Walking the walk: Participation

We are living through an amazing time.

The internet is rewiring the world so everyone can be an active participant. This step change in thinking—where everyone, by default, can participate, with ideas in their heads that they can and should share, is changing everything from the arts, to music, to media, to the worlds of work, business and democracy.

How we function together as a species is changing.

At the OS//OS conference this year participation is one of the key themes we are putting into action. From the open call for workshops and speakers, to the run sheet, to the way we worked with our partners—everything about OS//OS is designed for participation.

NetHui open sessions at OS//OS 2016 with Internet New Zealand

Open Source, Open Society isn’t the type of event where everyone sits and listens to speakers all day. Embracing open principles means ensuring there is space for participation from everyone.

This year our friends from Internet New Zealand will be hosting NetHui open sessions during the conference. This will be open, facilitated space for conference participants to lead sessions that interest and inspire them.

With help from Internet NZ we will turn the Michael Fowler Centre into an open canvas for your ideas.

From bitcoin wallets to voting on the internet to P2P lending to open source legal documents—this will be a chance to dive into whatever interests you most.

It will also be a rare chance to connect with new collaborators and meet new friends from across business, tech and government sectors.

Have something you want to learn from the others in the room? Launching a new project and want to get some help? Have a burning question for how the world can work when things are open? Bring it to the NetHui open sessions at OS//OS this year.

Participative democracy in ACTION.

Action Station is New Zealand’s home for community campaigning on issues that—participatory democracy in action. Over 150,000 kiwis are Action Station members who have supported (and succeeded) in pushing for changes to everything from mental health funding in Christchurch to paid breaks for retail staff at Cotton on.

Join us to hear what’s coming up next for people powered change in New Zealand.

Both Campaign Director, Laura O’Connell-Rapira and National Director, Marianne Elliott will be hosting conversations at OS//OS this year. If you’re keen to learn how to get more directly involved in the world around you, then Action Station could well be your place to start.

Can participation help your business be more innovative?

What does it actually take to build an organisation that is designed for participation? What are the challenges? What are the trade-offs? How to the best teams do this well?

If you’re leading or managing any project or team then OS//OS will be a place to learn how to make the most of participatory culture and learn some new skills.

Expect to learn new skills and connect directly with people who are leading the way towards more participatory, innovative organisations.

Join us at the Michael Fowler Centre—August 22nd and 23rd.

OS//OS 2016 will be 2 days of keynotes, workshops and open, collaborative sessions. Join us on August 22/23 to be inspired, connect and learn from NZ’s innovators and leaders in open business, democracy & technology.

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