Equity in Evaluation

Sharmalene Mendis-Millard (she/her) is the Senior Manager of Research Partnerships and Evaluation at University of Waterloo’s Partners for Action, an initiative of the Faculty of Environment that promotes community-engaged flood resiliency as a pathway for climate action and adaptation with a climate justice lens. She also serves as a Community Engagement Specialist for We All Count founded by Heather Krause, which provides frameworks and tools to advance equity in data processes and products.  A mixed-methods geographer by training, Sharmalene has worked for several interdisciplinary research centres focused on advancing community well-being and social justice through community partnerships, program evaluations, and learning opportunities, and was the lead instructor for the Wilfrid Laurier University Program Evaluation Certificate for three years. She is passionate about the not-for-profit sector, supporting it over the years as a volunteer, Board member, and employee. Working closely with Ontario Trillium Foundation, Mass Culture and Waterloo Region not for profits, she developed an applied research agenda on equitable approaches to evaluation, and continues to apply an equity lens in her work. Her service includes being engaged with the Cultural Research Network as a facilitator for the 2021 Equity in Evaluation Practice in Cultural Organizations and a current Steering Committee member.