Date and time: Thursday 26 February, 1.00pm-2.00pm AEDT
Topic: AES Ethics in Evaluation SIG Launch
Presenter(s): Colin Sharp, David Turner, Emma Williams & Su-Ann Drew | AES Ethics SIG
Venue: Via Zoom. Details will be emailed to registrants just prior to the start time.
Register online by: 25 February 2026

Event description:

Ethical questions sit at the heart of evaluation from how we design and conduct our work, to how findings are interpreted and used. Yet recent research has shown that many evaluators feel unsure where to go for support, or how best to navigate the grey areas that arise in real world practice.

To help build confidence, capability and community across the sector, the AES has launched the AES Ethics in Evaluation SIG. The SIG offers a collegial space for evaluators to connect, reflect and learn together about the ethical dimensions of our practice. The SIG is not intended to provide case by case advice or resolve individual ethical dilemmas, but to rather function as a community for shared learning, broader ethical inquiry, and strengthening our collective understanding of what ethical evaluation looks like in an evolving context.

Our inaugural session in February will introduce the SIG and outline what we hope to explore together in 2026. Dr Colin Sharp and David Turner, who each have worked for years to build AES ethics capacity, will host a discussion on how AES recognition of and responses to ethical issues in evaluation evolve. Please send questions before the session to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

We look forward to starting the year with a thoughtful and engaging conversation, and warmly invite all AES members to attend. Any AES member with an interest in evaluation ethics is warmly welcome. Whether you’re an experienced evaluator, new to the profession, a commissioner, a researcher, or simply curious, you are invited to join our community.

Presenter details:

Colin Sharp
Associate Professor Colin Sharp was the original Chair of the AES Committee on Ethics and Standards in Evaluation, leading the development of the initial version of AES Code of Ethics and Guidelines for the Ethical Conduct of Evaluation, while he was Vice-President then President of the AES and overseeing consultations on the issues members faced and appropriate responses to them. He stepped back in 1995 to take on other responsibilities such as AES conference organisation, contributing to AES journals and the South Australian regional evaluation group in 1991 and — most recently, in 2025 — co-leading an AES mentoring group on strategic evaluation. 

David Turner
David Turner, a former public service evaluator in New Zealand, led the most recent completed update of the AES code and guidelines, launched in 2013. Although in recent years he has focussed on the AES mentoring program, conducting surveys and co-authoring papers on it, he has also continued to engage with AES ethics, surveying members in 2003 on their ethical challenges and use of AES guidelines, in 2009 conducting research on the different ethical perspectives of AES members, and has facilitated AES conference sessions at which participants discussed evaluation scenarios that raised ethical issues, and how they thought people should respond in such situations.

Emma Williams
Emma Williams is Co-Chair of the newly established AES Ethics in Evaluation SIG. She works with Iris Ethics, is contributing to the current (2025/26) update of the AES ethics code and guidelines, is engaged with the ongoing 'Everyday Ethics' working group, and is conducting research on evaluation ethics decision-making. Emma previously contributed to the 2013 update of AES ethics code and guidelines and has published on evaluation ethics issues.

Su-Ann Drew
Dr Su-Ann Drew is Co-Chair of the AES Ethics in Evaluation SIG, and a Senior Manager within Grosvenor's Program Evaluation practice. Prior to consulting, Su-Ann was an in-house public service evaluator in the WA state government where she delivered evaluations of mental health and alcohol and other drug programs. Su-Ann also led statewide research ethics and governance policy across the WA public health system during her time as a WA public servant, and continues to hold a keen interest in ethical issues in research and evaluation.

This free event has been organised by the AES Ethics in Evaluation SIG. 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, ACT, TAS: 1.00pm

• QLD: 12.00pm

• SA: 12.30 pm

• NT: 11.30am

• WA: 10.00am

• New Zealand: 3.00pm

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.