This course aims to provide hands-on insight into what makes for authentic communication and meaningful engagement for public participation (PP) in IA. It aims to explore the challenge of misinformation, disinformation, and the role of trust in communications and engagement practice, drawing on:

1. Handbook of Public Participation in Impact Assessment (June 2024)
2. IAIA Best Practice Principles for Public Participation
3. International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) pillars and foundations
4. Risk communications insights including work of Peter Sandman and Dr. Vince Covello

By course end, participants will be able to:

• Define meaningful PP, authentic communications, and related concepts and terms, and their relationship to IA.
• Articulate sources of misinformation, disinformation, and trust issues in PP in IA.
• Develop strategies for meaningful PP and authentic communications.
• Identify the role values, professional ethics, power, and influence at play in PP in IA.
• Understand distinctions between different frameworks (including IAIA and IAP2), including foundational, essential elements, and contextual elements (embedded in Handbook and Best Practice Principles).a
• Reflect on/apply the principles of inclusion, equity, and intercultural engagement.

Additionally, through a cross-over activity with two other IAIA courses, participants will gain further insights into embedding next-generation engagement principles into their IA approaches—particularly how to engage early, before a policy, plan, program, or project is conceived, and how to view engagement as part of a systems approach to IA.

Level: Intermediate/Advanced

Prerequisites: Whether working in developed or developing countries, prerequisites include an understanding and awareness of public participation and a willingness to adapt your approach and techniques to take them to the next level.

Language: English

Duration: 2 days (17-18 May)

Min/Max: 7-24

Price: $485

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

Tanya Burdett

Tanya is committed to capacity building and sharing experiences on good practice experienced throughout her 30+ year career in planning, impact assessment and public participation. Co-chair of the IAIA public participation section, Tanya has contributed to multiple books on engagement in impact assessment and planning approvals. Her latest work has been a collaborative effort with 38 other authors, and co-editor John Sinclair, resulting in the Handbook on Public Participation in Impact Assessment, published June 2024.

Tanya has active consultancy practices in both the UK and Australia, and has worked extensively in a range of sectors including water, transport and energy sectors, and on major infrastructure projects including high speed rail (UK), and level crossing removals and regional rail projects (Victoria, Australia).

Tanya has played key roles in government and non-government organisations and in planning, impact assessment and engagement including:

• Licensed IAP2 Trainer, extensive training in Europe, Middle East, Asia, Africa and Australia. This has involved around 105 deliveries of IAP2 materials, with 1,500+ participants from 70+ countries, 2009 – current  
• Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment IEMA EIA Quality Mark Panel member, responsible for quality audits of EIAs for over 56 Quality Mark Registrants, ~100 reviews, 2011 – current  

• IAIA Public Participation Section co-chair, 2017 – current

• Registered Planner, Planning Institute of Australia (RPIA), Panel member responsible for assessing RPIA applications, 300+ reviews, 2017 – current

• Planning Panels Victoria, sessional member, 2018 – 2023

• University of Melbourne, Sessional Tutor in Urban Sustainability and Climate Change, and Participatory Planning; and guest lecturer in Participatory Planning, 2018 – current

• Manager Planning and Environment, High Speed Two Ltd (UK), from 2009-2010, responsible for establishing and managing the first Appraisal of Sustainability to inform strategic engagement
• SEA/EIA Expert representing UK government at EU forums from 2005-2009, as part of role as Senior Policy Advisor, Department of Communities and Local Government