aes26 International Evaluation Conference: Full Schedule

This is the draft aes26 program, subject to change. To register for workshops and the conference, go to: https://www.aes26.aes.asn.au/

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10:30am ACST

aes26 Fellows Forum Philanthropy and Evaluation – What Gives?

Thursday September 17, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am ACST

Waterfront 3

Author: Rick Cummings, Program Evaluation Services, Alan Woodward, Alan Woodward Consulting, Jen Lorains, Childrens Ground, Adriaan Wolvaardt, Minderoo, Catherine Wade, Parenting Research Centre

It is estimated that over $2.4 billion is given annually in philanthropic and charitable causes in Australian. This is a very significant amount of funding and yet there is little to no research on how these funds and programs are evaluated. The AES Fellows are conducting an interactive session to look both at the role of evaluation in philanthropy and the role of philanthropy in evaluation.
The aim is to identify issues in this field, to generate discussion between attendees and philanthropic organisations, and to build some bridges between evaluators and philanthropists for future research and evaluation activities. We have representatives from three of the key stakeholder groups in this area – philanthropic organisations, agencies relying on philanthropic funding, and evaluators who have worked in this area - to give short presentations on their experiences working in this area and issues which they face.
These presenters will form a panel, with a Fellow as moderator. Based on these talks, audience groups will be formed and facilitated by a panel member or a Fellow to discuss issues and experiences. From these discussions, the panel will then respond to these audience generated issues/questions.

Speakers

Rick Cummings

Emeritus Professor, Murdoch University

Rick Cummings is an Emeritus Professor in Public Policy at Murdoch University. He has 40 years of experience conducting evaluation studies in education, training, health, and crime prevention primarily for the state and commonwealth government agencies and the World Bank. He currently... Read More →

Caroline Henwood

Research, Evaluation and Learning Manager, The Ian Potter Foundation

I am always intrigued by how we come to definitions, how words resonate differently for individuals and what it all means. On a more practical note! I am interested in people's perceptions on proportionality, how we think about it, and how we support it when it is often not what appears... Read More →

Jen Lorains

Director Research & Evaluation, Childrens Ground

Jen Lorains is the Director of Research & Evaluation at Children’s Ground. She works with each community to evaluate and evidence the impact of Children’s Ground’s empowerment, systems reform and integrated service platform.Jen has undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications... Read More →

Alan Woodward

Principal, Alan Woodward Consulting

My evaluation experience is broad, ranging from the conduct of evaluations of programs and services, the commissioning of evaluations, the engagement of communities on evaluation activities, the design of evaluation strategies and capacity building within organisations. I work in... Read More →

Adriaan Wolvaardt

Minderoo

Jess Dart

CEO, Clear Horizon

Dr Jess Dart is the founder and CEO of Clear Horizon, an Australian-based specialist evaluation company. Having received the 2018 Outstanding Contribution to Evaluation Award from the Australian Evaluation Society (AES), Jess is a recognised leader with over 25 years of experience... Read More →

Catherine Wade

Principal Research Specialist, Parenting Research Centre

Dr Catherine Wade is Principal Research Specialist at the Parenting Research Centre and a Research Affiliate with the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Sydney. Catherine is leading a programme of research at the Parenting Research Centre investigating aspects of the... Read More →

Thursday September 17, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am ACST
Waterfront 3 Stokes Hill Rd, Darwin City NT, Australia

Special

Format Panel
Audience Level Intermediate, Foundational
Industry Not for profit Philanthropy
ID 1010

2:00pm ACST

An open discussion on research and evaluation that works for remote communities

Thursday September 17, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm ACST

Waterfront 3

Authors: Jillian Marsh, Charles Sturt University, School Of Indigenous Australian Studies, Kate Dixon, Schools Plus, Laura Bird, Paul Ramsay Foundation
This panel features panellists representing all layers of the evaluation ecosystem, and focuses on an evaluation conducted in remote schools in the Northern Territory, Western Australia and Queensland. This panel discussion will centre on the question: How can we, as an evaluation ecosystem, make space and value place in the design and implementation of programs, projects, and evaluations?

Our panel includes a representative from the evaluation funders, the program facilitator and a community-based representative. The panel will be facilitated by a member of our evaluation and research team who is leading the project. The discussion will reflect on and unpack some of the realities of negotiating a place-based evaluation in remote communities, and how these reflections effect planning, design and delivery of evaluations. Our funders will explain their priorities, what they are aiming to achieve and why they are funding the evaluation, as well as explaining why a place-based approach is important to them.

The program facilitator will discuss how this evaluation project complements other existing projects, as well as how it was designed and why it was designed in that way. Our community-based representative will talk about their role in the project and the value that they bring through their community-based expertise, experience and relationships. This panel offers a unique look at how space is created for collaborative evaluation design and implementation, and how place can be centred throughout all stages of evaluation, even in a national project.

Speakers

Jillian Marsh

Professor, Indigenous Knowledges, Charles Sturt University, School Of Indigenous Australian Studies

Laura Bird

Paul Ramsay Foundation

Kate Dixon

Thursday September 17, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm ACST
Waterfront 3 Stokes Hill Rd, Darwin City NT, Australia

Ethics and integrity

Format Panel
Audience Level Foundational, Intermediate
Industry Not for profit Philanthropy, Education and training
ID 312

4:00pm ACST

Looking upstream and downstream: longitudinal case studies of climate and water resilience

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

Waterfront 3

Authors: Stuart Raetz, Climate Resilient Communities, Primatia Romana Wulandari, Alinea International, Keren Winterford, University of Technology Sydney
This panel will explore and contrast Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) insights from two Australian international development investments undertaking evaluative longitudinal case studies that aim to monitor changes in community and institutional resilience over an extended period: The Australian Water Partnership (AWP) and Climate Resilient Communities (CRC). AWP are retrospectively studying 10 years of water governance investments (2015–2025), while CRC are undertaking evaluative case studies in early stages of investments, exploring how communities are adapting to climate change in five countries (Cambodia, Fiji, Kiribati, Timor Leste and Tonga) in the Indo Pacific (2026 – 2029).
Drawing on emerging insights of evaluative practice, evidence and learnings the session will explore the enabling conditions that support community and institutional resilience in a changing climate. The panel will discuss:
1.Different vantage points reveal different resilience dynamics. AWP’s retrospective longitudinal analysis uncovers patterns of institutional strengthening, governance adaptation, and enabling conditions that only emerge over time, while CRC’s evaluative case studies will illuminate how climate resilience is context specific and driven by locally led adaptation practices.
2.Complementary methodologies strengthen evaluative insight. Both programs use participatory, outcome oriented, and complexity sensitive approaches—providing methodological alignment while generating distinct, mutually reinforcing evidence streams.
3.Integrated evidence supports better climate informed programming. When institutional governance evidence is paired with forward looking community insights, development programs gain stronger foundations for policy engagement, climate integration, and long-term investment planning.
The panel will provide examples from programming to contrast retrospective and forward-looking approaches to longitudinal case studies.
Audience interaction will be promoted through short provocations and facilitated reflection to elicit insights from the audience. The panel will support a practical understanding of the challenges and opportunities in defining resilience and stimulate discussion on how MEL can help programs to contribute to resilience outcomes, navigating complexity in a changing climate.

Speakers

Stuart Raetz

Monitoring, Evaluation And Learning Lead, Climate Resilient Communities

Stuart Raetz is the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Lead for Climate Resilient Communities, supporting climate investment and integration across the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) international development program. He has 20 years' experience as... Read More →

Primatia Romana Wulandari

Senior Consultant, Alinea International

Keren Winterford

Associate Professor, University of Technology Sydney

Dr Winterford has more than 20 years work experience working in the international development sector, in multiple capacities with Managing Contractors, NGOs, as a private consultant, and more recently in development research. She currently provides research and consultancy services... Read More →

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

Roots and routes

Format Panel
Audience Level Intermediate
Industry Environment and climate change, International development, Natural resources and energy
ID 210

10:30am ACST

2:00pm ACST

4:00pm ACST

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