passion for innovation, technology and leadership. Over the past 20 years, Simon has worked across multiple industries and specialises in sales & commercial leadership, developing high impact marketing strategies, organisational redevelopment and developing strategic growth initiatives.

Dr Kristel Miller

Dr Kristel Miller is the editor of the Irish Journal of Management and is a member of Innovation Caucus (ESRC and Innovate UK). Kristel is also a Reader in Innovation and Strategy at Ulster University. Her research focuses on the areas of innovation management, technology commercialization, business models, and competitiveness. She is the co-editor in chief of the Irish Journal of Management and sits on the editorial board of the International Small Business Journal. She has published in internationally recognised journals such as the British Journal of Management, Journal of Technology Transfer, Journal of Business Research, Technovation, Technological Forecasting and Social Change and R&D Management.  Kristel co-chairs the special interest track on Business Models at the European Academy of Management and is an expert reviewer for the European Commission. She also works with organisations to help them develop their innovation capabilities.

David Keeley

David Keeley, Innovation Executive joined Enterprise Ireland in 2018 after spending almost 20 years in the manufacturing and product design industry working in senior R&D and innovation management roles. David is a Chartered Engineer and qualified Innovation Management Professional with a background in mechanical and software engineering. In Enterprise Ireland, David advises senior management teams in Irish exporters on their innovation management performance and capabilities.
Panel Chair: Dr. Shirley Davey

Schedule

• 10.00 am:  Registration & coffee
• 10.30 am:  Opening address & welcome (Dr Ashley Roberts & Professor Gillian Armstrong)
• 10.45 am:  InterTradeIreland
• 11.10am:   ‘in’ Innovation Practice (Professor Jimmy Hill)
• 11.35 am:  Innovate Island (Charlie Tuxworth)
• 12.00 pm:  Expert panel discussion: Developing Research & Innovation Capability for Sustainable Collaboration
  • Dr. Kristel Miller – Irish Academy of Management & Ulster University
  • Dr. Ashley Roberts –British Academy of Management, Associate Professor, Warwick Business School
  • Alison Currie, Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship in InterTradeIreland
  • Simon Bailie, CEO at Digital DNA, N. Irelands largest Business & Tech Organisation
  • David Keely, Innovation Executive, Enterprise Ireland
  • Dr. Shirley Davey – UUBS, Panel Chair
• 12.50 pm:  Conclusions & looking forward to BAM - IAM future workshops
• 1.00pm:     Lunch (supported by IAM)

Chaired by Professor Felicity Kelliher, Irish Academy of Management

Afternoon session (optional)

• 2.00 pm: Learning from Play Plenary (Dr Ashley Roberts)
• 2:05 pm: Innovation and Creativity Action Learning Workshop - LEGO Serious PlayTM
• 2:55 pm: Ignite Ideation
• 3:20 pm: Closing Plenary

Registration

All institutional and individual members of the Irish Academy of Management and British Academy of Management and invited guests are welcome to attend this event free of charge (please use your institutional email address).

This event is free to attend for all Ulster University Business School staff and partner organisations.

If you are not an IAM or BAM member then you will need to join to attend.

You can join the Irish Academy of Management for €60 (student member €30).