Founder of Tribewanted, social entrepreneur, & speaker
Described in National Geographic as “the Sergey Brin of the South Pacific,”Ben Keene’s quest in 2006 to create a new
cross-cultural sustainable community on a Fijian island via a social network captured international attention.
Tribewanted and its Fijian partners built their community, welcomed over 1000 tribe members – who have each played a part in its development – and invested over $2m fj into the local economy. In 2011 the project was handed over to the local community.
In 2010 Ben launched the second Tribewanted community in Sierra Leone where he lived for a year. The goal of the project is try and shift perceptions of the country to one closer to the present reality: a safe, beautiful and exciting destination where eco-tourism can play an important development role. The project is making steady progress.
Recognition
Ben has written a book and appeared in a major BBC documentary series based on Tribewanted. The project has won a handful of digital media and innovation awards and has been nominated for responsible tourism acolades.
2.0
Ben’s focus with Tribewanted is on building an international network of sustainable communities in far flung places and in our own back yards that closely share the local development, culture and impact with their online members and audiences, in Ben’s words: ‘there’s no reason why the best and most inspiring trips should finish the day you go home. Tribes – people connected to one another, a leader, and an idea – can change the way we all live, for the better.’
Other Projects
Ben has also worked with Right to Dream – an NGO in Ghana, Sierra Leone, UK & US – that gives underprivileged talent the chance to fulfil their potential through sport, education and personal development. His most recent project has been to help found Fair Trade Volunteering – a new standard for fairness in the sector. In 2012 Ben has joined THNK – the Amsterdam School for Creative Leadership as one of its founding participants.
Recognition
- Smarta 100 best businesses, 2010. Interview
- Future 100, Striding Out, 2008
- OBSERVER Courvoisier The Future 500, 2007. Podcast
- UK Entrepreneur of the Year, Finalist 2007
- Digital & Design Industry Awards, Winner Grand Prix & Most Innovative Project
- Winner Best Social Network, Broadcast Digital Media Awards June 2008
- Nominated: Virgin Responsible Tourism Awards 2008 & 2009 – ‘Conservation of Cultural Heritage
Ben’s Adventures
Since my Dad took my brother and I for a night camping at the Bearded Lake in North Wales when we were toddlers I’ve always tried to get ‘out there’ as much as possible.
Tribewanted has given me great opportunity to live outdoors as much as possible but village building has stopped me from heading off on bigger expeditions. But I keep planning to go.
biking into the bush: Sierra Leone Jan 2011
Past adventures…
September 2011: Picket Point, Western Peninsula, Sierra Leone (thick bush!)
January 2011: Road trip Freetown – Liberia (and back) with Tribewanted
July 2009: Climbing Two Thumb range, New Zealand with Giles
2008: Udu Point (dateline), Vanua Levu, Fiji with Tribewanted
2000 – 2005: 3 peaks challenge with Madventurer
2000-2002: Mt.Kenya 3 times with Madventurer
September 2000: Mt.Pisco, Peru with Dad & Brother
August 1998: Kilimanjaro with Dad & Brother
1997: Tall Ship training expedition around Canary Islands
1984: Bearded Lake, North Wales with Dad & Brother
Two thumb range, NZ ’09
Favourite current adventurers…
Al Humphries – around the world cyclist, fountain of knowledge and entertaining speaker
Ed Stafford – walked the Amazon.
Sarah Outen – around the world now
Dave Cornthwaite – 25 x 1000 mile human-powered expeditions
Ben Saunders – the true modern polar explorer
Wow.. Now I’ve seen your personal website, I really want to work with you. I can learn so much from you. Personally, I have the same idea, well similar, I guess. For indonesia and asia region.
You know GVI (Global Vision International)? Well, I really want to make that for Asia region.
Serendipity at work. Just speaking to a Fiji friend about building sustainable communities in Fiji and telling him about other communities I have been involved with over the last 30 years and your name popped up today through a journey on twitter about the Economics of Happiness movie.
So very interested in learning more about your projects.
My email is maryann@maryannsimonds.com