Public participation in Impact Assessment is not a new thing. But doing it well remains a challenge for many, particularly in an environment of declining democratic governance. This course draws on the historic roots of engagement in IA, how to plan for and implement meaningful engagement and communications, moving from early models (e.g., Arnstein’s 1969 ladder) to state of the art practice, drawing on:

• Handbook of Public Participation in Impact Assessment (Burdett and Sinclair, editors, June 2024)
• IAIA Best Practice Principles (BPP) for Public Participation
• International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) pillars/foundations
• Authentic communications insights from IAP2 “pioneers” Bojinka Bishop, Doug Sarno, John Godec, and Dr. Peter Sandman
  
  

By course end, participants will be able to:

1. Define meaningful public participation, authentic communications and relationship to IA.
2. Describe public participation evolution in IA, current “state of the art,” and ways forward.
3. Develop strategies for meaningful public participation and authentic communication.
4. Identify values, professional ethics, power, and influence in PP in IA.
5. Understand distinctions between different frameworks including IAIA, IAP2, and foundational, essential elements and contextual elements (embedded in Handbook and IAIA BPP).
6. Reflect on and apply the principles of inclusion, equity, and intercultural engagement.

Additionally, in a cross-over planned with Course 7 (Maria Rosario Partidario) and Course 14 (Johanna S. Gordon), participants will gain additional insights into embedding next generation engagement principles into their IA approaches, particularly how to engage early and before a policy, plan, program or project is conceived of, and in a way that views engagement as part of a systems approach to impact assessment.

Level: Intermediate/Advanced

Prerequisites: Whether working in developed or developing countries, prerequisites include an understanding and awareness of public participation, some understanding of strategic level engagement—beyond project level IA (we use a case study that is very strategic/regionally oriented), and a willingness to adapt your approach and techniques to take them to the next level.

Language: English

Duration: 2 days (18-19 April)

Min/Max: 7-24

Price: $560

Instructors: Tanya Burdett, Director, Essential Planning Ltd (UK/Australia)

Tanya Burdett is a planning, impact assessment, and public participation specialist with over 30 years of experience and a strong focus on capacity building and knowledge sharing. She is Co-Chair of the Public Participation Section of the International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) and a licensed IAP2 trainer, having delivered more than 100 training programs to over 1,500 participants across 70+ countries.

Tanya has extensive consultancy experience in the UK and Australia, working across the water, transport, energy, and major infrastructure sectors, including high-speed rail in the UK and regional rail projects in Victoria, Australia. She has also contributed to leading publications on public participation, including the Handbook on Public Participation in Impact Assessment (2024).

Her professional experience spans government, consulting, planning, and impact assessment, with particular expertise in stakeholder engagement, public participation, environmental impact assessment, and planning approvals.