The Global Disability Innovation Hub (GDI Hub) has a positive impact on the lives of disabled people worldwide through collaboration, study and creative thinking; working in partnerships with business, industry, academia and the charity sector.
GDI Hub was launched by Mayor Sadiq Khan in September 2016 as part of London's Paralympic Legacy Programme. Its mission is to change the way we think about disability through co-design, collaboration, and innovation. The dedicated research, teaching and practice centre provides a platform for the talents of disabled people and the expertise of practitioners, academics and local communities.
5 questions, 5 minutes with Iain McKinnon, Director of Operations for GDI Hub and Design Principle – Inclusive Design for Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
1. What drove you to join a social enterprise?
The opportunity to create a permanent legacy from the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
2. What has been the high point?
Finding out our £10million programme with DFID had been approved! The Directors of the GDI Hub were invited to Japan to share knowledge and develop partnerships with colleagues working on Tokyo 2020. We were at a museum in downtown Tokyo when we got the email from DFID to say that the programme had been approved.
3. What has been your greatest challenge?
Working to develop something new is extremely demanding on your time. It is down to you to make things happen and that can be a real challenge to work / life balance.
4. What is the best advice you would give to other social entrepreneurs?
Have the confidence to trust your own judgment.
5. What is success for GDI Hub?
To make a positive difference to the lives of the one billion disabled people around the world by 2030 and to work with others to genuinely disrupt the assistive technology market.