Capability statement
Demonstration — contains sample data
ABN 53 613 360 348
admin@cobalt59.com.au
+61 408 028 269
Program and Policy Evaluation
Appropriateness, process and outcomes evaluation for government strategies, grounded in systems analysis. This statement summarises 8 relevant projects, the practitioners involved, and the firm's published methodological work.
The firm at a glance
- Legal entity
- Cobalt59 Pty Ltd
- ABN
- 53 613 360 348
- Structure
- Proprietary limited company
- Established
- 2016
- Team size
- 6 practitioners
- Location
- Earlwood NSW
Relevant experience
Green Living Centre
Strategy & business development: green innovation
The Green Living Centre was established in 2002 as ‘The Watershed’ and funded through the NSW Government’s Stormwater Trust Program. Its initial focus was on stormwater and local business environmental issues. Over the years this focus broadened to becoming a sustainability 'hub'.
Waste & circular economy · Public programs
Murray Darling Basin Authority
Basin Plan Evaluation Framework and Program Logic
Following the Basin Plan’s commencement, the Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) needed a coherent evaluation framework to assess whether the Plan was achieving its environmental, social and economic objectives under the Water Act 2007. The task was to translate the Plan’s Chapters, Schedule 12 “Matters for evaluation and reporting”, and statutory Key Evaluation Questions into a practical, Basin‑wide system of program logic, indicators, data and methods that could guide annual, five‑yearly and ten‑yearly evaluations.
Water · Environment
National Music Festival Western Sydney
Business case through to production company tender
A new music festival and conference was imagined for Western Sydney (WS).
Arts & culture
NSW Environmental Water Program
Evaluating the NSW EWMP
Cobalt59, with ARTD, were commissioned by The Department of Planning and Environment, Environment, Energy and Science to evaluate the NSW Government’s Environmental Water Management Program from 2014-2019.
Water · Environment
NSW Water for the Environment Program Evaluation
Systems evaluation environmental water management
The NSW Water for the Environment (WftE) Program manages environmental water across multiple river, wetland and floodplain systems to improve ecological condition, support regional livelihoods and uphold cultural values. After a decade of significant reform and two prior evaluations, the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water needed an independent evaluation of the 2019–2024 period that could credibly assess efficiency, equity and outcomes in a complex social–ecological system, and provide clear recommendations for the next phase.
Water · Environment
Parramasala
Strategic Business Case Development
Parramasala is an arts and cultural festival in Parramatta that aspires to be the first nationally significant arts and cultural festival based in Western Sydney.
Arts & culture
Sydney Water's WaterFix® Program
Evaluating a water conservation program
Cobalt59 evaluated the WaterFix Residential Program for Sydney Water and the NSW Climate Change Fund. The fund gave money to Sydney Water to dramatically boost the program during a serious downturn in water inflows into the Sydney Drinking Water Catchment.
Water
WaterNSW
Audits of Sydney Water Catchment
The independent catchment audit report is direct to the responsible minister. It is designed to protect the health of the Sydney catchment to ensure reliable, quality drinking water for five million people of Sydney and the Illawarrra, Blue Mountains, Southern Highlands, Goulburn and Shoalhaven regions. The audit seeks to understand land use, businesses, industries, community groups, and public authorities within the catchment – all of whose actions can affect water quality.
Water
Services applied
- Program and Policy Evaluation
- Stakeholder Engagement and Co-Design
- Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting (MER)
- Strategic Planning and Cost-Benefit Analysis
Practitioners
- Brian Keogh — Director | Evaluation & Strategy · MEval, BSc; 20+ years evaluation practice
- Dr Kara Scally-Irvine — Evaluation Specialist | Systems & Impact · PhD; 20+ years research, monitoring and evaluation
- Rod McInnes — Senior Economist · MEc; 25+ years water and resource economics
- Sue Donnelly — Senior Consultant | Arts Leadership, Governance & Social Policy · BSW; 30+ years arts leadership and social policy
- Beth Medway — Principal Consultant | Environment · MEnvPlan; 25+ years environmental assessment and planning
- Julieanne Campbell — Director | Strategy, Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement · MBA; 25+ years not-for-profit leadership
Insurances
| Cover | Insurer | Limit | Expiry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional indemnity | Sample Insurance Australia | $10,000,000 any one claim | 30 June 2027 |
| Public and products liability | Sample Insurance Australia | $20,000,000 any one occurrence | 30 June 2027 |
| Workers compensation | icare NSW | As per NSW statutory requirement | 30 June 2027 |
Certificates of currency available on request.
Memberships and panels
- Australian Evaluation Society — organisational member
- Australian Water Association — corporate member
- NSW Government Performance and Management Services Scheme (SCM0005) — panel supplier
Capacity
Able to mobilise a three-person evaluation team within four weeks, with surge capacity through established associate arrangements.
Referees
- Sample Referee One — Director, Evaluation, Sample Government Agency · Available on request
- Sample Referee Two — Manager, Water Planning, Sample Water Utility · Available on request
Selected publications
- Scally-Irvine, K., Elliott, J., Hawkins, A. and Keogh, B. (2025), AES Systems Special Interest Group, June 2025.
- Keogh, B. and Maloney, J. (2025), Australian Evaluation Society International Conference, Canberra, September 2025.
- Elliott, J., Hawkins, A., Keogh, B. and Scally-Irvine, K. (2024), AES Systems Special Interest Group, February 2024.
- Renger, R., Keogh, B. and Atkinson, L. (2024), online workshop, Australian Evaluation Society.