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Dr. Fiona Mactaggart is a multi-disciplinary technical advisor with more than 10 years of experience in monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning (MERL); infectious disease control; and public health. As a co-lead of Abt's MERL portfolio, she draws on complexity theory and scientific methods to help clients test what works, discover why it works, and provide timely evidence-based recommendations to inform important decisions about policy and practice. Mactaggart contributes to business development, programme delivery, and thought leadership. She works in five key areas: monitoring (e.g., design of digital tools and visualisation platforms) research (e.g., cross-sectional survey design), evaluation methodologies (e.g., contribution analysis), learning (e.g., portfolio level evidence-informed strategic decision making), and cross-cutting MERL capabilities (e.g., adaptive management and GEDSI). Mactaggart has worked extensively in the Pacific and Southeast Asia.

Adam Schaefer has over 16 years’ experience developing and managing environmental epidemiology research and evaluation projects. He is an expert in the health impacts of environmental exposures and has worked on both national and international projects, focusing on infectious disease, toxicology, health surveillance, and One Health. Before coming to Abt, Schaefer was a researcher at Florida Atlantic University. He has published numerous epidemiological studies in peer-reviewed journals.

Kate Stillman is a technical leader with more than 25 years of experience in program design, systems thinking, evidence generation and use, monitoring, evaluation and learning, and project management. She has deep experience in global development with specialties in health systems strengthening, infectious and vector-borne diseases, maternal and child health, and sustainability. She drives Abt’s efforts to strengthen the generation, management, and use of high-quality data to inform decisions and improve program quality.

Kristin Heck, JD, MBA, has more than 10 years of experience managing and directing technical teams in the development of digital solutions. Ms. Heck designs and oversees the creation and implementation of technology solutions that align to agency and administration goals. In addition, she often works closely with program leadership to set key solution objectives, manage the development and product roadmap, analyze customer feedback, and prioritize feature development.

Dr. Nora Connor is a data scientist at Abt Global, where she uses generative AI, cloud-based solutions, and automated workflows to improve data-driven decision-making for federal clients. Her clients include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). As the business owner for Abt’s AI strategy, Connor leads the Data Science team developing MLOps, automated real-time data streaming, Infrastructure as Code, and responsible AI solutions. She works directly with vendors and market partners to identify use cases to bring the best AI technologies to the public sector.

Hanna Kovalova is a program manager with 15 years of experience managing humanitarian aid and development programs in Ukraine, with a recent focus on the eastern part of the country ravaged by the war with Russia. She has worked with international organizations, including the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and the United Nations, as well as social enterprises. Kovalova’s work with vulnerable populations has centered around gender equality, non-discrimination, conflict sensitivity, and social inclusion. She has extensive experience with monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning approaches; program management; and communication strategies in public health, mental health, and community stabilisation.

Benny Kil is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and a certified scrum master (CSM) with over 15 years of project and product management experience—working in business analysis and project delivery in the federal, state, and commercial areas with a focus on technology and digital processes. He has experience in leading multidisciplinary teams to deliver client requirements using agile methodologies (scrum and kanban). 

Debra Cammer Hines brings nearly three decades of executive experience to her role as chief business officer at Abt Global. She has had leadership roles at major consulting firms such as Ernst & Young and PwC and at IBM. She also has U.S. federal government experience from her stint at the Office of Management and Budget early in her career.  Debra has provided consulting services across the public sector – federal, state and local governments, healthcare organizations, and all levels of education (pre-k-12 and higher education). Her work has ranged from global technology services, finance, and housing to cybersecurity transformations, and mentoring minority leaders.

Tenly Snow is a senior digital solutions specialist with 15 years of expertise in digital transformation, supply chain management, and strategic solutioning. Her extensive collaborations span governmental, private sector, and non-profit organizations across the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and Europe. Through her work with USAID, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the World Bank, Snow has spearheaded innovations in software development and digital health, significantly enhancing health system resilience and pandemic preparedness on a global scale.

This article discusses the literature on evaluation capacity building and presents findings from a bibliometric analysis of ECB articles.