Local author to launch new book

A BALLARAT born and bred author has used his time in COVID-induced lockdowns to research and write about a connection between Christianity and entrepreneurship.

Emeritus Professor at Swinburne University and alumni of the School of Mines Ballarat, Murray Gillin, has explored the two areas for his new book Jesus the Social Entrepreneur: Understanding both His Entrepreneur Mindset and Nature Miracles.

He said the book was a project he’d had on his mind for some time, but only recently got a chance to pursue.

“I have been teaching entrepreneurship for 40 years and I also have a Christian base as well, so I have been thinking for many years that I should really use a lot of my research techniques and readings to evaluate whether Jesus was indeed a social entrepreneur,” he said.

“During COVID, I actually found the time.

“My concept is that social entrepreneurship deals with wicked problems, that is wicked problems don’t have a single solution.

“I demonstrate the community or the political times that he lived in, which are not all that dissimilar in terms of problems or community issues [now].

“Using I would say rigorous tools, I was able to demonstrate that he fulfilled all the characteristics of a social entrepreneur and even more so.”

Professor Gillin said the book was suitable for everyday readers, using diagrams to illustrate the ideas.

He will officially launch the publication at an event at the SMB campus on 31 January, where he first started his tertiary career 70 years ago.

To book a free ticket, visit bit.ly/33qIC2c.