Call for proposals are now open

You are invited to submit a proposal for a conference presentation and conference workshop presentation.

Make the most of the destination!

There are so many things to do in the Top End! Extend your visit before / after the conference. 

Sponsor and/or support aes26

Your chance to shine at aes26 – boost your visibility, find out more about opportunities.





Meet the keynote speakers

We are excited to announce Dr Robyn Ober and Professor Bagele Chilisa as keynote speakers for aes26. Additional keynote speakers will be confirmed shortly.

Robyn Ober

Lead Researcher and Educator, Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education

Bagele Chilisa

Professor of the Post Graduate Research and Evaluation Programme, University of Botswana






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. 

Traditions and new ways

How ways of knowing, being and valuing fit context. When and how to use approaches such as community-based practices, AI and value for money. 

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Ethics and integrity

Ethical evaluation, respecting the values of all, recognising power, inclusion, equitable opportunity, languages and cultures, acknowledging failures and sharing lessons learned. 

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Boundaries and bridges

What makes evaluation distinct, exploring connections in and beyond the evaluation ecosystem, fostering collaborative interdisciplinary learning. 

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Roots and routes

Communicating evaluation benefit, usefulness and relevance to all audiences, being grounded as evaluators, growing evaluation and learning together. 

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I left re-energised, part of a community of practice, not just a conference. 

aes25 attendee

Darwin & the Top End

Explore the many vibrant Asian food and night markets, enjoy an open-air movie on a balmy night, or relax on a sunset cruise. Get to know the rich local Indigenous culture, evident through the vibrant art that fills the city's galleries, museums and streets. Darwin is also the perfect gateway to exploring the Top End with an exciting offering of day-trips or an extended visit to the region.

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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