Conference Timetable

&
 Speaker Information

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Tuesday 22 October

Keynote:   Mātauranga and the future of impact assessment

Erica Gregory
Manahautu/General Manager, Kaupapa kura taiao, 
Environmental Protection Authority/Te Mana Rauhi Taiao

Erica’s tribal affiliations are to Waikato and Ngāti Maniapoto.
Erica joined the EPA in November 2016 as a Principal Advisor and led the development and implementation of the EPA’s mātauranga programme. She was appointed Manahautū, General Manager in September 2020.
Erica has an extensive background in public sector policy development and implementation through working for the Ministry for Economic Development and Ministry for Primary Industries. For more than 18 years, Erica's focus has been around facilitating Māori engagement on a range of economic development and environmental management issues.
Tues. 11.00am-12.30pm

STRATEGIC, REGIONAL AND SPATIAL OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FOR IA

Maladaptation - Solving the climate adaptations that can make problems worse.

Ritodhi Chakraborty
Lincoln University

Dr. Ritodhi Chakraborty is a broadly trained interdisciplinary environmental social scientist and activist. In the past, as co-chair of the Royal Society of New Zealand Te Apārangi’s Early Career Forum, he advocated for a more just and inclusive research sector. As a Post-doctoral Fellow at the ‘Centre of Excellence: Future Productive Landscapes’ at Lincoln University, he helped create a multifunctional landscape design reflecting place based indigenous aspirations and audited the potential for just engagement within such projects. He is also leading a project through the Ministry of Primary Industries to develop a Climate Maladaptation Assessment Tool for Aotearoa New Zealand and co-leads the Canadian SSHRC-funded Knowledge Justice Collective. Over the past decade he has collaborated with rural and Indigenous communities across India, Bhutan, China, and Aotearoa New Zealand on issues of youth migration, rural livelihoods, climate adaptation politics and social/environmental justice. 
How 'retrospective' impact assessment can enhance the value of periodic reviews of wastewater treatment plant consents.

Jess Grinter
​Stantec

Jessica Grinter is Principal Environmental Scientist with Stantec in Auckland. She has over 15 years of practice in New Zealand, Australia, the Pacific and the United Kingdom, and became a Certified Environmental Practitioner – Impact Assessment Specialist in 2021. Her technical interests include surface water quality (in both freshwater and marine environments); environmental impact assessment, and the effective implementation of integrated water management approaches. Jessica has been fortunate to work on over 10 different municipal wastewater schemes throughout New Zealand during her past six years with Stantec, including the wastewater treatment plant which she will be speaking about during her session.  These projects have presented unique challenges and have helped Jessica to build valuable insights into what successful impact assessment can look like.
Our people, our wellbeing, our tomorrow: Waikirikiri Ki Tua Future Selwyn.

George Sariak & Ben Baird
Strategy and Policy, Selwyn District Council

George Sariak is the Acting Strategy Team Leader at Selwyn District Council. Originally from South Wales, George moved to Aotearoa New Zealand in 2020 working at a planning consultancy in Tauranga before moving south and joining Selwyn District Council in 2021. George holds an MSc Spatial Planning with Sustainable Urban Design from the University of Dundee. George’s mahi at Selwyn District Council has been primarily focused on managing urban growth through the development of spatial plans and strategies. This includes the draft of Waikirikiri Ki Tua Future Selwyn that recently closed for public consultation.

Ben Baird is the Acting Head of Strategy and Policy at Selwyn District Council. Born and bred in Christchurch, Ben has worked for Selwyn for the past 6 years. Ben has an MEP in Planning from Lincoln University. Ben's current role is managing the delivery of strategies within Council, as well as the District Plan, strategic transport, climate change, and biodiversity. This includes the draft of Waikirikiri Ki Tua Future Selwyn that recently closed for public consultation.
Tues. 1.45-3.15pm

NEW LEGISLATION, NEW THINKING, NEW IDEAS. HOW WILL PLANNING RESPOND AND IMPROVE THE USE OF IA PRACTICE ?

Assessing the impact of the government’s legislative changes.

Greg Severinsen
Environmental Defence Society (EDS)

Greg provides the lead on EDS's resource management system reform work. He has practised in resource management law at a major law firm, worked as a policy analyst at the Ministry for the Environment, and lectured at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington. Greg has published, presented and taught on a range of resource management and environmental law topics at home and abroad
Perspectives on strategic indigenous Impact Assessment.

Hirini Matunga
Lincoln University

Ko Ngai Tahu, Ngati Kahungunu, Rongowhakaata, Ngati Porou oku iwi.
Ko Hirini Matunga toku ingoa.  Hirini trained as an urban planner in the 1980’s and has over 30 years experience specialising in Māori planning and resource management issues with iwi, local, regional and central government.  In the 1990’s this extended internationally to indigenous communities specifically in heritage management.  He has held senior academic, research and management positions at both Auckland and Lincoln Universities since the late 1990’s and in 2007 was appointed to a personal chair in Indigenous Planning.  In 2015 he was appointed to his current role as Professor of Maori and Indigenous Development at Lincoln University and also awarded the inaugural Papa Pounamu Award for outstanding contribution to Māori environmental planning and resource management, by the New Zealand Planning Institute.  
Impact agreements developed with affected people and communities. 

Ciaran O’Faircheallaigh
​Griffith University

Ciaran O’Faircheallaigh is Professor Emeritus, Politics and Public Policy, at Griffith University, Brisbane. His research focuses on Indigenous governance especially as it relates to large-scale resource development on Indigenous lands. He is the author of numerous books and articles in this and related fields including, most recently, Indigenous Peoples and Mining: A Global Perspective (Oxford University Press, 2023). For over 30 years he has acted as a negotiator and advisor for Indigenous communities in Australia, Canada, and Papua New Guinea. He assists in the design and management of community controlled impact assessments, and is currently managing an Indigenous Impact Assessment of one of the world’s largest proposed pumped hydro projects, in south east Queensland, on behalf of the Kabi Kabi First Nation.
Tues. 3.45-5.15pm

CLIMATE CHANGE, PEOPLE AND BIODIVERSITY – CONNECTED CHALLENGES FOR IA

Climate change and biodiversity – challenges for mitigation and offsets.

Ian Boothroyd
Boffa Miskell Ltd

Ian has over 35 years’ experience in environmental assessment and management and decision-making in the New Zealand environment and has led multidisciplinary teams for both large and small, and often complex, environmental projects. His experience in projects extends to all stages from feasibility and multi-criteria assessments through to investigations and assessments, consent conditions and presentation of expert evidence at hearings, Environment Court and Boards of Inquiry. His involvement has led to some innovative and integrated outcomes, including the integration of biodiversity offsets. Ian is an accredited Independent Environmental Commissioner and in 2020 was appointed as a Freshwater Commissioner by the Minister for the Environment.  In addition to more than 60 scientific papers, and several book chapters and popular articles, Ian is also co-author of several national standards for freshwater and biodiversity management and monitoring. Ian is passionate about raising standards and representation of good environmental practice and is highly motivated to teach, mentor and guide young and experienced professionals.  In this capacity Ian spent some years teaching postgraduates at the University of Auckland.
Connecting the challenges: new insights on IA from a social capital perspective.
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Tristan Claridge
International Social Capital Association

Tristan Claridge has over 20 years of experience researching and applying social capital to a wide range of contexts. He is a geographer and environmental scientist with a passion for sustainable development and poverty alleviation. He takes an interdisciplinary perspective by combining the lessons of economics, sociology, political science, psychology, urban planning, and any other discipline that contributes to the understanding of social capital. Tristan is actively researching and consulting using the concept of social capital, including projects for the United Nations, OECD, and numerous government and non-government organisations. Tristan is the current President of the International Social Capital Association and the Director of the Institute for Social Capital.
Understanding risk and vulnerability in coastal adaptation planning.

Jane Morgan, Tom Simons-Smith, Ruby Clark
Coastal Adaptation Team, Christchurch City Council

Jane Morgan is the Team Leader of Christchurch City Council’s Coastal Hazards Adaptation Planning programme, which works with communities and rūnanga to plan for the impacts of sea level rise in low-lying coastal and inland parts of the district.  Jane has a background in central government social service agencies and in earthquake recovery and regeneration following the Canterbury Earthquakes.  Jane enjoys bringing communities facing significant challenges together with agencies to share knowledge and expertise and find local solutions to complex problems.

Wednesday 23 October

Keynote:
Indigenous Impact Assessment in Australia and Canada: challenges inherent in proponent-driven IA

Ciaran O’Faircheallaigh
Emeritus Professor, Griffith University

Ciaran O’Faircheallaigh is Professor Emeritus, Politics and Public Policy, at Griffith University, Brisbane. His research focuses on Indigenous governance especially as it relates to large-scale resource development on Indigenous lands. He is the author of numerous books and articles in this and related fields including, most recently, Indigenous Peoples and Mining: A Global Perspective (Oxford University Press, 2023). For over 30 years he has acted as a negotiator and advisor for Indigenous communities in Australia, Canada, and Papua New Guinea. He assists in the design and management of community controlled impact assessments, and is currently managing an Indigenous Impact Assessment of one of the world’s largest proposed pumped hydro projects, in south east Queensland, on behalf of the Kabi Kabi First Nation. 
Wed. 9.40 am - 10.30 am

A CULTURAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT TOOLKIT

Whakamana i te tangata: empowering cultural values through CIA

Keri Wikitera 
Wiki Research Ltd.

Dr Keri Wikitera is an independent researcher and was formerly a senior lecturer at AUT University. With expertise in social history, indigenous studies, business, and Māori development, she has a rich interdisciplinary background. Her tribal affiliations are Tūhourangi-Ngāti Wahiao and Ngāti Whakaue iwi of Te Arawa, both of which are based in the Rotorua region and play a significant role in New Zealand’s Māori tourism sector. Her personal and academic interests therefore have had an indigenous tourism focus including the study of indigenous history and knowledge systems. Her most recent research involved developing a Cultural Impact Assessment toolkit for the Better Building Homes, Towns, and Cities programme.

Wed. 11.00 am - 12.30 am

FUTURE  IMPACT ASSESSMENT: SHAPING OR BEING SHAPED?

IA and AI – dumbing down the process or thinking smarter?

Gerard Fitzgerald 
Fitzgerald Associates

Gerard Fitzgerald is a sociologist and social anthropologist with over 40 years in social research and consulting across many sectors and in a range of domestic and international settings.  He is especially experienced in social impact assessment, social safeguards, social research methods, rural communities, resources development, technology impacts, and community and stakeholder engagement. He is self-employed, trading as Fitzgerald Applied Sociology in Christchurch and has been a member of the NZAIA since its establishment.
Impact assessment and planning: looking to the future through the NZAIA white paper

Richard Morgan
​​​University of Otago

Richard Morgan is an Emeritus Professor in the School of Geography, University of Otago. He has been involved in impact assessment research, training and consulting for more than 40 years, and has published many research papers, chapters and books on impact assessment theory and practice. Richard’s interests range across all areas of impact assessment, from biophysical and ecological, to social, cultural and health considerations; and at all levels of decision-making, from policies to projects. He helped to establish, and is a trainer on, the IAIA online training course on environmental impact assessment, and has worked with international organisations in the Pacific and South and East Asia to promote and support impact assessment capability. Past chair of the New Zealand Association for Impact Assessment, Richard was also President of the International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) in 2004, and received the IAIA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020.
Wed. 1.30 pm - 3.30 pm

CONCURRENT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS

Moving from impact assessment to effective social and environmental management [tbc]
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Kristy Harrison
Stantec

bio to come...
Understanding how to develop and utilise social capital in impact assessment
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Tristan Claridge
International Social Capital Association 

Tristan Claridge has over 20 years of experience researching and applying social capital to a wide range of contexts. He is a geographer and environmental scientist with a passion for sustainable development and poverty alleviation. He takes an interdisciplinary perspective by combining the lessons of economics, sociology, political science, psychology, urban planning, and any other discipline that contributes to the understanding of social capital. Tristan is actively researching and consulting using the concept of social capital, including projects for the United Nations, OECD, and numerous government and non-government organisations. Tristan is the current President of the International Social Capital Association and the Director of the Institute for Social Capital.
Wed. 3.30 - 4.30 pm
Indaba/Talanoa - open space session
Open space discussion on the future of impact assessment practice and training: topics identified by participants during the conference, with a focus on strategies and actions.