aes26 International Evaluation Conference: Full Schedule

Presenter and chair information page, resources for conference presenters, authors and session chairs.

arrow_back View All Dates

4:00pm ACST

Quality evaluation that makes a difference: continuing the conversation

Thursday September 17, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm ACST

Author: Eleanor Williams, Kara Scally-Irvine, Anabelle Chen, Caitlin Morton, Carina Calzoni

The AES has been exploring its vision of “quality evaluation that makes a difference” through a strategic project - engaging members and examining evaluation theory and practice. This work has surfaced a central challenge: while the phrase is compelling, its meaning is complex, contested, and shaped by context.
This roundtable begins from that complexity but does not seek to resolve it. Instead, it focuses on what comes next.
We will briefly share insights from the journey so far, including the multiple dimensions of “evaluation”, “quality”, and “making a difference”. These span tensions between evaluation as process, product, and profession; competing perspectives on quality and diverse understandings of use and influence across contexts and stakeholders.
The primary purpose of the session is to continue this conversation across the AES community. Participants will engage in facilitated small-group discussions to explore key questions: What does quality evaluation mean in your context? Who defines it? What does “making a difference” look like and for whom? How should these conversations evolve as contexts, practice, and membership change?
Participants will then work together to identify practical ways to sustain and deepen engagement. The session will capture and share these ideas to inform AES’s ongoing work.
Designed for intermediate to advanced evaluators, this roundtable creates space for collective reflection and future-oriented dialogue. This supports the AES vision by keeping the conversation alive recognising that what constitutes “quality evaluation that makes a difference” must continue to evolve with the field.es a difference” must continue to evolve with the field.

Chair

Marion Norton

Manager Research and Evaluation, Qld DJAG

Speakers

Eleanor Williams

Managing Director, Australian Centre for Evaluation

Eleanor Williams is the Managing Director of the Australian Centre for Evaluation in the Commonwealth Department of the Treasury. She has worked in a variety of senior executive roles in the Victorian and Australian Governments, and is a former board member of the Australian Evaluation... Read More →

Kara Scally-Irvine

Ksi Consulting

Anabelle (Pin-Ju) Chen 陳品儒

President/Evaluator, Taiwan Pride Sydney

Hi, I am Anabelle. I am an evaluator, data analyst and the President of Taiwan Pride Sydney. You might notice my profile picture is from my work as a DJ (O’a Gem, sound-alike for oyster omelette in Taiwanese 🇹🇼 ). I kept it because the skillsets are surprisingly identical... Read More →

Caitlin Morton

Independent Consultant

I’m Dr Caitlin Morton, I’m passionate about turning knowledge into power to help people solve the world’s biggest problems. I do this as an independent evaluator based on Awabakal Country in Newcastle, NSW Australia. I can help you use data and evidence to improve outcomes by... Read More →

Carina Calzoni

AES

I have been a member of the AES for over 25 years, and am now part of the AES management team - as the Policy Officer. It's an exciting role that brings together my experiences in evaluation and policy working in government and the private sectors. I am committed to creating positive... Read More →

QETMAD Consultation Paper Final docx

Thursday September 17, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm ACST
Rooms 3+4 Stokes Hill Rd, Darwin City NT, Australia

Special

Format Round table
Audience Level Intermediate, Advanced
Industry Arts and recreation services, Economic development tourism and infrastructure, Community and social services, Education and training, Environment and climate change, Health and disability, Information media and telecommunications, International development, Natur
ID 266

aes26 International Evaluation Conference