About Us
Our Mission
Our Mission is to deliver robust ethical oversight and advice for evaluators, social researchers and market researchers.
We do this through having a committee and leadership that understands the work you do and knows how to do it ethically and responsibly.
Our Story
Iris Ethics grew out of discussions across the evaluation, social research and market research communities. What is ethical for the kinds of work we do is different to clinical trials and medical research. Our communities needed a new approach to ethical review, one guided by experience and connection.
Our Values
Independence
A part of and apart from the sector
Iris Ethics was founded by sector leaders, and our committees include representatives from the communities we serve. But we operate as an independent organisation to ensure that our reviews can be trusted by everyone.
Inclusion
Lived and living experience representation
Good quality evaluation and research starts with lived and living experience perspectives. We work to make sure that our committees represent the communities you are working with.
Intelligence
Responding to emerging trends and technologies
Because our committees include members from the communities we serve, we are well placed to understand the trends in our sector and advise on how they impact ethical practice.
Innovation
A fully remote and digital workforce
High quality ethical review requires high quality systems. We've developed a secure digital platform that allows us to operate our committee virtually and streamline key processes. This helps us to review your application faster and to have committee members from all over Australia.
Investment
Building the capacity of the sector
Being able to deliver high quality reviews is not enough. We're developing resources and advice to help evaluators and researchers to build in ethical processes from the start.
Integrity
Transparency and rigour in our work
We are clear and consistent in our decision-making. This is vital not only to assure your research, but to ensure that we are your trusted partner.
Meet our executive
Gerard Atkinson
Managing Director
Gerard started his international career in market research and evaluation in 2001, learning first hand the art and science of delivering high quality insights as a face-to-face interviewer. He took on the role of leading Iris Ethics after executive roles including at ARTD Consultants and Australian Government agencies.
His contributions to the sector have included the development of accessible consultation approaches for hard-to-reach communities, the application of rubric-based approaches for program evaluation, and the ethical assessment of artificial intelligence approaches to quantitative and qualitative research.
Gerard is a current Qualified Professional Researcher of The Research Society, a member of the Australian Evaluation Society, and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He is also a board member of the Social Impact Measurement Network Australia (SIMNA), and a member of the Australasian Autism Research Council.