Lauren Rutherford
About Lauren Rutherford
Lauren Rutherford serves as the Acting Director of Evaluation at the First Nations Health Authority in Vancouver, British Columbia. With a background in evaluation and performance measurement, she has held various roles in public service and academia, contributing to evidence-based decision-making.
Work at First Nations Health Authority
Lauren Rutherford has been serving as the Acting Director of Evaluation at the First Nations Health Authority since 2022. In this role, she leads the development and implementation of the organization's evaluation and performance measurement framework. Previously, she worked as an Evaluation Manager from 2021 to 2022 and as a Senior Evaluation Analyst from 2020 to 2021. Her responsibilities include managing a team of evaluation staff and overseeing multi-stakeholder evaluation working groups involving federal, provincial, regional, and community partners.
Education and Expertise
Lauren Rutherford holds a Master's degree in Public and International Affairs from the University of Ottawa, which she completed from 2008 to 2010. She also studied at the University of Oxford in 2009, focusing on Contemporary Middle Eastern Politics. Additionally, she earned a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Communications Studies and English from York University between 2004 and 2007. Her educational background supports her expertise in evaluation and performance measurement within health and public sectors.
Background
Lauren Rutherford has a diverse professional background that includes various roles in evaluation and strategic relations. She began her career as an intern in Aboriginal Affairs at Foreign Affairs and International Trade in 2009. She then worked as a Strategic Relations Officer at Public Works and Government Services Canada for four months in 2009, followed by a brief position as an Analyst at Human Resources Development Canada in 2010. She has also held positions at The University of British Columbia and Ference & Company Consulting Ltd.
Achievements
Lauren Rutherford has contributed significantly to the promotion of evidence-based decision-making within the First Nations Health Authority. She communicates evaluation findings to support executive decision-making and manages a team of evaluation staff, focusing on their selection, coaching, development, and performance management. Her leadership in developing the evaluation framework has been instrumental in enhancing the organization's evaluation capabilities.