The UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures (ISF) and the Research for Development Impact (RDI) Network are proud to present the RDI Network Exchange. The Exchange builds on the foundation of previous RDI Conferences, moving beyond the usual conference format to encourage inclusion, connection and interaction.
UTS hosts Research for Development Impact Network conference
On 10 and 11 July 2025, international development professionals will gather on campus and online to connect and consider how to ‘Drive better development through evidence and collaboration’.
The organising committee – led by ISF Research Director Dr Keren Winterford and Dr Elisabeth Jackson from La Trobe University – includes representatives from the RDI Network, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, universities and NGOs representing development organisations in Australia and across Asia and the Pacific - have curated a dynamic program featuring some 133 presenters.
Sessions range from plenary panels to showcases and workshops, and there will be plenty of opportunities to engage and connect with other attendees.
We want the Exchange to be an opportunity for everyone to build their networks, to build their support crews, who we can all draw on to motivate, inspire and support our development work.
The Exchange organisers have taken particular care to create a program that includes researchers working at all stages in their careers, as evidenced by the plenary panels which promise to meld both experienced and fresh perspectives on topics such as Decolonising Development Research and Practice, Transforming Development Partnerships, and The Changing Development Landscape.
“Our vision has been to create a welcoming space for everyone working in the sector, whether you are early career or established – with a priority to create connections,” says Dr Keren Winterford.
“It’s not just about the exchange of ideas, practices, but also who you meet. We want the Exchange to be an opportunity for everyone to build their networks, to build their support crews, who we can all draw on to motivate, inspire and support our development work.”
With an emphasis on future-focused thinking, new perspectives and diverse voices, the Exchange will consider questions prompted by the conference theme of 'Drivingbetter development through evidence and collaboration' including:
- How can evidence and collaboration make a difference for development?
- How do we respond to development challenges, now and into the future?
- What new approaches can contribute?
- How can research and evidence be better used to help disrupt and transform the development landscape?
Dr Elisabeth Jackson says, “We deliberately kept the theme open – we wanted to let development researchers and practitioners tell us what was of interest to them, and what exciting things they were working on. And they really delivered! We had lots of fun drawing together the themes and topics across the program and I think the program really speaks to the diversity across the development sector.”
She goes on to say that the abstracts submitted for the Exchange “really leaned into the research and evidence angle – there are a couple of really interesting threads through the program on issues such as how to do development research and evaluation differently and in ways that genuinely engage local researchers and prioritise local worldviews and ways of doing things.”
There is so much to learn from what each of us are doing in our individual practices. This Exchange offers opportunities to connect these together to build momentum and realise transformative futures.
For Dr Keren Winterford, the Exchange is a valuable opportunity for development researchers, policy-makers and practitioners to strengthen relationships. Winterford’s work within ISF’s international development research program is marked by a deep commitment to and experience of working in partnership – not just with ISF’s clients and research partners, but with the communities and organisations her research touches.
She says, “I’m most excited for the exchange of ideas, practices, innovations that are driving change in the sector. There is so much to learn from what each of us are doing in our individual practices. This Exchange offers opportunities to connect these together to build momentum and realise transformative futures."
Event details
When: 10 – 11 July 2025
Where: Aerial Function Centre, UTS
To see the RDI Network Exchange conference speakers and full program, and to register, visit the conference website at https://www.rdinetworkexchange25.org/