About Us

“The owl can see that which others cannot; which is the essence of true wisdom”

- ancient lore

Owl RE supports organisations in evaluation, research, strategy and training. We have completed over 100 projects spanning 50 countries since 2008. We have worked with over 60 clients including international organisations, NGOs and UN agencies.

Based in Geneva, Switzerland with a representative office in Kenya, the multi-lingual global team is specialised in communications, advocacy and emergency response across the humanitarian and development fields. Experience in other sectors includes media, science, youth, volunteerism, health, environment, intellectual property, civil society, citizenship, democracy and governance, gender, labour relations and sports management.

Owl RE has a flexible and cost-effective approach to projects – matching the Owl RE network’s expertise with client needs. Evaluation know-how and project results are shared as much as possible and where applicable to support learning for both the public and private sector.

Owl RE (Research and Evaluation) was founded by Glenn O’Neil in 2008. The Owl was chosen as the symbol as in many cultures it represents wisdom, perception and observation.

Since March 2021, Owl RE is a limited liability company (Sàrl – société à responsabilité limitée) registered in Switzerland (CHE-443.382.404).

Team photos by G.Pestalozzi.

Our Team

The Owl RE network covers a broad range of expertise in evaluation, research, strategy and training. The team works in English, French, Italian, German, Portuguese, Spanish, and Swahili and through its network in Arabic, Hindi and Russian. Teams are assembled and partners involved according to the required expertise for each specific project.

Dr. Glenn O’Neil
Dr. Glenn O’Neil
Areas of expertise:

Glenn is the founder of Owl RE and has led evaluation, research and communication projects across Africa, Asia, the Americas and Europe. Glenn’s role is often as team leader but also as team member or providing methodological support or quality control. Glenn is also an experienced teacher, facilitator and trainer in media, communications, advocacy, evaluation methods and use.

Co-author of the Intelligent Measurement blog, Glenn holds a PhD in social research and methodology from the London School of Economics and Political Science and an Executive Masters in Communications Management from the University of Lugano.

Glenn sits on the scientific committee for the Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in Communication Advocacy and Negotiation in Humanitarian Settings offered by CERAH. Glenn is also co-founder of the Geneva Communicators Network.

Previously, Glenn managed field communication, education and training programs for the International Committee of the Red Cross in Africa, Asia and Europe.

Australian and Swiss, Glenn speaks English, French and is currently learning Italian.

Lois Austin
Lois Austin
Areas of expertise:
  • Research and evaluation
  • Emergency and surge humanitarian response
  • Humanitarian sector
  • Food security, livelihoods and cash programming
  • Civil-military cooperation
  • Strategy development
  • Bachelor of Laws (LLB)

Lois’ work as an independent consultant has included carrying out assessments, real time, mid-term and after-action reviews, programme evaluations and strategic reviews mainly in the humanitarian and development fields.

Recent clients have included ICRC, NRC, IFRC and ActionAid. Lois has a background in food security and livelihoods with a wide-ranging experience of the implementation of cash-based interventions to support disaster-affected communities.

Previously, Lois worked for more than 10 years in Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, predominantly with the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

Lois graduated from London University in 1992 with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB).

Obando Ekesa
Obando Ekesa
Areas of expertise:
  • Monitoring and evaluation
  • Community development
  • Humanitarian response
  • WASH and livelihoods
  • Youth and peace development
  • Facilitation and strategy development
    Bachelor of Education
  • Masters in Evaluation (ongoing)

Obando is the Owl Re African Representative and an independent consultant with specific interests in research, evaluation and community development. He has over 20 years’ experience in various capacities including project/program management, monitoring & evaluation (M&E), and capacity development. His work has included conducting baseline and end-line evaluations, research, training, and strategic planning in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and affiliated global projects in Asia, Europe, and the Interamerican regions.

Recent clients have included Water.org, IOM, Search for Common Ground, World Scouts Bureau, ActionAid, Oxfam/Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, HORIZONT3000, TdH, WaterAid, NRC, World Vision and CARE International.

Obando has a background in finance, education and M&E having graduated with a Diploma in Banking from Kent Computer & Commercial College in 1998, and from Moi University with a Bachelor’s degree in Education in 2004, and an ongoing masters in M&E at Africa Nazarene University, Kenya. He has previously worked in Kenya and Somalia/Somaliland with various organisations, some of which include Kisumu Medical & Education Trust (K-MET), CARE Kenya, Danish Refugee Council and the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU).

Patricia Goldschmid
Patricia Goldschmid
Areas of expertise:

Patricia specialises in the analysis and assessment of strategic and digital communications and has carried out consultancies and evaluations since more than 10 years. Recent clients have included the IFRC, the Council of Europe, the European Commission and NRC.

Patricia has over 15 years of experience working in project management and communications in the insurance, pharmaceutical, and IT sectors.

Patricia is also an experienced lecturer, coach and trainer in communications. She has an Honours Masters of Science in Communications from the University of Lugano, Switzerland and is co-founder of the Geneva Communicators Network.

Peruvian, Canadian and Swiss, Patricia speaks English, French, German and Spanish.

Dr. Sarah Grosso
Dr. Sarah Grosso
Areas of expertise:

Sarah Grosso has 15 years of experience in consulting and academia, focused on communications, women’s rights, gender equality and legal reform. She combines strong analytical and communication skills with extensive experience in qualitative research techniques (conducting in-depth field research, extensive interviewing and documentary research).

She has experience working in multicultural environments in South America, Europe and North Africa, both for NGOs and international organisations. Recent clients have included UNESCO, MSF, IFRC and ICRC.

Sarah holds a PhD in Anthropology from the London School of Economics and a Master’s in European Business from ESCP Europe. This combination of a broad understanding of human society and practical business skills brings a unique perspective to her work.

A native English speaker, she speaks French, German and Spanish and has knowledge of Modern Standard Arabic and the Tunisian dialect.

Anita Leutgeb
Anita Leutgeb
Areas of expertise:
  • Monitoring and results-based systems
  • Evaluation
  • Social research methods
  • Migration
  • Social and sustainable development
  • Facilitation and strategy development
  • Mag.phil. in Languages, History and Social Studies
  • Diploma in International Politics and Development cooperation
  • MSc in Rural Development (SOAS)

Anita is Founder and Director of evaluation&research FOR DEVELOPMENT, Vienna, Austria. Anita has been involved in evaluations and M&E consultancy projects in over 50 countries in Africa, Asia, the Americas and Europe. Mainly for international organisations and NGOs, these evaluations and research projects focused largely on capacity building, advocacy, policy influence, migration, social development, sustainable development. Anita is co-founder of the Vienna Evaluation Network.

Recent projects with Owl RE have included various evaluations and research studies for IOM, M&E support for initiatives of the Friends of Ocean Action and Caritas. Independent of Owl RE, Anita has also carried out evaluations for WWF, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Bread for the World (Germany) and provided M&E support to the EU Trust Fund/DG NEAR and ICMPD.

Anita holds a Mag.phil. in Languages, History and Social Studies from the University of Innsbruck, a Diploma in International Politics and Development cooperation from the School of International Politics and Development Cooperation (SPICeS) Rome, and a MSc from the University of London (SOAS) in Managing Rural Development.

Anita is Austrian and works in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese.

Dr. Sharon  Mcclenaghan
Dr. Sharon Mcclenaghan
Areas of expertise:

Sharon has carried out assessments, strategic reviews, research and evaluations for a number of clients including, the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the World Intellectual Property organization (WIPO), MSF (Doctors without Borders) and the World Organisation of the Scout Movement (WOSM).

She has a strong development, background having worked at Christian Aid for more than 10 years as Senior Private Sector Advisor. Her areas of expertise include:advocacy and policy analysis, gender and human rights, private sector development, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and global supply chain management.

Sharon has worked with many global companies in the apparel, extractive and export agriculture sectors including: the GAP Inc, the Body Shop, the Ethical Tea Partnership (ETP), BhP Billiton, Shell and Chiquita as well as with many national civil society groups.

She has country experience in India, the Philippines, Kenya, South Africa, Mexico, Belize and the Dominican Republic. The subject of her PhD is working women, gender relations and political identity in the zonas francas in the Dominican Republic.

Sharon has held many elected positions including Board Director of the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI).

Our Partners

Owl RE works with partners in a variety of fields to complement the services we offer our clients: