The CGLG is honored to host various speakers throughout the semester. Varying from insights to discussions about the challenges in practice, we are constantly striving to provide the St Andrews community with opportunities to learn from fellow academics and practitioners.
Practitioner Talks 2025/26
“Bridging research and practice – insights from a career in Developmental Evaluation and Practicioner focused research”
with Lara Olson
Friday, 26th of September 2025
Bridging research and practice: Insights from a career in developmental evaluation and practitioner
Lara Olson is an Independent Peacebuilding Researcher, Consultant & Evaluator. In this interactive event, she provided insights on how research skills can be used for policy impact in peacebuilding, development aid and beyond, and then conducted a Q&A session with those attending. Lara has practical aid experience, held leading roles in practitioner-focused learning projects, and has expertise in developmental evaluation, and university-based teaching and research on conflict and peace. She holds degrees from the University of British Columbia, LSE and Oxford University, and has worked extensively in the South Caucasus and post-Soviet states, and on the Balkans (Kosovo), Afghanistan, and Liberia. Her goal is to support innovative approaches and more effective local-international partnerships to prevent and end deadly conflict and build sustainable peace.
See below the Interview with Dr Lara Olson