Unconvention

We facilitate deep collaborations with government, industry and communities.

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Unconvention

The problem

Today’s complex challenges cannot be tackled in silos. They demand ambitious solutions delivered at speed and scale. Now more than ever, we must work together to achieve transformative change.

So how do we break away from traditional methods to explore more innovative solutions?

Our approach

In March 2024, the Innovation Hub hosted the Unconvention, welcoming government representatives, industry leaders and community visionaries to the faculty. More than an event, it forged a means to connect diverse audiences committed to driving massive action to accelerate massive change.

The Unconvention built on our work with Massive Action Sydney (MAS). MAS is part of a multidisciplinary global movement, led by the Massive Change Network®, that draws on our collective power to design a better future now.

MAS engages with diverse knowledges and champions creativity, collaboration and inclusion to drive more sustainable, connected, healthy and socially just futures.

The outcomes

Through a design sprint culminating in a pitch process, MAS identified five inspired projects for ongoing development and mentorship during 2023/24: Big Trauma, Big Change, Caring for Country Leave, (Daily) Delight~Disrupt, Making Good Media, and re-situ.

The Unconvention was co-designed with global professional services company GHD Digital, who worked with project teams to enhance their storytelling and craft compelling visual narratives.
Guests at the Massive Action Sydney Unconvention interacting with B. Hardy and the Caring for Country Leave project team

A guest at the Massive Action Sydney Unconvention immersed in a BARC VR experience

Tessa Carnegie pitching the Caring for Country Leave project to the audience at the Massive Action Sydney Unconvention

Guests at the Massive Action Sydney Unconvention interacting with the (Daily) Delight~Disrupt project team

Dr Rebecca Green talking to guests at the Massive Action Sydney Unconvention about the Making Good Media project

Guests at the Massive Action Sydney Unconvention interacting with Emma Mills of the re-situ project team

Guests at the Massive Action Sydney Unconvention interacting with the Big Trauma, Big Change project

A guest creating a 'seed bomb' with the Daily Delight Disrupt project team

Prof Claire Annesley with Verity Firth and Kevin Finn holding up MC24 principles at the Massive Action Sydney Unconvention in March 2024

Guests at the Massive Action Sydney Unconvention interacting with B. Hardy and the Caring for Country Leave project team
A guest at the Massive Action Sydney Unconvention immersed in a BARC VR experience
Tessa Carnegie pitching the Caring for Country Leave project to the audience at the Massive Action Sydney Unconvention
Guests at the Massive Action Sydney Unconvention interacting with the (Daily) Delight~Disrupt project team
Dr Rebecca Green talking to guests at the Massive Action Sydney Unconvention about the Making Good Media project
Guests at the Massive Action Sydney Unconvention interacting with Emma Mills of the re-situ project team
Guests at the Massive Action Sydney Unconvention interacting with the Big Trauma, Big Change project
A guest creating a 'seed bomb' with the Daily Delight Disrupt project team
Prof Claire Annesley with Verity Firth and Kevin Finn holding up MC24 principles at the Massive Action Sydney Unconvention in March 2024

GHD also ignited industry engagement through targeted outreach to key industry figures, inviting them to partner with our projects.

On the day, project teams presented talks, immersive experiences and participated in vital discussions. Innovators, thought leaders, visionary artists and change makers worked together to progress ideas to productive solutions.

The Unconvention provided a crucial launchpad, resources and solutions to project challenges with teams securing industry pledges enabling projects to advance toward real-world change. It evidenced strong industry commitment and engendered valuable networks with implementation partners. Projects also gained visibility across the UNSW community, generating interest from internal stakeholders.

Our interdisciplinary diversity is our greatest strength. Partner with these projects and drive instrumental change.

Project partners
  • Massive Change Network
  • GHD Digital
  • UNSW Digital Grid Futures Institute
  • TheSumOf
  • SOM
  • Hoyne - The Place Economy Consultancy
  • ARUP
  • Committee for Sydney
See project team members

Work with us

The UNSW Innovation Hub tackles diverse problem-solving projects, varying in size, complexity and subject matter. We specialise in complex challenges that require collaboration, a design-led approach, and that can’t be addressed by a single discipline.

If you have a project proposal or potential partnership that you would like to discuss, please get in touch.
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