Australian National University, Canberra, ACT
Meet us at AAC 2026
We’re excited to be attending AAC 2026.
The conference brings together researchers and practitioners from across Australia, the Pacific, Asia, and beyond who are working in aid and international development to share insights and promote collaboration.
Members of our team are participating in several panels. They will share insights on civil society’s work to address gender-based violence, data and AI, and the politics of subnational engagement. Learn more about the presentations below.
As conference sponsors, you’ll find us in the exhibitors’ space. So come and meet us at AAC 2026!
Panel: The realpolitik of engaging with subnational governments
Development partners recognise the crucial role of subnational governments in advancing inclusive development and improving service delivery. Subnational governments are closer to the community and frontline service providers.
This panel will be an exchange of reflections and learning on the realpolitik of engaging with subnational governments. The speakers will share their insights on politically informed approaches to subnational engagement, highlighting key lessons learned and what works where and why.
13:30 - 15:00, Thursday, 3 December
Meet the Presenters
Anna Winoto (Panel chair) - Indonesia Country Representative and Strategic Adviser, Abt global
Johann Rebert - Sri Lanka Country Representative, The Asia Foundation
Chhay Ros - Decentralisation Lead, Australia-Cambodia Cooperation for Equitable Sustainable Services (ACCESS 2), Abt Global
Abilio de Araujo - Deputy Team Leader, PARTISIPA (Partnership to Strengthen Village Development and Municipal Administration), Timor-Leste
Panel: Civil society at the frontline: GBV response, prevention and care in PNG, Sri Lanka and Timor-Leste
Civil society organisations play a central role in responding to and preventing gender-based violence (GBV) across diverse contexts, particularly in settings where formal systems remain under-resourced or inaccessible.
In Papua New Guinea (PNG), Sri Lanka, and Timor Leste, local civil society actors are at the forefront of delivering crisis response services, strengthening prevention efforts, and advancing the quality of care for survivors. This panel will explore how civil society leadership shapes more responsive, contextually grounded GBV programming across these three country contexts, and what this means for scaling effective approaches.
10:30 – 12:00, Friday, 4 December
Meet the Presenters
Roselyn Nopa (Panel Chair) - Senior Program Manager – GBV Prevention and Response, PNG Women Lead, Abt Global
Daisy Plana – CEO, Femili PNG
Nadarajah Sukirtharaj – CEO, Jaffna Social Action Center, Sri Lanka
Domingas Amaral - Executive Director, Forum Komunikasaun ba Feto Timor-Leste (FOKUPERS)
Panel: AI in 3D: data, development and democracy
Didar Ali will join the panel to explore the data journey in the age of AI. He will examine how evaluators can navigate increasingly data-rich and AI-enabled environments while maintaining ethical and transparent practice. Rather than focusing on AI as a technical solution, learn how AI can support different stages of the data journey
13:00 – 14:30, Friday, 4 December
Meet the Presenter
Didar Ali - Technical Adviser - Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning, Abt Global
Learn about our work
Tackling Gender Inequality in Papua New Guinea
The Papua New Guinea Women Lead (PNGWL) program seeks to address the country’s entrenched gender inequality by increasing women’s voices in leadership and decision-making, promoting women’s economic empowerment, and improving prevention and responses to gender-based violence.
Improving Disability and GBV Survivor Services in Cambodia
Advancing equitable disability and gender-based violence (GBV) services across Cambodia through policy reforms and inclusive sub-national service delivery.
Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning
Gender Equality, Disability Equity and Social Inclusion
Spotlight On: Turning Reflection into Action Through Pause and Reflect Workshops in Cambodia
The ACCESS 2 program in Cambodia uses structured "Pause and Reflect" workshops to transform monitoring and evaluation evidence into practical program improvements.
Governance and Civic Engagement
