Hems Takes On ‘Tomorrow’s’ Social Responsibility Agenda
22 January 2013 at 9:25 am
The Director of Research at the Center for Social Impact, Les Hems, has announced that he is leaving the social innovation organisation after three years in the job that saw him relocate from the UK to Australia.
Hems will take up a role with sustainability and social responsibility experts Net Balance as the inaugural Director of Research and Development at the recently launched Tomorrow’s Agenda Research Institute.
CSI appointed Hems as the Director of Research when the position became available after the passing of highly regarded researcher and consultant, Professor Mark Lyons in 2009.
Hems left his role as Director of Guidestar UK, where he was instrumental in designing and implementing the free website www.guidestar.org.uk in 2005, an online directory for finding information about charities registered in England and Wales.
He also played a pivotal role in a number of UK government initiatives including the National Survey of Third Sector Organisations, and Office of the Third Sector commissioned research.
Hems began his research career at Aston Business School, before establishing the research team at the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO). In 1998 Hems took on the role of principal researcher for the John Hopkins University Comparative Nonprofit Sector Project, and in 2000 he established a new research centre as part of the Institute of Philanthropy at University College London.
He has been responsible for CSI’s recent research on impact investing and social finance including assessing the feasibility of implementing social impact bonds in New South Wales and the actions needed to create a capital market for social investment in Australia.
Chief Executive Officer at the Centre for Social Impact, Andrew Young said: “We are very grateful for Les’ three years of service and outstanding contribution in this time.”
“Net Balance is a longstanding partner of CSI’s and we look forward to continuing our collaborative work and wish Les all the best in his new role there,” Young said.
Net Balance says the academic research conducted by the Tomorrow’s Agenda Research Institute, that Hems will lead, will be used to develop reports that will shape policy and practice relating to social and environmental change; engaging government, corporations, social enterprises and Not for Profit organisations.
CSI says will be conducting the final round of interviews for the Director of Academic Programs in mid-February, and they say that they hope to make an announcement in the weeks following.
