MAVlab Innovation Associates Network
MAVlab is calling on council staff to nominate (yourself or someone you know) to join the MAVlab Innovation Associates Network.
Launched in July 2024 by the Municipal Association of Victoria, MAVlab supports and champions local government to successfully navigate the increasingly complex landscape of rapidly evolving technologies, social changes, shifting economies and environmental pressures that our sector and communities are facing.
MAVlab is building an innovation practice and collaborative ways of working at scale to support our network of 79 Victorian local governments in their responses to critical and increasingly complex social, environmental, economic, technological and leadership challenges. The team brings a diverse toolkit to the work which will be informed by design practice, policy, strategic foresight, and community co-design alongside the use of data and advanced technologies.
The approach will be data informed, wilfully optimistic and wildly collaborative - both with our colleagues in council and more broadly across the sector. We will work with a rich diversity of partners and collaborators to ensure that our work reflects the needs, resources and skills of local governments, local communities and the broader sector together.
Introducing the MAVlab Innovation Associates Network
We know that many councils are already testing bold interventions and partnerships to address some of our most significant environmental, economic and community wellbeing challenges. We are seeking the extraordinary people behind these projects - and those eager to get more involved - to share knowledge, process, and build collaborative practice so we may learn together - and move faster and more efficiently - towards achieving better outcomes for our local communities, places and the planet.
We hope you will join us. Please nominate to join the MAVlab Innovation Associates Network.
As a member of the MAVlab Innovation Associates Network you will:
- Join the MAVlab as an Associate in a community of extraordinary people working towards robust and resilient local government through an evolving practice of innovation for the public good.
- Access monthly events and masterclass sessions with a global network of leading practitioners, academics and government professionals working towards better outcomes for local government.
- Learn methodologies and contribute to research, design projects and activities to support the delivery of innovative work in local government.
- Connect with peers experiencing similar situations and challenges. Access coaching circles focused on how to deliver high impact, innovative work in local government.
- Contribute to the development of MAVlab and a range of exciting, high impact innovation projects and programs of work.
This will be a highly sought after opportunity to:
- Connect with leading global experts in public sector innovation
- Develop new skills and practice for high impact delivery in local government
- Join a community of peers and leading practitioners, and
- Be immersed in an exciting environment of innovation and learning.
Joining the network:
- The MAVlab Innovation Associates Network will start as a 10 month appointment available for Victorian local government employees.
- This is an unpaid, volunteer position for mission driven people seeking to learn, connect and have greater impact in their work. We anticipate a time commitment of approximately 4 contact hours a month.
- Activities and events may be conducted during standard working hours or outside of standard hours. We recommend you discuss your participation with your manager.
- Your achievements within the network will be celebrated with a profile on the MAVlab website and progress reports through regular updates to the network.
About You
- We firmly believe that innovation can come from anyone, anywhere in an organisation and we are building the MIA Network to be inclusive of a wide diversity of skills, backgrounds and ways of thinking.
- While MAVlab is data informed, you DO NOT need to work in digital or IT to join the MIA Network. We strongly encourage people from all areas of council business to nominate, and hope to see a wide range of service areas and professional disciplines - from design to data, waste to procurement, libraries to parking - represented in the MIA Network.
- We welcome all levels of staff - from senior executives to graduates - and strongly encourage people from minority backgrounds to nominate.
- No formal innovation experience, skills or training is required - however - a passion for local government, an open mindset, curiosity, compassion, and a willingness to learn is critical.
- Also - if you are already working in an innovation role in local government , we strongly encourage you to nominate!
Nominate to join the MAVlab Innovation Associates Network
MAVlab team will follow up on your nomination within 3 business days.
If you don't work in Local government, but would like to get involved and support MAVlab, please sign up to our mailing list for progress updates and new ways to get involved coming soon.
Engage with us
For more information, contact mavlab@mav.asn.au