Dr Emma Blomkamp trains, coaches and mentors people in co-design for public and social innovation.

She combines academic and applied experience to cultivate capabilities and conditions for creative and participatory ways of working. Her research and practice focuses on systemic design, especially public policies and human services that foster equity, justice and community wellbeing.

Born and raised in Aotearoa, Emma has experience working in New Zealand, Australia, Europe and Asia. From her home base in ‘the hills’ on Wurundjeri Country (Melbourne, Australia), Emma now works independently and in collaborations, supporting designers, change-makers and public servants to co-create more compassionate and equitable policies, services and programs.

Emma has led strategic design and social innovation projects with public purpose organisations since 2014. Before that, Emma spent a decade honing her skills in teaching, academic research, cultural governance and production.

Named one of The University of Auckland’s ‘40 Under 40’ alumni in 2021, Emma’s co-design and design research projects have won numerous awards, including a Gold for Social Impact in the Good Design Awards 2020.

Emma currently focuses on delivering capability building programs and learning partnerships. She founded and convenes Co-Design Community of Practice, CoDesignCo.

A lifelong learner with a strong commitment to creating and sharing knowledge, Emma continues to research, publish and present internationally on public innovation and systemic design. She has an award-winning PhD in community wellbeing and local government and a co-edited book on cultural measurement.