Our 2023 annual report

By Georgia Parslow and Adrian Field

As we face a new year, it’s important to acknowledge the year that has been. From atmospheric rivers to governmental changes, 2023 was yet another year of riding with the storms of change in Aotearoa.

At home here at Dovetail, we enjoyed a buoyant year of mahi – expanding to a core team of six, offering fresh perspectives, expertise, competencies, and connections. We saw our profile of work expand in exciting directions, with new and returning clients. Evaluation continues to be the mainstay of our work, particularly in the health sector, and we also explored a diverse range of other areas.

In February we welcomed two new members to our team who spent their first week working from their home offices in the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle. Subsequent months involved several emergency management, recovery, and resilience projects in our portfolio of work; acknowledging the strain such events have on our communities, and the work needed to better prepare for such events in future.

We supported our communities in different ways, giving back the equivalent of 2.8% of our revenue to our pro bono partners, including a post-cyclone community survey that was undertaken on behalf of the Resilient Karekare Network.

And we became a B Corp! This was the achievement of an almost three-year pursuit and a tangible commitment to our social and environmental goals. In the lead up to our re-verification in three years’ time, we hope to demonstrate progress toward an even more equitable and sustainable footprint.

In 2023 our team spent more time away from our desktop screens and working in the field, a welcome return to in-person engagements with clients and stakeholders alike. With a changing political landscape in Aotearoa, we look forward to another year of transformation, whanaungatanga and agile responses to the dynamic winds that impact our shores.

We shared our knowledge through conferences and learning sessions, including a keynote address to the dapaanz Cutting Edge conference in Kirikiriroa on developments and challenges facing the addiction workforce.

Now in our tenth year of operation, Dovetail is a very different company from the sole trader model that began its journey. With six staff and a collaborator network of more than 20, we are well-positioned to grow our impact and deliver on our purpose.

Our 2023 Annual Report is pictured below, or you can download a pdf here. Our grateful thanks to our clients and collaborator network who made 2023 a successful year for us all here at Dovetail.

Nga mihi nui ki a koutou.