Does aid work?

MODERATOR

Professor Cynthia Mitchell is a Research Director at the Institute. Prior to joining ISF, Cynthia lectured in engineering at the Universities of Sydney and Queensland. Her work has challenged technical, end-of pipe, context-independent solutions to sustainability problems. Her research consulting experience spans people-centred (cultural change and learning for sustainability) and techno-centred approaches (life cycle analysis, water cycle management in industrial and urban settings, and a broad suite of water treatment technologies), with implementation strategies incorporating critical thinking, context evaluation, and sustainability criteria development, application, and evaluation. Whilst an academic, Cynthia consulted widely to industry and government, won prestigious Australian Research Council funding for her wetlands work, and was President of the Australasian Association for Engineering Education. Since joining ISF, Cynthia has led projects in sustainable urban form and buildings, learning and education for sustainability, sustainable energy provision, and sustainable water service provision.



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SPEAKERS

Peter Versegi - Assistant Director General, Office of Development Effectiveness, AusAID. The Office monitors the quality and evaluates the impact of the Australian government aid program and reports on the effectiveness of Australian aid and how it could be improved. Peter’s previous roles in AusAID have included heading the secretariat that oversaw development of the previous government’s aid White Paper and director of PNG Governance.





Minar Pimple - Deputy Director and Head of Asia Regional Office, UN Millennium Campaign. Minar began his professional life as coordinator for the Para Professional Training Programme at the College of Social Work of Bombay University where he made a great contribution to the concept and methodology of training for transformation. From 1984, he devoted 25 years to establishing and developing “Youth for Unity and Voluntary Action” (YUVA), an organization that works towards human rights and sustainable development for urban and rural poor in India. He became Deputy Director of the United Nations Millennium Campaign in 2006, leading the Campaign to promote the Millennium Development Goals and governance accountability in the Asia Pacific region. He is also Chair of Oxfam India, a member of the Oxfam International Board and a member of Housing and Land Rights Network’s board.





Juliet Willetts - Research Director, Institute for Sustainable Futures @ UTS. Dr Willetts has extensive experience in participatory monitoring, evaluation and impact assessment approaches that combine quantitative and qualitative information. She has conducted independent reviews and evaluations for AusAID and non-government organisations and is currently managing research on improving organisational M&E systems and practice for a private sector contracting organisation. She supports a fluid, flexible approach to aid effectiveness that provides room for different understandings of effectiveness among donors, implementers and aid recipients.





Paul Ronalds - Deputy CEO and Director of Strategic Projects, World Vision Australia. Paul joined WVA as Director of Policy and Programs in 2004. He has a background in law, business and economics. He co-founded wishlist.com.au, one of Australia’s most successful e-commerce companies, and held the role of Chief Operating Officer of Urban Seed, a small, non-profit outreach service assisting marginalised people in inner Melbourne. Paul has served on the Australian Council for International Development’s Code of Conduct Committee and recently completed a masters thesis on the organisational change imperative for international NGOs in a rapidly evolving global political context.