By Shelley Boswell, Impact Analyst Lead at Seer Data & Analytics
It was a privilege to be part of the recent SECNA Impact Measurement Workshop – a day filled with learning, collaboration, and inspiration. Hosted by the team at SECNA, the workshop brought together social entrepreneurs from across Sydney and the ACT, who are working to build or strengthen their impact measurement practice.
The event offered a unique opportunity for participants to connect not just with each other, but also with subject-matter experts who brought deep experience and practical insights to the room. I was fortunate to co-facilitate alongside an incredible line-up of experts including Adam Long, Maxine Morrison, Elaine Hendrick, and Jenna McDonald, with the whole day beautifully hosted by Maxx from SECNA.
The workshop kicked off with an introduction to impact measurement, including a helpful overview of key concepts and terminology. This set a solid foundation for the rest of the day, especially for those just beginning their measurement journey.
From there, participants moved into small group Q&A sessions with the experts, where they could ask questions tailored to their work. I teamed up with Adam Long to support groups exploring program logic frameworks – breaking down the core components and helping clarify the difference between outputs and outcomes. It was exciting to see the lightbulb moments as participants began to map their own program logic and articulate the change they are creating in their communities.
Later in the day, we transitioned into a working session where participants could put their learning into practice – developing practical next steps and sharing examples from their own organisations. This hands-on approach made space for meaningful exchange and peer learning.
One of the highlights for me was witnessing the generosity and openness of everyone in the room. It was wonderful to see organisations collaborating, asking questions, and creating a safe environment for a community of practice to grow. Social enterprises play such an important role in our communities, and it’s energising to see so many committed to not only doing good work, but also telling the story of their impact with clarity and confidence.
At Seer Data, we are passionate about supporting social enterprises, not-for-profits and community organisations to make sense of their data and demonstrate the value of their work. It was a pleasure to contribute to this event and I’m looking forward to seeing where the learning and momentum from this workshop leads.
