Conference theme: Making space, valuing place

'Making space, valuing place' invites us to engage with the diverse perspectives and contexts that shape how we approach and use evaluations.

We are making space for multiple disciplines, methodologies and worldviews to foster collaborative learning and shared understanding. By valuing place, we will honour Indigenous values and listen to the voices of our region from across Australia, the Asia Pacific and beyond. This is an opportunity to explore the breadth and depth of the evaluation ecosystem – welcoming evaluators, community leaders, funders, researchers, policymakers, data analysts, economists, implementation scientists, social scientists, international development specialists, educators, learning specialists, practitioners, and people with lived experience.

Sub-themes

Traditional and new ways

This sub-theme explores the dynamic interplay between traditional evaluation practices and emerging approaches, focusing on how ways of knowing, being and valuing align with diverse contexts. It invites participants to critically examine when and how to apply methods to ensure evaluations are culturally responsive, ethically sound and practically relevant.

How can Indigenous and community-informed ways of knowing and valuing shape evaluation design and interpretation? When and how do we assess value for money? What practical skills and tools can evaluators gain from hands-on demonstrations of real-world?

Ethics and integrity

This sub-theme explores what ethical evaluation looks like in practice - respecting the values of all stakeholders, recognising power dynamics and promoting inclusion and equitable opportunity across languages, cultures, and contexts. Sessions will address how evaluators can ensure transparency, uphold integrity, and create space for diverse voices in decision-making.

What does ethical evaluation mean in practice, and how can it be consistently applied across diverse contexts? How can evaluators respect the values of all stakeholders while balancing competing priorities? What strategies help recognise and address power dynamics in evaluation processes? How can evaluators acknowledge failures in evaluation and share lessons learned to strengthen future practices?

Boundaries and bridges

This sub-theme examines what makes evaluation distinct, exploring its intersections with other disciplines and sectors. It invites participants to look beyond traditional boundaries and discover opportunities for collaboration within and beyond the evaluation ecosystem. This theme encourages evaluators to share knowledge, integrate diverse perspectives, and co-create solutions that address complex challenges.

What makes evaluation distinct from other disciplines, and why does this matter for its future role? How can evaluators leverage connections within and beyond the evaluation ecosystem? What opportunities exist for collaboration between evaluation and fields such as policy, economics, implementation science, research, technology, and community development?

Roots and routes

This sub-theme examines how evaluators can remain grounded while navigating new pathways for relevance and impact. It focuses on communicating the value of evaluation to diverse audiences and decision-makers, ensuring that findings are useful and trusted.

In a post-truth world with polarised opinions and fake news, how can evaluation stay relevant, true to core principles? How can evaluators demonstrate value and utility across different contexts and stakeholders? What approaches help maintain credibility and relevance when evidence is contested or overlooked? How can collaborative learning strengthen evaluation’s role in shaping better decisions?

First time at an AES conference but I felt it was the best community of people.

aes25 attendee

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We acknowledge the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of this nation. We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands in which we conduct our 2026 conference, the Larrakia peoples. We pay our respects to the ancestors and Elders, past and present, of all Australia’s Indigenous peoples. We are committed to honouring Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ unique cultural and spiritual relationships to the land, waters and seas and their rich contribution to society.

Conference logo design: Cyan Sue Lee | Site design: Ingrid Ciotti