Penny is a research, evaluation and learning specialist with a flair for facilitation – she designs engaging processes that strengthen clients’ capacity for continuing improvement.

Penny has worked on both the commissioning and delivery sides of research and evaluation, and understands the competing demands that clients face. She also has considerable experience in advisory, strategic and research work in social and environmental fields. This combined theoretical depth and practical experience means she can design projects that meet your budget and timeframe without compromising quality.

Penny joined MartinJenkins in 2013, after a decade of social-policy related research and evaluation in a range of sectors, including the charity sector and local government in the UK, central government in New Zealand, and academia both here and in the UK. The focus of this work included international development, research communication, older age and pensions, children and families, health and disability, and welfare.

Penny has a strong personal interest in learning cultures – she actively participates in several evaluation- and communication-related communities of practice, and she is a member of ANZEA and the Australasian Evaluation Society.

Penny is particularly interested in working in the space between funders and funding recipients to broker mutually beneficial and meaningful partnerships that deliver measurable social and environmental outcomes for New Zealand.

Examples of Penny’s work include:

• engaging and effective workshops to achieve your goals – such as a shared ownership of strategy (St Mary’s College), new ideas generation (Treasury), fast development of concrete proposals (DIA)

• evaluations of government policies and programmes using both qualitative and quantitative methodologies – such as a review of Auckland Council’s demographic advisory panel model

• designing frameworks and tools for embedding learning processes – such as an Action Research Hub to inform Auckland Council’s Wai Ora Wai Māori programme.