Who We Are
We are a team of passionate First Nations change-makers amplifying the voice of First Nations peoples in impact measurement, evaluation and learning.
Kowa Collaboration was established to elevate First Nations excellence and practices in impact measurement, evaluation and learning. We are a First Nations lead and staffed “profit-for-purpose” enterprise. We have an extended professional and community network of First Nations partners and non-Indigenous allies with in-depth experience working with and for Australian Indigenous communities. Through our professional services, advocacy, research, and technology development, we are sharing with our clients, partners and the broader community our many years of collective wisdom and experience on the cutting-edge of evaluation for Australian First Nations communities.
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Dr Skye Trudgett, PhD
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Our founder
Skye Trudget is a strong and outspoken Gamilaroi woman and the proud mother of two boys. In 2022, she was awarded her PhD from the University of Sydney for her thesis on the co-design and implementation of monitoring, evaluation, and learning into NGO-delivered services for high-risk young people. Skye is the creator of the OCCAAARS framework, an accessible and flexible high-level set of principles for Indigenous Data Sovereignty that can be adapted and implemented by First Nations communities and organisations. Through her research, participation in Maiam nayri Wingara Indigenous Data Sovereignty collective, and her leadership of Kowa, she has become a champion of Indigenous Data Governance and Sovereignty and is an active contributor to the national dialogue on Indigenous data rights and responsibilities.
The Kowa Collaboration team is a group of strong, bright, and passionate First Nations professionals that are helping communities improve the outcomes they care about through effective impact measurement and evaluation.
Levi McKenzie-Kirkbright
Software & Innovation Lead
Levi is a graduate software engineer with modern software development experience at large corporations and small startups. graduated in November 2022 with a Master of Engineering (Software) from the University of Melbourne, with elective specialising in distributed computing. He recently completed his graduate engineering position at a major energy company. Levi is focused on building both his technical and leadership capabilities and aspires to lead effective software development teams. He is building his expertise in technology for civil society. In 2022, whilst completing his graduate studies, he worked part-time as a developer at SmartyGrants, Australia’s largest grants platform. Also in 2022, he built the digital data capture and analysis system for First Nations Bedtime Stories, an educational initiative delivered by Common Ground to engage children with First Nations cultures across Australia. Internally, he is building a proof-of-concept for an evaluation and measurement application for First Nations organisations and communities.
Skye Trudgett
Chief Executive Officer
Skye has experience in developmental evaluation with First Nations communities, organisations and collectives. She also has experience in facilitating the co-creation of programs and data capture systems for First Nations young people. Skye has a passion for Indigenous Data Sovereignty & Governance and grounds these principles within her work. Having completed her PhD in data sovereignty principles within research and evaluation practice, Skye has a wealth of experience in working alongside Community to consider protection of knowledge that informs locally led decision making. Prior to working in evaluation, Skye coordinated clinical trials in oncology, and decided to make the move from clinical research into evaluation after working within a grassroots collective impact initiative for a number of years. Skye brings a unique approach to evaluation which considers self-determination, sustainable governance and truth-telling as the foundations for informing change, defining progress and influencing decision makers. Skye is the CEO at Kowa, a member of Maiam nayri Wingara, a board member of RUOK First Nations, First Nations Futures and Ngimilko Kunta.
Darren Clinch
Data Analysis & Visualisation Lead
Darren is a Badimia man from Yamatji in the mid-west of Western Australia. Darren's background is in health and holds a Master of Public Health degree along with more than nine years with the Department of Health and Human Services. The last 2.5 of those years working in System Intelligence and Analytics, providing Geospatial Support and Business Intelligence Development. Darren specialises in Data Visualisation and demystifying data for First Nations community organisations and people. Darren has presented extensively on the topic of Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Governance and is a huge advocate for growing the fledgling Blackfulla data and tech community.
Danielle Blanch
Administration Manager
Danielle is a proud Wiradjuri woman, born and raised on country in Central West NSW. As a First Nations consultant, Danielle brings her extensive knowledge in administration, legal justice and retail banking to Kowa. Having spent 10 years working in the criminal justice sector as a Paralegal, Field officer and office manager Danielle recently started her own admin consulting business, building administrative procedures from the ground up for law firms and the like.
Meet the team
Tara Beattie
Early Years & Education Lead
Tara is a passionate and caring mother of two who has held many roles in the Early Years Sector for over 16 years. Tara has extensive experience working with children, families, early childhood professionals, community members, Government agencies and allied health professionals. Tara’s experience, education, and training as an Early Years Consultant, Service Director, Early Intervention Coordinator, and Educational Leader have seen her gain a comprehensive understanding of the holistic development of children and the pivotal role of family and community. These diverse roles have developed and refined Tara’s skills in designing and implementing quality education curricula, developing in-depth documentation for government agencies, assisting data evaluators in developing and implementing practical frameworks, and a sound understanding of child protection. The Anti-Bias Approach to Early Childhood, the Early Years Learning Framework, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child all underpin Tara’s philosophy and practice.
Hayley Ferguson
Health & Wellbeing Lead
Haley is a proud Wiradjuri woman who resides in Central West NSW. Haley's dedication to improving Aboriginal health outcomes for communities across Western NSW has seen her providing Oral Health care services to children, young people and adults for over a decade. In addition and as part of the NSW Health response to COVID-19, Haley's logistical expertise has seen her coordinate and monitor food security and pharmaceutical distribution processes to Aboriginal communities located in Western NSW. Haley is passionate about Governance and self-determination in First Nations-led organisations and communities. Haley is an integral part of the recently formed Blak think tank; A group of passionate First nations change makers working toward Indigenous data sovereignty.
Dream
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Lead
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Amplify
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Dream 〰️〰️〰️ Lead 〰️〰️〰️ Amplify 〰️〰️〰️