This blog interview series is an initiative of the Emerging Evaluators Thematic Working Group (TWG) of the European Evaluation Society (EES). It is published in partnership with EvalYouth Europe and it reflects EES ongoing commitment to spotlight diverse voices and experiences within the evaluation community.

The series was developed and is curated by me, Cristina Repede, as a personal initiative shaped by the idea that evaluation is a field where we are constantly learning, especially through the knowledge and experiences shared by others. The interview series is complemented by a set of personal reflections I publish separately, which explore themes of learning, identity, and growth in evaluation.

It grew out of my deep appreciation for seasoned evaluators with decades of experience, thoughtful judgment, and a quiet generosity that shapes the field in subtle but lasting ways. Their lessons, honed through years of practice, often remain undocumented simply because they aren’t shared in blogs, webinars, or social media. Yet their insights are profoundly valuable, not just for newcomers, but for all of us seeking to understand the depth, ethics, and craft of evaluation.

Evaluation is still a relatively young profession. What makes it especially fascinating is that few people start their careers as evaluators. Their journeys often begin elsewhere, in different professional fields, and evolve through curiosity, reflection, and the courage to step off the beaten path. By looking at these professional stories, we gain more than just career tips, we get a glimpse into the mindset and values that shape the evaluation community.

The series will feature a wide range of profiles: independent evaluators, those working in large international organizations, consultants in both boutique and global firms, in-house evaluators embedded within nonprofits or government agencies, academics who bridge research and practice, and evaluators who have built their own consultancies or businesses. It will also highlight specialists working in sectors such as health, education, environment, philanthropy, technology etc. By showcasing this diversity, the series aims to reveal the many paths into evaluation, and the rich, evolving landscape of the profession itself.

I’m deeply grateful to EES Emerging Evaluator TWG- EvalYouth Europe joint leaders Lea Corsetti and Cristina Cribillers as well as to Hayat Askar, for their support in making this series possible and for publishing this blog. I also sincerely appreciate those who have taken time out of their busy schedules to participate in this project. Their generosity, humility, and openness are qualities I’ve come to see as a common thread in the evaluation community, despite the diversity of backgrounds, sectors, or methodologies. Through these conversations, I hope we can all learn more, not only about evaluation, but about the people who shape it.

Cristina Repede is a consultant specializing in evaluation and public policy, with over a decade of experience in policy making, policy implementation, and evaluation. She has worked within the European Commission, contributing to the development and assessment of public programs across rural development and EU pre-accession assistance.
Her portfolio includes evaluations and technical assistance in sectors such as education, early childhood development, health and nutrition, agriculture, and entrepreneurship development. She has delivered assignments for UNICEF, the World Food Program, Education Cannot Wait, the Mastercard Foundation, and various national authorities and civil society organizations, across Europe, Africa, the Western Balkans, and the Caribbean.
Cristina has contributed to evaluation tools and guidance, including handbooks for the European Commission and research under Horizon 2020. She holds master’s degrees in Monitoring and Evaluation and in Anthropology. Her cross-cultural perspective is shaped by her background in post-communist Romania and her current base in Brussels and rural Germany.