Date and time: Wednesday 16 October, 8.30am - 9.30am AEDT
Topic: Post-aes24 Reflection: Wayfinding in new directions?
Location: Proximity Advisory Services, Level 2/55 Blackall Street, Barton
Presenters: Scotty Bayley, Julie Elliot, Kim Grey, Sam Mayes and John Stoney
Register online by: 15 October 2024

Event description:

This year's conference in Melbourne, Naarm had a record number of attendees and packed in three full days of sessions on the theme 'Wayfinding'.

The conference sub-themes were:
Destination - exploring evaluation that contributes to societal and planetary health
Footprints - critical inquiry considering equity, decolonisation and the environment
Tools - their role, benefits and risks
Journey - how we learn and adapt in complex settings, shift how we show up, and determine the skills, knowledge, and expertise we need today and in the future.

There were thought-provoking presentations from distinguished keynote speakers:

June Oscar AO, Inaugural Chair, The Wiyi Yani U Thangani Institute for First Nations Gender Justice. Opening keynote address: 'Wiyi Yani U Thangani - re-imagining evaluation with a gender justice lens'

Indy Johar, RIBA register architect, serial social entrepreneur, and Good Growth Advisor to the Mayor Of London, UK. Keynote address: 'Navigating transitions through risk and uncertainties'

James Copestake, Professor, International Development, University of Bath, UK. Keynote address: 'What next? From evaluating to anticipating'

Elizabeth Hoffecker, Lead Research Scientist, Local Innovation Group, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), US. Keynote address: 'Wayfinding tools for learning and evaluation in complex systems'

John Gargani, President of Gargani + Company, former President of the American Evaluation Association, US. Closing keynote address: 'Finding our way to the future profession of evaluation'

And there were a range of presentations for foundational, intermediate and advanced levels of expertise in evaluation.

For Canberra based AES members and others who attended the conference and would like to reflect on what you heard and saw, or for those who weren't there in person but who would appreciate the chance to hear some highlights and reflections, please come along to this interactive, in person session.

Numbers are limited so please only register if you plan to attend.

Presenter details:

Scott Bayley, Julie Elliott, Kim Grey, Sam Mayes and John Stoney are members of the ACT Committee of the AES.

This interactive breakfast session is for ACT based AES members and others who either attended the conference or didn’t but are curious about what happened. This free event has been organised by the AES Canberra Regional Network. Our seminar series provides an opportunity for you to meet with AES members and others in the evaluation community and to share and learn from the experiences of fellow evaluators.