Thinker in Residence

Thinkers in Residence is a program in Adelaide, South Australia, designed to bring leaders in their fields to work with the South Australian community and government in developing new ideas and approaches to problem-solving, and to promote South Australia. Initiated by the state government in 2000 as Adelaide Thinkers in Residence and a global first, it was run by the South Australian government from 2003 to 2012, when funding ceased.
In 2013 by the Don Dunstan Foundation hosted Thinker Martin Elbourne to help revitalise the local music industry. After an hiatus for three years and a formal transition to the Foundation in 2016, the annual program restarted under the Foundation, with a slight change in focus and enabling multiple Thinkers to focus on one issue each year. A new model introduced in 2017 focussed on social capital, while also addressing job creation. It was known as the Social Capital Residencies program from 2017 to 2018.
History.
The concept of the Thinkers in Residence program was announced by the Hon Mike Rann, South Australian Opposition Leader, in November 2000. It was inspired by Greg Mackie's Adelaide Festival of Ideas. Invited guests would spend three months in Adelaide, assisting the government and community in tackling problems and exploring opportunities for the state. Rann, after his election as Premier in 2002, funded the Thinkers program, which ran from 2003 for nine years.
The program was intended to bring leaders in various fields to work with the South Australian community and government in developing new ideas and approaches to problem-solving, and to promote South Australia.
In 2012 Rann’s successor, Premier Jay Weatherill, discontinued the Thinkers program as a budget-saving measure.
In 2013 the Don Dunstan Foundation hosted the first residency outside of government, in that year with a particular focus on South Australia's live music industry. The residency of Martin Elbourne was very successful, leading to the establishment of St Paul's Creative Centre and the Music Development Office, along with the designation of Adelaide as a UNESCO City of Music.
The Thinkers in Residence program formally transitioned in 2016 to the Don Dunstan Foundation, with a slight change in focus and enabling multiple Thinkers to focus on one issue each year. Three Thinkers were hosted under the "Social Capital Residencies program" in 2017–8, when the new model focussed on social capital, while also addressing job creation. and is still running.
Contributions.
Established as a global first in 2003, it was a social innovation developed in South Australia to address challenges and explore opportunities, through the development of new policies and reform of systems.
The program resulted in more than of investment in new programs and infrastructure from 2003 to 2013, in South Australia and across the country, with the federal government providing about half of this. Overall, it has helped helped guide the state government's response to many important issues, including health, education, water, climate change, manufacturing, transport and road safety.
In 2011 a representative of the Adelaide City Council wrote a testimonial letter to the Thinkers in Residence program highlighting the program's "positive influence in the development of strategies and policies for enhancing the City." 
Thinkers and their reports.
Thinkers and their reports are listed below.