Organised for the first time in cooperation with the Maltese Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the 25th European Social Services Conference will explore how new innovative practices and technology can help create better local services for the future.

To set the tone for what is lining up to be a very special 25th anniversary edition, we’re excited to confirm our first wave of speakers bringing with them a wide range of innovation knowhow.

These include:

• Charlotte de Vilmorin, Founder and CEO of Wheeliz – the first online car rental platform for wheelchair users

A wheelchair user herself, Charlotte faces many obstacles getting around. She solved a big part of the problem by setting up a collaborative platform of adapted car owners. She also won the European Social Innovation Competition for it. She means business!

• Jos de Blok, Founder of Buurtzorg, The Netherlands – an innovative neighbourhood care model

Jos pioneers new ways of delivering home-based healthcare. His model is community-based and people-centred - for both the service users and employees. His company is regularly declared ‘employer of the year’ and has recently attracted global attention.

• Jaideep Prahbu, Professor of Marketing and Indian Business, University of Cambridge / Co-author ‘Jugaad innovation’

Jaideep’s book was described by The Economist as ‘the most comprehensive book yet’ on frugal innovation. He will share with us what our governments can learn from developing countries when it comes to doing more with less.

• Jean-Paul Raymond, Director of social, children and health services, City of Paris

An expert in social cohesion, Jean-Paul runs many training programmes for local government managers. He also recently curated the French National Conference for Social Welfare Directors which challenged social directors to take risks and be innovative.

• Geoff Mulgan, CEO of NESTA – the UK’s Innovation Foundation

Geoff is a policy expert, , a social entrepreneur and the author of many books and publications including ‘How can public organisations better create, improve and adapt?’.

• Michael Farrugia, Minister for Family and Social Solidarity, Malta

Minister Farrugia recently delivered an impassioned speech at our recent seminar in Bratislava on the social service workforce. He has a wealth of experience in policy-making in the area of health, social affairs and public administration.

To find out more the conference, watch our latest video in which service users, ESN Members and partners share what they most value about the event.

To register for the conference, visit our new website available in 5 languages.

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