Roisin Markham

Last week I finished a strategic review for a client on a sustainable educational programme. At the meeting to discuss the review and good robust discussion they simple asked me what would I do. I said “show me the BRD (business requirement document) then I’d design it, but based on the research I’ve completed, my edtech experience and transformation change experience I’d do this…”. It felt very similar in context to the late ‘90s where after writing a strategic advisory document for an edtech enterprise they said thanks that’s interesting, we’ve decided to do it like this. Handing all their localisation to a cheeky startup that they then told they’d give all the work to if they hired me to set it up. The story of how I built a high performance start up when we did n’t talk about building startups we just got on with it. Let’s see what happens with this potentially expansive piece of work.

My other work sharing doughnut economics saw me in two different universities in Dublin delivering a lecture and a workshop on doughnut economics.

The lecture on Doughnut Economics for business in Trinity, TCD business school to second year students for a module on Organisational Change for Sustainable Futures. Gave me an opportunity to consolidate applied doughnut economics in workplace settings – business, public sector and social enterprises since 2023. There were about 100 students in the room with mixed attention spans. One of the students asked me about a workshop I mentioned so I improvised in a lecture hall that sits 300 with tiered desks and we created a version of People People Planet but much reduced. It added a bit of quirky fun to the formal setting of a lecture hall.

The workshop on Saturday was an introduction to Doughnut Economics with Ad Astra Academy scholars in UCD, firstly we explored the doughnut through my favourite methodology, Step into the doughnut and then I shared more depth on the practicing principles, embedded economy our roles and who we are in society. This workshop gave me an opportunity to really consolidate all the work I’ve done through doughnut economics since 2020. Across communities, networks, festivals, businesses, conferences, public sector and organisations, NFP and eNGOs. It was a bit eye opening even for me that so much of the work delivered was side of my desk up until 2024. When I went back to working for myself I integrated it more into my work and it’s is very much central to the way I work now.

All that wonderful building of knowledge and agency with the IDEN movement lab and this year again I feel traction perhaps because of the alignment to the Wellbeing Economy Alliance Ireland Hub and the great work Feasta is also doing.

Ok back to what I came hear to write about and invite you in to engage with me on.

There were two significant questions asked by students that I’m still thinking about:

1. How do we hold big companies and governments to account?
2. What do you think young people should do?

Firstly these seemed really basic questions. Secondly they don’t have a simple answers.

Let’s look at question 1:

To me this is a practicing democracy, governance and agency question. What our lives in civic society when functioning well look like or when we have agency and equity in our lives – this this is what it looks like and how it works.

I wonder do the answers lie in education of how the systems we live in function and in making that transparent to young people, well to all of us would help.

In the same way we have global education in schools do we not have everyday how our lives in Ireland work… every one living in Ireland should have access to clear and transparent education on how Ireland as a society functions.

In responding to the student who initially asked about big businesses she mentioned an energy provider who is a client and I could say something about the work they are doing to deliver their Net Zero transformation. but I also mentioned BDS and their work in holding enterprises accountable in the genocide of of Palestine.

I spoke about voting and knowing your local TD, following up with them to challenge decisions or changes about issues you care about.

I suggested they join an advocacy group or charity championing their cause and values.

What should I have answered? What would you add ~ obviously without going to ChatGPT or any other AI generating system?

Question 2

I don’t like telling people what to do… I kind of think people should do their research and then figure it out for themselves but the young person who asked this question they wanted an XYZ answer.

What would you have said?

I was a bit taken a back by this questions these are bright young scholars recognised for high performance. I spoke about not waiting till they were finished university to start where they were, join advocacy groups mentioning Oxfam Irelands great work and Friends of the Earth or XR Ireland. I asked if any of them had been involved in Fridays for the Future 2 or 3 hands gestured. In a post-pandemic society we need to find ways for young people to connect and have agency. In fact we need to make space for them to discover that part of who they are in supportive ways.

When I think back to my days of being a third level student the student union was edgy, protesting and demanded us to sharpen our wits no matter our backgrounds. We socialised in pubs, at rag weeks, we found places to hang out and talk and in particular to dance. It was messy and not fancy perhaps that was why it worked the bar was low and yes the other thing no one was recording us. Our lives were not a social media protocol.

I wonder how much permission is needed for these young people to blaze their own trails.

This also reminds me of the alivelihood and deadlihood workshop we ran with 50 PhD students a few years ago where mapped their interests and areas of study across the doughnut and then mapped if they were in the business of deadhoods or alivelihoods. Creating specific enquiry paths for midpoint and finishing PhD researchers. this workshop would be an excellent career coaching framing.

Anyways if you have thought on either of questions 1 or 2 above I’m happy to hear from you.

The other things is only 1 student out of 100 reached out to ask me a follow up question about our business. I also notice she’s followed me on TikTok, gosh I so feel in need to up my game there but the platform seems so disingenuous and I just find it so difficult to start posting what I really want to share there.

This week I have a rather interesting lab I’m testing as part of my new business offerings in 2026. I’m nervous to some extent but also not because it’s built on a lot of expertise across different publics and work.

Have a great week, remember often less is more.