Butterfly Works

Co-Founder, Research and Development Director

Emer's aim is to ‘Liberate the Maker’ in people everywhere.

She is an avid believer in the act of creation to empower and liberate people (including herself) in all kinds of disadvantaged circumstances.



She also has total faith in the capability of every child and person to create, make, design and conceive, believing that we just need to facilitate opening those doors.

This vision is at the heart of all her work which is an eclectic mix of digital design education, peace campaigns, HIV/aids school programs, tinkering festivals, global exchanges, children’s books, mobile phone games and solar gadgets.

"I think the essence which makes our work unique and powerful is our ability to see the creativity in all people, even in the most harsh circumstances, to facilitate it’s growth so that the individual benefits, so that the world enjoys their creation and the balance of power is tipped in their favor."

Emer now leads a team of multi-disciplinary young people in the Netherlands and Kenya who work together in developing new programs and concepts according to the Butterfly Works co-creation method.

This year, one of her aims is to document this method in such a way that others can apply it to their work.

"There is so much potential in our approach, I want to share it."