Meet our people – Natalie Janzen
Find out more about our staff, their roles, and what their day to day looks like!
What was your path into evaluation/ARTD?
My first career was in biological research. While I enjoyed the lab and was fortunate to work on some exciting and high-impact projects, I always knew my time in research was limited. In mid-2024, I was ready for a career change. I wasn’t entirely sure what that would look like, but I knew I wanted to keep working with data in a way that made an impact on people and communities. A friend mentioned that her employer, ARTD, was recruiting a Senior Consultant with quantitative data experience. I gave evaluation a try and have been fortunate to work at ARTD since January 2025.
Can you sum up your role as an Senior Consultant in one sentence?
I work with organisations, programs and project leads to collect and understand valuable data so they can make evidence-informed decisions.
What was the best opportunity/ your proudest work moment since starting at ARTD?
This is hard to pick. I would say being ‘in the room’ for complex projects from day one. I think this exposure has given me a comprehensive, albeit full-on at times, introduction to evaluation and consulting.
What is your favourite thing about working at ARTD?
The people – both my colleagues at ARTD and the clients I work with. I really appreciate being able to work through the challenges with people who care deeply and are invested in their work. A sense of genuine investment is something I noticed early on, and it makes a real difference to how the work feels day to day.
What does a ‘day in the life’ look like for you?
Perhaps some client meetings, perhaps an afternoon focused on designing data collection tools or data analysis and interpretation. If time allows some reading on evaluative theory or sector context for projects that I’m currently working on.
What’s something your clients may not know about you?
I first moved to Australia in 2017 to complete my PhD studies. I now live in Dharawal country in Wollongong with my partner and our 18-month-old daughter.
