B2: Mastering Facilitation Skills – The Secret Sauce of a Successful Evaluation!

Have you ever been impressed by a leader’s ability to masterfully navigate a delicate conversation? Or perhaps, you’ve witnessed a facilitator expertly bring together a group with diverging views and have everyone feel heard?

If you’ve ever wanted to improve these skills join this enlightening conversation featuring a cross-section of practitioners from public, private and the non-for-profit sectors who will share their recipe for the “secret sauce” that is mastering facilitation skills through the entire evaluation process – from planning, to conduct, to the final product. If you’ve ever wanted to be a facilitator that leaves your clients saying “Wow!” you won’t want to miss this session!

Presenters:

Cédric Ménard, Director, Evaluation, Infrastructure Canada
Cédric Ménard is a highly motivated professional evaluator who believes in results-based, innovative, collaborative, adaptable, diverse and ethical public service. He is intrigued by program evaluation theory and the use of data in decision-making processes.

Since 2021, Cedric has been working as Director of Evaluation at Infrastructure Canada. Prior joined Infrastructure Canada, worked as a Senior Results Policy and Functional Community Engagement Advisor within the Results Division at Treasury Board Secretariat of Canada. He has acquired over 15 years of experience in performance measurement, program evaluation, data analysis by having complete several evaluator and analyst roles for Health Canada, Canada School of Public Service and Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat.

Cédric’s educational background includes a Master’s degree in Program Evaluation and Public Administration from the École nationale de l’administration publique and an International bachelor program diploma from the Institut d’études politiques de Paris.

Steve Montague, President, Performance Management Network
Steve Montague is a partner of Performance Management Network Inc. He is a credentialed evaluator and has over 35 years of experience as a practitioner in performance measurement and program evaluation as a management consultant, an adjunct professor and as an evaluation manager in a major Canadian federal government department. He specializes in evaluation, results-based management, constructing program theory, and the inclusion of reach in ex ante and ex poste evaluation.

Erin Montague, Senior Manager, Research and Evaluation at United Way East Ontario
Erin Montague is a Senior Manager of research and evaluation at United Way East Ontario (UWEO). UWEO applies participatory evaluation practices and other collaborative methods to understand how to make their community measurably better through advocacy, convening work and investment. Prior to her current position, she was a social impact evaluator who specialized in the charity and public sector. Additionally, Erin worked in the UK at the Policy Institute of Kings College London as part of a research team investigating the return on investment of government funding in biomedical research in terms of net health outcomes. She also managed a student led health commission which employed a design thinking approach.

Erin holds an MSc in Public Service Policy and Management from Kings College London. Through her work she intends to support systematic change that makes a measurable difference for those who need it most.