iPEN work is officially award winning!

iPEN, the pan-CRI Impact, Planning and Evaluation Network has won a prestigious award in Australia!

We are thrilled that the team’s work in focusing on how we ‘turbocharge’ research impact by building capacity and capability through online training, webinars, a newsletter and website has been recognised by the Australian Evaluation Society with the Excellence in Evaluation Systems Award.

iPEN’s impact and evaluation specialist Kara Scally-Irvine accepted the award on iPEN’s behalf at the AES conference gala dinner in Brisbane in late September. The award recognises the development of an exemplary integrated evaluation system and/or implementation of the evaluation system. This is only the third time in the AES's 40 years that a New Zealand effort has been recognised by this award. Kara also noted that "what was particularly pleasing was the endorsement we got from global leaders in this award, which included Professor Gerald Midgley, David Phipps, and Professor Mark Reed".

iPEN Chair, Manaaki Whenua’s Ross Laurence says the award acknowledges what has “truly been a collaborative effort from passionate individuals across all seven of CRIs.  A group of people who were open, sharing of ideas and experiences, and willing to go the extra mile for each other.  It has proved the value of trust and true collaboration across organisations.”

IPEN sponsor, AgResearch CEO Sue Bidrose says it’s great recognition of the work to improve how our scientists think about planning for, monitoring, and providing evidence of outcomes, of impact.
“It’s fantastic to see the results of the work in action. People are using it and referring to it, saying ‘this is how we think about, conceptualise and deliver research.”  

Kara Scally-Irvine (iPEN impact and evaluation specialist), Ross Laurence (iPEN Chair, Maanaki Whenua, holding the award) and Sue Bidrose (iPEN sponsor and AgResearch CEO).