ID: 1782
Presenting Author: Tara Oak
Session: 725 - After the Assessment – Where’s the Value and What Happened in the End?
Status: pending
What happens when IA commitments meet on-the-ground realities? This talk shares five field-tested lessons on what can unravel, and how to turn good intentions into real-world results.
Impact assessments are often treated as planning tools, but much of their true value lies in how well their commitments and conditions of release are carried out during construction and operations. Well-intentioned commitments can unravel when they meet the realities of implementation. Drawing on first-hand cross-sector experience in consulting, government, and industry, this presentation explores what can go wrong when IA obligations are not fully integrated into project delivery, and what can be done about it. It highlights common breakdowns in follow-up, communication, and accountability, and offers five key lessons learned from the field. These include: the risk of disconnect between IA authors and operations teams; the consequences of vague or impractical conditions of release; and the erosion of trust when engagement ends at approval. Each lesson is paired with practical strategies for strengthening implementation, improving coordination, and translating IA processes into lasting environmental and social outcomes.
Tara Oak is a Senior Environmental Specialist with cross-sector experience in consulting, government, and industry, focused on bridging IA planning with real-world implementation and outcome