We believe the future requires a transformed economy—one that is dynamic, just, sustainable, and resilient.
RADIUS SFU
operates on the unceded, traditional, and ancestral territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), q̓íc̓əy̓ (Katzie), kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), Qayqayt, Kwantlen, Semiahmoo, and Tsawwassen peoples on whose unceded traditional territories the three SFU campuses reside.
We recognize that colonialism is a powerful system interlocking with white supremacy, capitalism, misogyny, classism, and other forms of harm that systemically oppress, alienate, divide, and invisibilize racialized and Indigenous communities.
From our position within an academic institution, we acknowledge that we continue to benefit from oppressive systems. We desire to use the power we hold to challenge the status quo. We don’t have all the answers, but believe a transformed economy will be built by community-led solutions and the redistribution of leadership, which centres those who have been historically and persistently marginalized.
To get there, we start with our principles.
RADIUS Principles
Centre equity in our design, strategy, and daily work.
Value knowledge, experiences, and histories in the margins of any given system.
Engage in reciprocal relationship building.
Be open and continue learning to improve our practice.
Know future systems will draw on the new and the old.
Balance ambitious work with honouring our limits.
Communities we serve
Students
Students
Through Change Lab RADIUS facilitates experiential learning for SFU students working within the community to address complex challenges. We also support emerging leaders across the nation to develop skills to lead at all levels through the RADIUS Fellowship.
Communities
Communities
Tackling societal challenges, RADIUS convenes communities most impacted. Current labs and programs work alongside migrant and newcomer communities, health-equity seeking community members, and Indigenous entrepreneurs.
Organizations
Organizations
RADIUS support organizations of all sizes, for-profit to non-profit, and across Canada to engage in internal reflection on Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and assist in hosting community-led processes to address challenges.
RADIUS is also a founding regional node for the Social Innovation Canada network, connecting BC’s vibrant social innovation community to other nodes and regions, and helping build a robust national ecosystem.
The result is programs and processes to address deep-rooted societal challenges.
Our Team
Meet the Team
RADIUS Founders
Shawn Smith
Shawn Smith is the co-founder and former Director of RADIUS, an Adjunct Professor at SFU's Beedie School of Business, and Director of Social Innovation at SFU. Having spent the last 15 years working with, in and on social impact organizations on three continents, he is also a founder at several other organizations including IMPAQTO (Ecuador), Global Agents for Change and Education Generation, co-led the ALT/Now Economic Inequality systems change program at the Banff Centre, and speaks and consults regularly on social innovation and entrepreneurship. Shawn is a top rated educator, Business in Vancouver top 40 under 40 recipient, and completed his MBA at the University of Oxford in 2010 as a Skoll Scholar in Social Entrepreneurship.
David Dunne
David Dunne is a Senior Lecturer Emeritus of Marketing and Co-Director of Rotman Teaching Effectiveness Centre. David is an award-winning educator, holding the President’s Teaching Award at the University of Toronto and the 3M National Teaching Fellowship. He has taught and directed several executive programs on marketing, innovation and strategy worldwide. David co-founded RADIUS and is Board Chair of Academics Without Borders and travels frequently to Nepal, where he is a volunteer professor with a medical school in Kathmandu. He is an avid yoga practitioner and loves to tour by bicycle.
Places We Call Home
The Charles Chang Innovation Centre
The Charles Chang Innovation Centre
RADIUS is based out of the Charles Chang Innovation Centre, at the corner of W. Hastings & Hamilton (2nd floor, entrance on Hamilton Street). We rent some of our desks out to social innovators and mission-aligned professionals.
Simon Fraser University's Beedie School of Business
Simon Fraser University's Beedie School of Business
RADIUS is an initiative of Simon Fraser University’s Beedie School of Business. But we’re not your average business school, or university. Now committed to being Canada’s most engaged university, the book on SFU’s history is called “The Radical Campus”. RADIUS draws on the roots of an institution founded with its gaze firmly on the future, bold questions at the ready, and new ways of thinking welcome.
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Our office in Vancouver is on the unceded Coast Salish Lands including the Squamish (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw), Tsleil-Waututh (səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ) and Musqueam (xʷməθkʷəy̓əm) Nations.
Our Partners
Building Lasting Relationships
