What if policymaking wasn’t just for politicians—but truly shaped by the people it impacts? In this powerful episode of The Invisible Experts Podcast, we sit down with Maeve Curtin, researcher, practitioner, and social innovation advocate, to explore the concept of policy co-production and how it could transform how governments and communities design solutions together.

Drawing from her experience with the Scottish Government, Social Enterprise World Forum, and cross-continental research, Maeve shares how inclusive, participatory policymaking can lead to better, more sustainable outcomes. She introduces us to the idea that policymaking can be more than consultation—it can be co-creation, informed by lived experience, collaboration, and trust.

From her early civic activism at age 11 to her PhD research on cross-sector collaboration, Maeve challenges the traditional policymaking status quo, arguing for “people and planet first” strategies that bridge the gap between public institutions, grassroots communities, and the social enterprise sector.

Key Topics Covered:

✅ What Is Policy Co-Production? – A deeper look into designing policies with communities, not for them.

✅ Scotland’s 10-Year Social Enterprise Strategy – A rare case where the public sector stepped back to let civil society lead.

✅ The Role of Social Enterprises in Public Policy – How social ventures shape and inform inclusive economic development.

✅ Cross-Sector Collaboration – Why collaboration between public, private, and third sectors is vital for durable change.

✅ Terminology vs. Values – Why it’s more important to align on shared purpose than to argue over definitions like “social enterprise.”

✅ Global Insights from Australia, Africa, and the U.S. – What works, what doesn’t, and how different cultures and systems respond to collaborative policy innovation.

✅ Trust, Time, and Transparency – The three essential ingredients for sustainable co-produced governance.

Maeve also reflects on her personal journey—how living in different countries, working across sectors, and embracing uncertainty helped shape her unique, systems-level view of social change.

📌 Can policy be co-produced in your country? Do you think governments should let citizens lead? Let us know in the comments!

Guest:

Maeve Curtin: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maevecurtin/

Company: https://www.clintonfoundation.org/clinton-global-initiative

Host:

Andrés Morales:

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/drandresmoralespachon

Minca Ventures: https://mincaventures.com

🔔 Subscribe to The Invisible Experts Podcast for more expert conversations on sustainability, social impact, and policy innovation.