CSI Announces New Director of Research 

The Sydney-based Centre for Social Impact has appointed Les Hems as the new Director of Research -a position which became available after the passing of highly regarded researcher and consultant, Professor Mark Lyons.

Hems has spent the past 18 years working to develop an evidence base to support Third Sector research, policy and practice – specifically the development of databases, web based knowledge resources, and innovative research methodologies. 
 
Hems leaves his position as Director of Guidestar UK, where he was instrumental in designing and implementing the free website www.guidestar.org.uk in 2005.  Hems also played a pivotal role in a number of UK government initiatives including the National Survey of Third Sector Organisations, and Office of the Third Sector commissioned research.
 
Hems’ focus on operationalising the definition of the Third Sector and social enterprise has been significant in the development of the GuideStar Third Sector Database – greatly extending the coverage of the database beyond registered charities to cover social enterprise, community interest groups, and many other Third Sector groups.
 
More recently Hems headed up the social enterprise activities of Guidestar Data Services CIC – including the development of the market for Third Sector data involving financial institutions, government, academia, and the Third Sector. 
 
Hems began his research career at Aston Business School, before establishing the research team at the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO).  In 1998 Hems took on the role of principal researcher for the John Hopkins University Comparative Nonprofit Sector Project, and in 2000 he established a new research centre as part of the Institute of Philanthropy at University College London.  

Prof Mark Lyons died in November after a long battle with cancer.
 
For more information about Les Hems, please click here : 
http://www.csi.edu.au/uploads/31642/ufiles/Les%20Hems_CV_December_2009v2.pdf