Fellows Festival: in pursuit of the good society

The inaugural Fellows Festival on 14 May 2022 brought together prominent voices from the world of academia, business, civil society, government, politics and our global Fellowship with the aim of forging a new model in pursuit of the good society.

A stellar line-up of speakers guided discussions on how to create learners for life, how to unlock the power of place and how to be more resilient. Through a series of interactive workshops, Fellows and friends convened to understand how change happens, and how collectively we can create it. Online, our global community connected via livestream, further adding to the rich conversation.

Together, at a unique point in time, we brought together the private, public and civil society sectors - regionally, nationally, globally - to begin forging a new model and a new design for life.

From an inspirational lineup of speakers, to thought-provoking workshops and fabulous engagement with Fellows, the inaugural Fellows Festival showcased the very best of the RSA – inviting, ambitious and impact-led in equal measure.

RSA Chief Executive Andy Haldane

Fellows Festival highlights

Our first Fellows Festival was the beginning of an important discussion shaping the future strategy of the RSA charting a path towards a better tomorrow. Watch highlights from the day.

Watch all the Fellows Festival events

We've packaged up all the key speeches from the 2022 RSA Fellows Festival for you to enjoy as a YouTube playlist.

Navigate talks with the likes of Rt Hon Nadhim Zahawi MP, Margaret Heffernan, Ed Miliband MP and many more by clicking the menu button in the top right-hand corner of the video player.

Global Conversation session

Fellows representing a range of regions and sectors joined this virtual table with the RSA’s new Chief Executive, Andy Haldane, on reimagining a more equitable and regenerative world.

The session was kickstarted with an introduction by Andy, followed by a conversation with the panellists, including - technologist turned serial social intrapreneur, Nate Wong; Chief Impact Officer for Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator in South Africa, Sharmi Surianarain; and Co-Founder of the Circular Design Lab in Thailand, Courtney Savie Lawrence. The session was moderated by the Head of RSA Scotland, Jamie Cooke.

Global Engage: Fellows' social impact

Pitches from Fellows around the world leading innovative work.

Khalid Albaih - FADAA (Starts at 00:38)

Leanne Gibson - Manurewa High School Business Academy (15:39)

Chris Oestereich - Circular Design Lab, Morph Bags (22:07)

Andrew Gaines - Great Transition Initiative (30:03)

Chris MacGregor / Erin Liman - Coridal World (35:32)

Zoe Camper / Julie Samuels - Creativity: Lifeline of the Future (41:00)

Donnie MacLurcan - The Offer and Needs Market (47:47)

Sam Baker - WALK2COP27 (54:03)


 

Design for Life: feedback on our new mission

We launched a new paper outlining our mission for the RSA. However, we want to leave the detailed design and delivery of the pathways illustrated in this paper to a co-creative process, working with Fellows and Partners -  find out more about the pathways and feedback on the paper belowIn time, each of the pathways will have a designated space as part of the RSA’s new digital platform to enable this co-creation.

Design for Life

Our new mission paper outlines the elements critical to transition towards better futures for people, place and planet.


 

Fellowship Digital Services

We invited Fellows to have a look at a new platform currently in development as part of the Fellowship Digital Services project, where Fellows can connect and collaborate with each other over shared interests and RSA projects. 

Register your interest in being amongst the first to use the new services and taking part in the testing phase

Take part in testing new online Fellowship services

Register your interest in taking part in testing the new online spaces being developed for and in collaboration with Fellows.


 

Photos from the day


 

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