Josiane Smith

Key Programmes Lead

Josiane leads work that supports global funders to meaningfully connect with partners and peers, stay ahead of opportunities and trends, build capacity and manage change internally and externally, and improve MERL. She regularly convenes closed circles for senior philanthropic leaders to exchange with global peers on sensitive and critical topics, leads training on design thinking, systems thinking, and strategic planning and has delivered mapping and theories of change projects for large, global funders in East Africa and Asia. Josiane is also responsible for SIX’s Global Council.

Josiane first joined SIX as the Partnerships and Growth Manager, helping to build the social innovation movement globally. Prior to SIX, Josiane lived in Jordan for five years, working for private and governmental entities on projects in the design, culture, media and entrepreneurship space. An experienced facilitator, Josiane became an RSA Fellow in 2014 whilst spearheading Bristol’s first and largest social enterprise conference, and a Fellow of the London College of Political Technologists at Newspeak House in July 2019.

Selected work

How has the discourse around philanthropy shifted after the events of 2020?

Introduction Over the coming months, SIX will be sharing our tracking and interrogation of how the discourse around philanthropy has shifted, or not, after the profoundly impactful events of 2020. We are looking for themes that have been lost in the noise, and trends that have become louder; we are searching for signals about what has ... How has the discourse around philanthropy shifted after the events of 2020?

Systems principles for a pandemic

Earlier in April, SIX wrapped up our second of two trainings with one of the largest independent grant making foundations in England. Over six months, we worked with two cohorts of individuals to explore what social innovation and systems thinking looks like in context and in practice. What were we designing for? We believe that funders and ... Systems principles for a pandemic

Making the case for foundations in East Asia to embrace systems thinking

Questions for the social sector in Hong Kong With the rapid development of East Asia in recent years, individuals and corporates are accumulating wealth. This is leading to the establishment of new foundations and making both public and private funds widely available. We have worked in East Asia for several years, our SIX colleague and ... Making the case for foundations in East Asia to embrace systems thinking

The Four Waves

“Energy moves in waves. Waves move in patterns. Patterns move in rhythms. A human being is just that energy, waves, patterns, rhythms. Nothing more. Nothing less. A dance.” - Gabrielle Roth

SIX Funders Node

Case studies on philanthropy at a time of change and uncertainty