Daniel Acquah is a Policy Analyst in the Reform of the Public Sector Division in the Directorate of Public Governance at OECD. His work aims to ensure better governance through evidence-informed policy making. Previously, he worked as an Evidence Analyst at the Early Intervention Foundation leading the work of assessing the strength of evidence of early intervention. Daniel also worked at the UK Cabinet Office focusing on policy evaluation and disseminating evidence on evidenced-based interventions to policy makers and practitioners. Before that, Daniel spent three years as a Research Associate at the Centre for Education Research and Practice at AQA Education where he published work on education policy as well as carrying out evaluations of assessment procedures. Previously, Daniel trained as a developmental psychologist, completing an MSc in Psychological Research Methods and a PhD in developmental psychology at the University of Nottingham.

Mastoera Sadan has fourteen years experience as a senior manager in the South African government. She has worked in the Presidency and is currently employed in the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation. Over the last ten years she has implemented an innovative programme that has advocated the use of research and other evidence in policy making and implementation. She has also the National Income Dynamics Study, South Africa's national panel study. She has a MSc from the London School of Economics.

David Gough is Professor of Evidence Informed Policy and Practice, and Director of its EPPI-Centre, University College London. Prior to this he was senior research fellow at the University of Glasgow and professor at Japan Women’s University. His early research focused on child welfare policy including roles in the international, British and Japanese societies for the prevention of child abuse and Co-Editor of Child Abuse Review. His interest in methods of research synthesis started in 1988 by developing coding guidelines to systematically describe and assess the child abuse intervention literature. His work on research synthesis has included the ESRC National Centre for Research Methods node on systematic reviews, a ministry of education centre for evidence informed education, and a methods unit and collaborating partner for the development of NICE guidance in health and social care. He also undertakes ‘research on research use’ including the European EIPPEE network, the Science of Using Science project, the experimental evaluation of the RISE project to encourage evidence use in schools, and a comparative study of the UK what works centres. He was Co-Managing Editor of the journal Evidence and Policy from 2009 to 2017.

Kelly Hand has worked in the area of family research for over 20 years and as Deputy Director (Research) at AIFS since February 2017. The Institute’s work seeks to increase understanding about the factors that help Australian families thrive, or that are barriers to their wellbeing. As Deputy Director, Kelly is responsible for the Institute’s research and knowledge translation program. Kelly’s research has focused on the impacts of policies and services systems on families —particularly those in vulnerable and disadvantaged communities. She has also taken the lead in developing the Institute’s What Works for Families Framework.