Rachel Bertram, PhD
Relational practice meets strategic impact
I’m a social impact & evaluation strategist who supports organisations to navigate complex social challenges through connection.
HOW CAN I HELP?
Consulting Services
I work with organisations and communities to provide practical, bespoke support. This can include speaking at events, shaping strategy, facilitating conversations with community stakeholders, or delivering social impact training for your team. Bringing a relationally responsive, systems-aware approach to complex social and organisational challenges, I support teams to clarify and stay aligned with their values, strengthen their impact, and build the capacity needed for meaningful change.
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE PREVENTION
The Bystander Ally Project
I co-lead the Bystander Ally Project, a strategic research and evaluation initiative focused on strengthening institutional responses to gender-based violence. In partnership with UTS Respect.Now.Always and the NSW/ACT Universities Prevention Connection, the project supports the development of a whole-of-institution, victim-survivor centred approach. We’re building an evidence base for effective post-incident bystander conduct and creating practical evaluation tools to support meaningful institutional change.
RESEARCH THAT LISTENS, CONNECTS & RESPONDS
My Research
I’m a community-engaged researcher and evaluation scholar exploring questions of relationality, institutional accountability, and social impact. I specialise in relational and participatory methodologies that centre lived experience and community wisdom. My current work examines human-centered policy and institutional bystander responses to gender-based violence. My PhD focused on reenchanted values in social impact evaluation. I’m interested in the intersection of relational leadership and evaluation as a meaning-making mechanism. If you’re interested in collaborating on research or want to know more about my work, get in touch!
TELLING STORIES THAT MATTER!
Doco: Measuring What Matters
‘Measuring What Matters: The Story of Rivergum Community Garden’ is a short documentary I worked on as executive producer and narrator. It explores the impact of Rivergum Community Garden and how communities can be empowered to define what success means for themselves. It was filmed by the incredible Kristy Clinton, produced by Southern Pictures and delivered in partnership with UTS and the NSW Aboriginal Land Council. This warm hug of a film weaves together themes such as intergenerational relationships, learning from First Nations knowledge, and combating loneliness with connection, ultimately demonstrating how a simple green space can serve the community in many ways.
“You have put many hours and hard work into this project, but also a lot heart and soul. We have gained much from you!”
— Research Participant
