In November 2018, Mowat NFP and the Community Safety Knowledge Alliance hosted a two-day event in Regina, Saskatchewan that brought together international leaders and innovators in evidence-informed policymaking to share emerging trends, discuss lessons learned, and provide fresh insight into the challenges facing policymakers, practitioners, researchers and academics in their quest to determine “what works.”

The Innovation in Evidence Conference identified tangible and practical examples of evidence institutions, such as the What Works Centres, that can help inform the development of new forms of evidence institutions in a Canadian context. The approach leveraged local expertise, built on past initiatives, and brought together a diverse range of leaders, funders, and investors from across Canada.

A range of topics were covered at the Conference:

  • Best practices in generating, translating, and adopting evidence;
  • Exploring what meaningful engagement with policymakers and practitioners looks like in practice;
  • The role of data and data sharing in evidence-informed decision-making;
  • Opportunities to support non-profits in their path to outcomes;
  • Embedding evidence institutions in outcomes funding arrangements such as social impact bonds; and
  • Profiling innovation and experimentation efforts in Canada.

Partners

Photos

Details

November 15-16, 2018

University of Regina
College Avenue Campus
2155 College Ave.
Regina, SK

Agenda

Speaker bios, sessions, and event details

Speaker Presentations

November 15th

8:20am

Keynote: Framing the Discussion – The Burning Platform

James Hughes

9:20am

Keynote: The Importance of Knowing What Works (and What Doesn’t)

Dr. David Halpern

10:30-12:00pm

Break Out Sessions

1] Plugging the Gap: Building the Supply of Evidence

Hanna Azemati

Dr. Jen Gold

Stephanie Lee

James Turner

2] Mobilizing and Applying Evidence: Making Evidence Accessible, Understandable and Useful

Dr. Jonathan Breckon

Nerys Thomas

Sasha Tregebov

3] Innovation and Experimentation in Canada

Ursula Gobel -EN | Ursula Gobel -FR

Jeremiah Hurley

Samantha Tattersall

4] Data in Practice: Examining Data Systems at Work

Robyn Blackadar

Yvan Clermont

Jonathan Dewar

Tris Lumley

1:00-2:30pm

Break Out Sessions

1] Evidence and Outcomes Funding

Colleen Ebbitt

Hanna Azetimi

Adam Jagelewski

2] Using Evidence in Real Life: What Does Meaningful Engagement Look Like In Practice?

Dr. Jen Gold

Stephanie Lee

Diane Roussin

Sarah Schulman

3] Delivering What Works: Transitioning to a What Works Centre Approach

Dr. Jonathan Breckon

Nerys Thomas

James Turner

4] Supporting the Path to Outcomes: Enabling Non-Profits as a Key Service Delivery Partner to Government

Ron Anderson

Lynn Barr-Telford

Dr. Chad Nilson

2:45-4:15pm

Break Out Sessions

1] Evidence in Action: Fostering Integrated Social Practice in Canada

Sara Austin, Dr. Daniel Garfinkel, Carrie Sanders

2] Building Effective Funding Models

No presentations available

3] Data in Practice

See 10:30am session above for presentation links

4] Mobilizing and Applying Evidence: Making Evidence Accessible, Understandable and Useful

James Turner

Nerys Thomas

See 10:30am session above for presentation links

Sasha Tregebov

See 10:30am session above for presentation links

4:30-5:15pm

Keynote: Making it Happen: Delivering Integrated Social Practice in Canada

Sheldon Kennedy

November 16th

8:35am

Keynote: Data is the Fuel of Change

Mark MacLeod

Evan White