PD Sessions @ Zoom: Connecting Research to Results: iPEN’s Impact Pathway Framework
Scientists and researchers often struggle to articulate how their work contributes to long-term impact. Seeing the 'line of sight' from early-stage research to eventual application is often difficult, and there is still little or no formal training in research impact provided during postgraduate and post-doctoral studies.
For over a decade, iPEN—a collaborative network across New Zealand's seven Crown Research Institutions—has developed shared tools, training, and resources to address these challenges. Over the past two years, they've created new resources specifically designed to demystify 'impact pathways', a concept frequently discussed but poorly understood across the research sector.
This session will share iPEN's framework for understanding impact pathways, explain how it was developed and validated in collaboration with colleagues across New Zealand's science system, and demonstrate how it's currently being implemented to help researchers better understand and strengthen their pathways to meaningful research impact.
DATE: Wednesday, 28 May 2025
TIME: 12PM - 1PM AEST (Check your timezone here.)
SPEAKER(S):
Mr Stewart Graham - Plant and Food Research
Stewart works in the Impact Evaluation Team at PFR. His job is to help Plant & Food Research embed monitoring and evaluation practices within their projects, to help evaluate and show the impact of the PFR mahi. "All our scientists want their mahi to make an impact, so I love getting to help them plan how it's going to happen and show the difference they are making." Before working at Plant & Food Research, Stewart gained his master's in psychology and worked at an evaluation consultancy, evaluating a wide range of programmes across the public sector.
Dr Kara Scally-Irvine - KSI Consulting on behalf of iPEN
Kara is an Impact and Evaluation Specialist who accidentally fell into evaluation after completing her PhD and has remained for 15 years. Her consulting spans many sectors, though she finds particular joy in supporting New Zealand's research and science ecosystem and in international development work. As a self-described "recovering scientist," Kara now derives the most satisfaction from building evaluative capability in others.
FACILITATED BY:
Dr Faith Welch - Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland
Faith is the Associate Director of Research Development and Impact at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland. With a PhD in Veterinary Parasitology, she has over thirteen years of research management experience in the UK and New Zealand. Faith's career includes roles at the BBSRC (UK) and as an impact lead at the University of Bristol. She now leads the Research Development and Impact team, covering research funding, researcher development, global partnerships, impact, and Vision Mātauranga. Faith also founded and has co-convened the ARMS Research Impact SIG for five years.
Zoom link: To be provided in confirmation email.
Webinar ID: To be provided in confirmation email.
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If you have any questions, please contact the ARMS Executive Office ARMSAdmin@researchmanagement.org.au or +61 8 8201 5592.
