Evidence in Action: Using Evaluation to Create Smarter Policies

Have you ever wondered how to make the strongest case for your policy? How to persuade critics of its benefits? Or what robust evaluation actually looks like in complex social policy scenarios?  

The Evaluation Task Force is thrilled to invite you to an exciting opportunity to hear lessons on embedding rigorous evidence in policy decision-making from The Hon Dr. Andrew Leigh MP, Australian Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities, Treasury and Employment.

In 2023, the Australian Government established a central evaluation function within the Department of the Treasury to provide leadership and support to improve evaluation capability across government and lead impact evaluations.

In conversation with Stian Westlake, Executive Chair of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), and hosted by Elizabeth Perelman, Director General for Public Sector Reform, Dr Leigh will discuss lessons learned, experiences, and success stories on how the Australian Government is using and embedding rigorous evaluation.

Prior to being elected in 2010, Andrew was a professor of economics at the Australian National University. He holds a PhD in Public Policy from Harvard, having graduated from the University of Sydney with first class honours in Arts and Law. Andrew is a past recipient of the Economic Society of Australia’s Young Economist Award and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Social Sciences.

Dr Leigh’s journey from professor to politician offers a unique perspective on evidence-based policymaking. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear him discuss his experience in embedding robust evaluation in policy decision-making and to answer your questions about randomised controlled trials and evaluation in the Australian Government.

This session is open to all civil servants.

If you’d like to attend this event online, please register via this link to book tickets.