Our 2024 Annual Report
As we settle into the new year, we’re taking a moment to reflect on 2024. It was a year of change politically, economically, and socially, but through it all, we remained busy working alongside organisations dedicated to improving the wellbeing, liveability, and resilience of Aotearoa.
Below is a snapshot of some key metrics:
Our growing team
This year, we welcomed two new team members beyond Tāmaki Makaurau: Senior Consultant Alicia Crocket, a long-time collaborator now working within the Dovetail whānau and based in Kirikiriroa; and Consultant Leal Rodriguez, joining us from Pōneke. Their expertise and fresh perspectives helped us navigate what turned out to be our busiest year yet, delivering 42 projects. More than half of these were evaluations, reaffirming the role of evaluation as the heart of our mahi.
As in previous reports, the health sector continues to be our primary focus and we also worked across the community sector, local government, and academia. Recovery from the extreme weather events of 2023 remained a key area of work, particularly in Tāmaki Makaurau, where we’ve been supporting Auckland Council’s ongoing resilience and recovery efforts.
Sharing knowledge
2024 was also a year of learning and sharing. We presented at seven conferences in Aotearoa, Australia and the United States. Whether sharing our evaluative practices or discussing sector-specific insights, it was a privilege to contribute to a range of important conversations.
Beyond conferences, we also delivered four guest lectures and co-authored a peer-reviewed journal article with colleagues from Massey and Auckland universities, reinforcing our commitment to knowledge-sharing.
Strengthening partnerships
We also deepened our collaborations in exciting ways. We initiated a partnership with celebrated arts leader Cat Ruka to extend our contribution to the arts, culture and heritage sectors.
Our relationship with ThinkPlace grew as we joined forces in integrating our collective co-design and research expertise across a range of projects, and by the end of the year we were sharing office space! We also continued to collaborate with Julian King, solidifying Dovetail as the leading provider of the Value for Investment approach in Aotearoa. Together, we co-led conference presentations on this methodology.
As always, our wider network of collaborators brought invaluable expertise to our work. We’re grateful to all our collaborators, but especially Kellie Spee, Laurie Porima and Kataraina Davis for their kaupapa Māori and community development insights, Michelle Moss and Thomaz Chianca for their evaluation and stakeholder engagement skills, and Aaron Schiff for his expertise in data science and economics. Their contributions have been instrumental in delivering meaningful impact for our clients.
Making a difference
This year marked one year since becoming a certified B Corporation, an achievement we’re incredibly proud of. With a score of 111, we sit well above the average for our country, sector, and business size, and we remain committed to continuously improving our social and environmental impact.
Looking ahead to 2025
As we look to the rest of 2025, we’re excited to focus on capacity building in monitoring and evaluation, embedding it into our projects so that clients not only gain valuable insights, but also walk away with the tools and skills to sustain impact in the long run. We’re also looking at new ways to integrate this into our pro bono support so watch this space!
To our partners, clients, and collaborators—thank you for another meaningful and rewarding year. We’re looking forward to continuing this journey with you in 2025.
Nga mihi nui ki a koutou.