Building a global network for change: Sadiq Gulma’s vision for social innovation

The University of Calgary reaffirmed its reputation as a hub of innovation and collaboration, when it hosted the 2025 iteration of the International Social Innovation Research Conference (ISIRC) in early September.  

Among the highlights of this gathering was a pre-conference colloquium established by Sadiq Abubakar Gulma, a doctoral student from Sweden with an inspiring journey from his homeland of Nigeria.  

Held at UCalgary’s Social Innovation Hub, the colloquium attracted a diverse group of thinkers, eager to build connections and share insights.  

“The colloquium creates a space where PhD students and early career researchers meet, network and receive detailed feedback on their projects,” says Gulma. 

“Participants present their work in small groups facilitated by senior scholars, fostering mentorship, community and collaboration.” 

A space for emerging scholars 

After attending ISIRC 2023 in Portugal, Gulma noted a gap in available structured feedback opportunities for PhD students. Seeing a vital need for doctoral students to share information, he co-founded the Network of Doctoral Students and Early Career Researchers in Social Innovation (NEPSI). 

Determined to bridge this divide, he proposed a colloquium that was subsequently included in the 2024 ISIRC program in Bern, Switzerland.  

Strengthening the field 

As a colloquium convenor, Gulma helped to organize fellow doctoral students and early career researchers, and recruited senior scholars to serve as mentors. 

In just two years, the colloquium has become a cornerstone of the ISIRC experience for emerging scholars. 

“This initiative not only enhances the conference experience for young researchers, but also strengthens the field by nurturing the next generation of social-innovation scholars,” says Gulma. 

This year, he was joined in planning the UCalgary event by Emmanuel Amaechi, MA’24, Canada Program Specialist for the Sustainable Development Solutions Network at UCalgary; Sikhumbuzo Maisela, lecturer at University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa; and Dr. Joanna Masangkay, PhD, a politics and enterprise researcher from Middlesex University, with Masangkay taking the lead in facilitating the sessions. 

“For this year, we organized the PhD/ECR (Early Career Researchers) submissions into two peer-review sessions,” says Masangkay. 

“In each session, I chaired the authors’ presentations and their allocated discussions. Supportive senior academics, including Dr. Georg Mildenberger, also offered feedback for the presenters.” 

Mildenberger, PhD, who heads the research department at the Heidelberg Centre for Social Investment, brought a unique blend of theory and practice to the discussions.  

“Topics I covered with Georg during the Q&A aligned with my research interests, such as defining the social in ‘impact’ and exploring what makes innovation ‘social,’” says Masangkay. 

The colloquium also included a closing workshop led by Masangkay titled “Unblocking for Output: From Ailments to Action,” which addressed the challenges of academic writing, managing multiple academic identities and overcoming internal barriers.  

“The closing message for participants was: ‘You’re not obligated to have figured it all out. You’re only obligated to keep asking brave questions,'" says Masangkay. 

Impact on attendees 

The impact of the colloquium was echoed by attendees who embraced the opportunity to share their work.  

“It was an opportunity for fresh minds to meet, talk about their research and take feedback to advance their work,” says Amaechi.  

Thomas Buchanan, a first-year PhD student from the University of Stirling in Scotland, celebrated the community’s welcoming nature. 

“The colloquium has been fantastic,” Buchanan said at the event. 

“It's been great to really be around people who are passionate about social innovation, but, really, you go to events like this to inspire but also be inspired.  

“And, even if someone isn't necessarily familiar with your research space, their constructive points of view can be valuable.”   

An idea born from experience 

Gulma’s research and work informed the concept of organizing the colloquium.  

“I came to social innovation through practice,” says Gulma. 

“As a changemaker in Nigeria, I founded an NGO that delivers community-led programs addressing issues such as public health and climate change.” 

Through his formative experiences, Gulma gained an understanding of how social innovation is a collaborative effort.  

“Working across cultures in Nigeria highlighted how local context shapes solutions,” says Gulma. 

“It also showed me that lasting change depends on partnerships among government, business, academia, and communities.” 

Gulma is currently taking his PhD at Malmö University in Malmö, Skåne, Sweden.

Looking ahead 

Gulma envisions NEPSI expanding into a global hub for emerging scholars and young professionals in social innovation. Plans are underway to grow membership, host webinars and peer-learning sessions, and produce joint publications and policy briefs.  

The network also aims to build partnerships with universities and funders to ensure long-term sustainability. 

“At its core, NEPSI aims to remain inclusive and diverse,” says Gulma. “We want to reflect multiple perspectives and disciplines while equipping the next generation of social-innovation researchers and practitioners.”