Session Description
Over the past decade, Social Impact Assessment (SIA) has undergone a marked shift toward increased formalisation, driven by the proliferation of regulatory guidance, international frameworks and more recently jurisdiction-specific requirements. This evolution has strengthened the consistency, transparency, and legitimacy of SIA practice globally. However, this growing body of guidance has also introduced new tensions. Practitioners are increasingly navigating the balance between compliance-driven processes and the relational, context-sensitive, and advisory dimensions that underpin effective social performance outcomes.
This session critically examines whether the expansion of formal SIA guidance is genuinely improving practice—or unintentionally constraining it. The session reflects on the evolution of SIA from its earlier, practitioner-led and adaptive roots to its current, more structured and auditable form. It asks whether this shift has enhanced outcomes for communities and projects, or primarily elevated minimum standards without improving the quality of insight, community engagement, and decision-making. In this provocation session, participants will:
• Examine how increasing formal guidance has shaped contemporary SIA practice
• Identify the strengths and limitations of guidance-driven approaches
• Explore the risk of SIA becoming compliance-led rather than outcome-focused
• Share experiences of maintaining innovation, judgement, and relational engagement within structured frameworks
• Identify practical ways to integrate regulatory rigor with higher-value social performance outcomes.
Session Summary
This session critically examines whether the expansion of formal SIA guidance is improving practice or unintentionally constraining it, and the ability to influence better social outcomes. The session reflects on the evolution of SIA from its practitioner-led and adaptive roots to its current structured and auditable form.
Additional Information
This session directly responds to the conference theme by:
• Reflecting on the evolution of SIA practice over time
• Critically examining whether current approaches are delivering on their intended outcomes
• Identifying how lessons from earlier, more relational practice can inform future, more effective models of SIA in increasingly regulated contexts.
Session Chair
Jessica Anagnostaras
Umwelt Australia
Australia
Session Co-chair
Dr Sheridan Coakes
EIANZ SIA Community of Practice
Australia