How the program works

There are three important elements in the program: the thinker, the challenge, and the partners.

The Thinker

Each Thinker, who comes to live and work in Adelaide for about 12 weeks, is a world leader in their field.

The Challenge

The Thinker focuses on the problems of modern life: the big challenges we face, and what’s important to the future of the state. Former residencies have focused on water, health, climate change, justice and creativity, to name a few.

The Partners

Partners in the residency come from stakeholders with an interest in finding a solution to the challenge. These partners help pay for the residency and lead the residency, working with the Thinker.

The residency involves many meetings, often with hundreds of people, public appearances, media engagements, reading, studying the situation in South Australia and travelling to various parts of the state.

The Thinker presents recommendations to the government, which if adopted, can lead to important and long-lasting change.