2016 Agenda

Monday

18:17 – Causeway to Osea Island opens – Off Grid 2016 officially opens
18:30 – 19:00 – Registration
19:30 – BBQ & Beers @ Captain’s Beach House

21:00 – “Dark Net” – Jamie Bartlett

Beyond the familiar online world that most of us inhabit, lies a vast network of sites, communities and cultures where freedom is pushed to its limits. A world that is as creative and complex as it is dangerous and disturbing. A world that is much closer than you think.
Based on extensive first-hand experience, exclusive interviews and shocking documentary evidence, Jamie offers a startling glimpse of human nature under the conditions of freedom and anonymity and shines a light on an enigmatic and ever-changing world.

Tuesday

07:00 – Yoga, running the causeway, island walk, wild swim, dip in the pool, tennis or lie-in

08:00 – Breakfast hampers delivered to houses or @ Club House for campers

09:00 – Introduction to OffGrid – Jeremy Hill

09:15 – “Death to innovation” – Russell Davies

Described as the strategist’s strategist, Russell will be looking at the ideas and processes we need to solve today’s problems. What to do? What to avoid? How to do it?

10:15 – “What possible use does the soul have for ideas?” – Robert Rowland Smith

We are becoming increasingly bombarded with ‘ideas’. But ideas are not the be-all and end-all. The trouble with ideas is that they keep us in our heads and can cut us off from other forms of experience, forms that are non-cognitive. Are there other ways of knowing that could enable us to experience the world more richly? Writer and philosopher Robert Rowland Smith investigates.

11:30 – “Lessons in creativity from pirates, hackers & gangsters” – Alexa Clay

Alexa will talk about her book, The Misfit Economy, in which she argues that lessons in creativity, innovation, salesmanship, and entrepreneurship can come from surprising places: pirates, bootleggers, counterfeiters, hustlers, and others living and working on the margins of business and society.

12:30 – Lunch @ The Power House

13:30 – “Why, without purpose, innovation is just noise” – Mark Shayler

Mark will talk about why being disruptive isn’t enough. Why sequel-mode will kill your business, kill you and cost you lots of staff. Disruption must be linked to purpose otherwise it’s just noise. Mark will talk about his grandad, his dad, his nan, his ducks and how to tell if you need to change your business and what you do.

14:30 – “IOT: Connecting products and experiences and learning to paper prototype” Alex Deschamps Sonsino

Using Know Cards (know-cards.org), developed for designers interested in the internet of things, Alex will launch us into the world of IOT. She will look at the technical building blocks involved in building connected product experiences. She will introduce us to inputs, outputs, power and connectors and brainstorming techniques. This will enable us to think through an idea before starting on prototyping tools (no technical knowledge required).

16:00 – “Leading a supermarket revolution; Happiness before profits” – Ruth Anslow in conversation with Anjali Ramachandran

Anjali, a respected voice in media and tech innovation, as well as co-founder of Ada’s list – a global network for women in technology will be talking to Ruth Anslow, founder of Hisbe. Hisbe is a new type of supermarket with a social enterprise model that serves the interests of people and communities. Anjali and Ruth will discuss the role of innovation, creativity & community in building a business.

17:00 – Cider tasting with London Glider – John Burgess

Many London gardens have apple trees but most of the fruit is wasted. In 2010 John Burgess decided to do something about this waste of a fantastic natural resource. He leafleted neighbours offering to collect unwanted apples (or pears) to make cider. The response was overwhelming.
He collected 750 kilos of apples and pears and pressed the fruit to produce the first batch of London Glider – a clear, strong, still cider with a well-balanced fruity flavour and clean apple finish. Nothing is wasted. Even the dry pulp left after each pressing is given to local farms to feed the sheep. His “Orchard” continues to grow.

17:30 – Sourdough workshop, walks, beers & beaches

Mark Shayler, a self-confessed baking fanatic, will take a group to bake the bread for dinner that evening – sharing his closely guarded sough-dough secrets. There is also the chance to explore some of the 350 acres of Osea Island with a bike ride or walk along the beach. Or kick back with some of the people you have met for a glass of wine or beer in the sun.

18:45 – “Maths, betting, AI and humans” – Adam Kucharski

Adam will talk though his latest book, ‘The Perfect Bet’ which looks at probability, human behaviour and outcome through the lens of gambling and what we can learn from trying to “beat the house”. A series of entertaining stories from casinos in Vegas to racecourses in Hong Kong, Adam looks at how maths, science and human behaviour can shed light on predicting outcomes and the world of AI.

19:30 – Dinner @ The Power House

21:00 – Music, The Dodge Brothers – beers, fires & big skies @ The Shack

Wednesday

07:00 – 08:30 – Breakfast together in the clubhouse
08:30 Bus to Witham station
11:10 – Osea Island causeway shut – Off Grid 2016 officially closes