Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are formal groups of members with a common interest in an aspect of evaluation. From time to time, the AES Board may consult a SIG on particular policy and strategic issues.
Each SIG is responsible for its own day-to-day management and sets up its own virtual meeting space. Members usually meet face-to-face at the annual conference.
What are the current SIGs?
The following SIGs are currently active. If you are interested in joining, contact the relevant Convenor(s).
Australian Public Sector Evaluation Network (APSEN) Special Interest Group (SIG) is an active community of practice for those working in public sector evaluation. The APSEN SIG aims to connect and support those facing similar contexts and challenges, address gaps in capability and capacity building and share resources to help build consistency in approaches to evaluation across the public sector in Australia. The APSEN SIG is open to public and non-public sector employees and Chaired by Jo Norman.
For further information, email
The Design and Evaluation SIG provides a space for evaluators to explore the interface between systems thinking, design methodologies and evaluation through different events and learning opportunities.
For further information, email
The Multicultural Evaluation Special Interest Group (MESIG) has been formed to enhance multicultural evaluation ideas, discussions, theories and practices, and provide a focus for sharing resources and learning about these topics with the AES membership. The MESIG aims to also encourage greater diversity in the AES membership, and to provide a space for diverse voices to meet, discuss and learn.
Our purpose is to:
– strengthen the capacity of AES members to undertake evaluation that is responsive to the needs of multi-cultures
– get multicultural considerations more strongly embedded in AES policy and strategy
– enable evaluation Communities of Practice that include and advance diverse voices
– enhance Multicultural Evaluation ideas, discussions, theories and practices, and
– provide a focus for sharing resources and learning about these topics with the broader AES membership.
MESIG members (core group):
Eva Sarr (Chair), Erin Blake (Deputy Chair), Yonas Dare, Kylie Brosnan, Jerry Winston, Jane Howard, David Roberts, Erica Orton, Katherine Dinh, Mark Planigale and Godwin Masuka
Anyone is welcome to join us. Please email us on
Website coming soon!
The Systems Evaluation SIG is focused on the benefits of systems concepts and systems thinking, and the alternative sciences of social complexity for designing and determining the value of any given policy, program, initiative, or intervention (PPII).
The vision of the SIG is for evaluators to be able to pivot between prevailing evaluation practices and those informed by the language, concepts and theories of systems thinking, and the fast growing sciences of social complexity for:
• describing PPIIs and the man-made and natural systems into which they are thrust
• understanding the organisational dynamics of public value organisations that commission and use evaluation
• claims about the value of any given PPII to include explicit consideration of the contextual dynamics in which it is situated.
We welcome the involvement of those in Australia as well as evaluators further abroad!
For more information and to join the Systems Evaluation SIG please complete this very brief registration survey.
For any other enquiries please email
Chair: Brian Keogh
Committee: Julie Elliott, Andrew Hawkins, Kara Scally-Irvine
Interested in forming a new evaluation SIG?
SIGs may be created anew or grow from an existing informal discussion group. The formation of a new SIG is subject to a formal application process and requires approval by AES Board. Please contact the Chief Executive Officer, Bill Wallace, to discuss your idea and prior to any formal submission to the AES Board.