Associates
We work with a diverse network of trusted associates, whose work complements our core expertise. We draw on their content area expertise to ensure our evaluation and strategic advice is grounded in contemporary practice.
Wendy Hodge
Wendy is an experienced evaluator, with twenty years of practical experience in designing and implementing evaluations in health, education and across many other human service areas. Since joining ARTD in 1999, she has managed over 175 research and evaluation projects across health, education, crime prevention, disability, child protection and the environment. She is skilled in evaluation design and implementation and project management, particularly in successfully managing large-scale complex evaluations and reviews.
Wendy has extensive experience in designing and managing research and evaluation in the education sector, having managed or provided oversight for the majority of ARTD education consultancies as a Director between 2011 and 2021. Wendy has 18 years’ experience in evaluating pilot education programs. She is particularly knowledgeable about conducting education research in NSW Government schools, having managed about 15 research and evaluation projects in this context in the last decade.
Wendy also has a deep knowledge of, and experience with the health sector in NSW. She is a public health professional who worked in health promotion services and product testing positions before joining ARTD. She has expertise in research and instrument design, evaluation and theories of change, and plain English reporting. She has worked extensively in evaluating educational resources in health settings, over the past few years working closely with the Health Education and Training Institute (HETI).
Qualifications: Masters in Public Health (University of Sydney); Honours Degree in Science (University of NSW)
Klas Johansson
Klas has extensive experience in research and evaluation and specialist expertise in the design, testing and implementation of monitoring systems. He specialises in research-oriented data collection systems and is a leader in the field of online monitoring and reporting for grants programs. With his background in evaluation and extensive experience working with a range of stakeholders to collect and report performance and monitoring data, Klas is adept at balancing the theoretical, technical and practical requirements for data systems. Klas has designed and implemented monitoring systems for Commonwealth Government and NSW Government programs, including grants programs, in a range of policy sectors.
Klas was the recipient of the 2010 Best Evaluation Policy and System Award from the Australasian Evaluation Society for a monitoring and reporting system tracking the outcomes for children with a disability transitioning from school.
Klas has recently worked with the Commonwealth Department of Social Services (DSS) to develop the new Data Exchange Framework, which streamlines the Department’s services into seven broad programs with simpler reporting requirements. Klas Johansson and Michael Brooks from ARTD were instrumental in the development of the new approach, including the specifications for an IT system that supports the transfer of monitoring data and regular reports.
Qualifications: Bachelor of Economics (Social Science), University of Sydney (1993), Certificate in Business Administration (Marketing), Sannarp College (1982)
Dr Jane Ford
Dr Jane Ford has broad experience as an evaluator, both as an associate with ARTD since 2011, and previously with the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet, working on evaluation projects across education, health, industry development, community engagement, and programs for young people. She also has worked in policy, program development and evaluation for the Federal and NSW governments, including on industry and innovation, trade policy, communications and broadband policy.
As a consultant for more than 20 years, she has produced policy, co-design, research reports and evaluations for a range of private and public sector clients, including the Victorian Government (Family Violence Vision Co-design), NSW Public Service Commission, the NSW Ministry of Health, and the Adelaide City Council (Community Engagement), the Local Government Association (emergency management), Ministry of Finance in Japan (International Political Risk). More recently, she has worked on evaluations for the NSW Department of Education and SA Department for Education.
Originally a journalist and public relations (PR) consultant, Jane has been the Corporate Communications Manager for regional accommodation network, Discovery Parks, providing crisis management, PR, executive brand building and speech writing. She has worked in policy and advocacy roles for the Australian Dental Association (SA) and the Australian Medical Association (SA), with projects including a multi-agency policy for Child and Adolescent health and wellbeing. She also writes for the medicSA magazine.
Qualifications: Bachelor of Arts (Journalism) UniSA, Bachelor of Economics, University of Adelaide, First Class Honours (Politics) University of Adelaide, PhD (International trade policy), Faculty of Economics, Sydney University. Jane is a published author with Cambridge University Press, Oxford University Press, and international peer reviewed journals.
Lyndall Thomas
Lyndall Thomas has over 20 years of experience in communication in a range of areas including accessibility, writing and editing, website design and marketing.
Lyndall is an expert in engaging diverse audiences, including people with disability, adults with low literacy, First Nations peoples and people who speak English as an additional language.
In 2009, Lyndall established the Information Access Group to help organisations meet the diverse literacy needs of the community. As the Founder and Managing Director, she built
the business from one person in her loungeroom to a team of 20 people. During the 12 years that she was at the helm, she gained extensive experience in leadership, financial management, strategic development, human resources, marketing and communications. Her clients included royal commissions, government departments and disability and community organisations.
Lyndall is now working as a freelance writer, editor and content designer. She partners with ARTD to provide communications and editorial advice.
Qualifications: Behaviour Change Micro credential, Monash University (2022), Professional Certificate in Web Accessibility Compliance, University of SA (2012), Bridging the Gap – Communicating with Aboriginal Communities, Aboriginal Resource Development Service (2009), Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Literature, Deakin University, Melbourne (1994).