<p style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12px"><em>L/R: Gill Potaka-Osborne and Kiri Parata&nbsp; Aotearoa New Zealand, Sharon Clarke, Australia, Kym Hamilton Aotearoa NZ, Emma Walke Australia</em></span></p>

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<p>Whakauae Research acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands, the Gadigal people of the Eora nation. We pay respects to ancestors, elders past present &amp; emerging. We acknowledge the unique cultural &amp; spiritual relationships to land, water and seas.</p>

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<h3>The theme of the 2019 conference was &ldquo;Evaluation un-boxed&rdquo;</h3>

<p><span style="color:#808080">Evaluation can be a gift &ndash; with the potential to strengthen the lives of individuals and communities. This potential is best realised when evaluation is opened up to end users and when evaluators draw on the knowledge and practices of those they work with. Trans-disciplinary approaches and technological advances provide further possibilities. </span><a href="https://conference2019.aes.asn.au/index.php" target="_blank">You can find out more here</a></p>

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<p>Whakauae was well represented at this year&rsquo;s Australian Evaluation Society Conference. Kiri Parata (Whakauae sub-contractor) attended in her capacity as AES Board member (reappointed for a further 3 years at this year&rsquo;s conference). Gill Potaka-Osborne (Whakauae staff member), as a member of the Indigenous Excellence Award assessing committee and co-presenter of the award. Teresa Taylor (Whakauae sub-contractor) received a Conference Support Grant. Both Gill and Teresa presented the Evaluation of He Whet&#363; Arataki through a five minute Ignite session.</p>

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<p><img alt="AES Assessment Excellence Award 2019 Committee" src="/uploads/images/AES-Assessment-Excellence-Award-Committe.jpg" style="height:450px; width:650px" /><br />
<em><span style="font-size:12px">Members of the AES 19 Evaluation Excellence Awards Assessing Committee (L/R): Gill Potaka-Osborne, Wei Leng Kwok, Kevin Dolman, Farida Fleming, Ian Patrick</span></em></p>

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<h4>Highlights included:</h4>

<p>First, a ferry ride across Darling Harbour to Luna Park where some intrepid evaluators rode the Ferris wheel prior to the gala dinner.</p>

<p>Second, a gift of a painting by conference support grantee New Zealander Kym Hamilton, Ng&#257; Rauru. This was followed by a resounding rendition of T&#363;tira Mai Ng&#257; Iwi</p>

<p>Third, presentation of excellence awards by Gill Potaka-Osborne and Kevin Dolman (Indigenous Excellence Award Assessment Panel members).</p>

<p>Fourth, a tribute to Jenny Neale, long time AES stalwart and champion of evaluation who passed away suddenly. AES members spoke of the memories they had of her which was followed by the waiata, Te Aroha. Jenny will be sadly missed.</p>

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<p><a href="/uploads/files/Gill%20Potaka-Osborne%202019%20AES%20speech.pdf" target="_blank">You can download a copy of Gill&#39;s AES speech here</a></p>

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