Depok, 18 November 2025 — The Faculty of Administrative Sciences, Universitas Indonesia (FIA UI), together with the SOCI (Social & Cultural Innovation) Research Cluster, organized a guest lecture entitled Networks and the State: Social Innovation Policy in Australia. The event featured Dr. David McGinniss, Deputy Associate Dean of the Faculty of Arts, University of Melbourne, as the main speaker and was held at the New Building (Classroom 806), FIA UI.

This guest lecture was organized to strengthen understanding of Social Innovation Policy as an important instrument in promoting sustainable development, both in Australia and Indonesia.

In his presentation, Dr. David explained how public policy in Australia evolves through interactions between the state, the market, and communities. He emphasized that many contemporary social issues cannot be addressed by government alone due to limitations in capacity and access to citizens’ knowledge. Therefore, cross-actor networks—including civil society organizations, the private sector, local communities, and experience-based groups—play a crucial role in the process of policy co-production.

Dr. David also presented examples of social innovation implementation in Australia, such as co-design approaches that incorporate citizens’ lived experiences into policy design, as well as the role of institutions such as the Victorian Multicultural Commission in promoting diversity, community participation, and inclusive governance.

Furthermore, he emphasized that social innovation policy has a significant impact on achieving sustainable development goals. By understanding cultural, historical, economic, and technological contexts, policies can be designed to be more responsive, adaptive, and sustainable.

Through this activity, FIA UI and the SOCI Research Cluster hope to strengthen international academic collaboration and expand studies on social innovation and sustainable governance. This collaboration is also expected to open opportunities for joint research, knowledge exchange, and the development of more inclusive public policies.