Date and time: Tuesday 18 August, 11.00am-12.00pm AEST
Topic: Practical Use Cases for AI in Evaluation
Presenters: Kristy Hornby, Gerard Atkinson and Anita Goldsworthy
Venue: Via Zoom. Details will be emailed to registrants just prior to the start time.
Register online by: 17 August 2026

Event description:

Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming part of evaluation practice, but how are evaluators actually using it in their day-to-day work?

This online seminar brings together a panel of evaluators from different sectors and settings to share practical examples of how they are using AI across the evaluation lifecycle. Speakers will discuss what has worked, where they see limitations and risks, and the lessons they have learned along the way.

The session will also launch a community e-book initiative to collect and share real-world AI use cases from the evaluation profession. Join the conversation and help shape this emerging resource for evaluators.

Speakers include Kristy Hornby, Grosvenor, a thought leader in AI evaluation and governance; Gerard Atkinson, a seminal practitioner and advisor on the use of AI in evaluation; and Anita Goldsworthy, an expert in optimising evaluation work with AI.

Presenter details:

Kristy Hornby is an Associate Director at Grosvenor who has completed over 310+ evaluation, review and strategy projects across more than a decade of practice. She specialises in providing program design advice, developing monitoring systems, conducting evaluations, building internal capability and mentoring program and policy managers, with the aim of making their organisations more resilient and effective after she leaves. She is always keen to experiment with new technology and methods to explore the ‘what if’ and ‘how come’. She has evaluated around 10 AI-enabled programs over her time and has produced multiple industry thought leadership presentations on AI evaluation and governance dating back to 2018, and is currently co-chair of the AES’ project into the Responsible Use of AI in Evaluation.

Gerard Atkinson is an independent evaluation consultant who has worked with big data and AI approaches for over 20 years, originally as a physicist then as a strategy consultant and evaluator. He is also Managing Director of Iris Ethics, Australia’s first HREC dedicated to reviews of projects in the evaluation, market research, and social research sector. Prior to this he was a Director at ARTD Consultants where he chaired the Learning and Development committee. He has an MBA in Business Analytics focusing on the applications of machine learning to operational data. Gerard has previously presented at AES conferences on big data (2018), experimental tests of AI applications in evaluation (2023, 2024), and applied AI in evaluation (2024, 2025). Gerard is also a member of the AES’ project into the Responsible Use of AI in Evaluation and regularly delivers training for the AES on AI.

Anita Goldsworthy is a consumer insights specialist who transforms complex data into interactive dashboards and clear stories. With over five years in Evaluation and Insights, and over a decade in the Education industry, she focuses on making automation practical. Anita designs automated systems to streamline workflows using the Google and Microsoft ecosystems. Her technical foundation includes formal training in research methods, statistics, the Microsoft Power Platform, Python, and Google Workspace. She champions efficient workflows to help teams navigate organisational complexity, freeing up time to focus on deeper, high-value analysis and bridge the gap between technical tools and everyday application. She also regularly delivers training for the AES on AI.

This seminar will be recorded and available on the member portal only.

This free event has been organised by the AES Victoria Regional Committee. 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. 

Session start times:

• VIC, NSW, QLD, ACT, TAS: 11.00am

• SA, NT: 10.30am

• WA: 9.00am

• New Zealand: 1.00pm

For other time zones please go to https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html

Please ensure you have access to your email address just prior to the start time to access Zoom details. Please also check your email address is correct on your registration form before submitting. Thanks.