Forum for Social Innovation Sweden's is stepping down after more than ten years. New challenges now await Hanna Sigsjö, and Forum for Social Innovation Sweden the summer by expanding into Europe.
“I have had the great pleasure and honor of leading Forum for Social Innovation Sweden fantastic colleagues on this journey from the very beginning until today. I take with me more than ten wonderful years. I am leaving a Forum for Social Innovation Sweden has grown strong within Sweden and is now poised to expand into Europe,” says Hanna Sigsjö.
–Hanna Sigsjö has been instrumental in guiding MSI’s journey to become the nationally unifying knowledge hub for social innovation that Forum for Social Innovation Sweden today. On behalf of Forum for Social Innovation Sweden entire Forum for Social Innovation Sweden, Malmö University, and the City of Malmö, we would like to thank Hanna for the fantastic work she has done over the years and wish her all the best in the future as she takes on a new, exciting, and important role. We look forward to continued collaboration, albeit in new forms, says Charlotte Ahlgren Moritz, Chair Forum for Social Innovation Sweden Vice President of Malmö University.
In 2010, the KK Foundation gave the green light to establish the national knowledge platform for social innovation in Sweden at Malmö University. Since then, Malmö University, in close collaboration with the City of Malmö, has made a long-term and sustained investment in and shown its support for Forum for Social Innovation Sweden. Over the years, Forum for Social Innovation Sweden developed and shared knowledge and methods, highlighted best practices to inspire many, established meeting spaces, and connected stakeholders to collaboratively develop an innovation field whose significance and need are growing and becoming increasingly vital for a sustainable world.
“We need social innovations that help address societal challenges in areas such as children’s rights, safety, an inclusive labor market, and health equity. And cross-border collaboration across sectors, industries, and countries is essential for sharing knowledge and pooling our resources,” says Charlotte Ahlgren Moritz.
With funding from Vinnova, Forum for Social Innovation Sweden established, spanning from Malmö University in the south, Jönköping University, and Örebro University, to Umeå University and Luleå University of Technology in the north. Now, Forum for Social Innovation Sweden is taking Forum for Social Innovation Sweden step into Europe with a mandate from the Swedish ESF Council to represent Sweden, becoming a visible player in social innovation and social entrepreneurship within the EU as well, with the opportunity to expand its network and forge important alliances for the future.
– I am so incredibly grateful for all the collaborations with individuals and organizations from every sector across Sweden that mean so much to Forum for Social Innovation Sweden. Together, we have had the opportunity to create an environment that fosters development, new initiatives, and experimentation, but also emphasizes the importance of courage, patience, perseverance, and humility in developing a field of innovation and mobilizing stakeholders to work in partnership, across borders, to strengthen social innovation as a force for society in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda,” says Hanna Sigsjö.
Hanna Sigsjö is now moving on to a new role, as she will begin working as a business development manager at Save the Children in September. There, she will work closely with the business community, academia, government agencies, and other civil society organizations to create positive change for children and young people through new approaches and partnerships.
“It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to start as a business development manager at Save the Children; it means so much to me to be able to help make the world a little better for children every day,” says Hanna Sigsjö.