Expertise to anticipate and respond to the emotional landscape that emerges around major projects.
We provide social impact assessments that meet regulatory requirements, develop bespoke mitigation approaches that consider impacts and opportunities, and undertake the tough stakeholder engagements and negotiations necessary to enable infrastructure construction and operations.
By drawing on impact assessment, communication, community, and stakeholder expertise, and specialising in infrastructure planning and delivery, we sync with project teams to ensure social risk is effectively managed, regulatory approvals are secured and social licence is continuously maintained.
Our services.
Stakeholder mapping
We understand that detailed stakeholder mapping is a critical foundation to any major project as it informs decisions, design, approvals, engagement, and risk management. We are driven by the common goal of ensuring all projects, systems and policies are underpinned by a strong awareness and understanding of the community and environment in which they are to be delivered. We provide mapping services that include comprehensive identification and assessment of project stakeholders and clear recommendations for future engagement. Our approach enables the effective tailoring of consultation activities, resources and messages, facilitating meaningful relationships built on well-managed expectations.
Impact assessments
We support projects to assess the impact of infrastructure development on communities, businesses, and local agricultural practices, providing Social, Economic and Business, and Agricultural Impact Assessments that underpin Environmental Impact Statements for major projects. We undertake robust desktop analysis and demographic profiling, targeted stakeholder mapping and consultation and work alongside project teams, distilling technical information to identify and assess potential impacts and benefits and appropriate management or mitigation measures.
Impacted landowner negotiations
We understand that complex infrastructure can have transformational impacts on local communities, and we are experienced in assessing impacts and negotiating fair and just compensation or mitigation measures. We appreciate the nuances, subtleties and needs of engaging in deeply connected communities, and regularly work as Place Managers to identify local conflicts, tensions, and varying perspectives and act as an independent and ongoing point of contact for affected landowners during the property acquisition process. We have proven experience applying the Just Terms Compensation Act, as well as designing bespoke compensation frameworks, and we pride ourselves on our ability to sensitively manage the human impacts associated with this work.
Community engagement
We have proven experience in designing and delivering robust programs of engagement that support and facilitate change. We embed local community engagement and stakeholder management, ensuring feedback loops are closed and input is provided to project teams to support design development and decision making. We are relied upon to manage engagement for challenging projects, to help mitigate social risks and undertake tough community engagements and negotiations necessary to enable infrastructure development. Our focus is on reducing engagement fatigue, monitoring changing community expectations, and managing the cumulative impacts of change on many fronts.
Communication
We support major project delivery with content that is well crafted, fit for purpose and pitched with the right tone for the right impact. We develop strategies informed by research and tailor communication collateral to deliver clear messaging to specific target audiences, using a range of tactics, methods, and channels. We work to balance social and technical interfaces, distilling project information to facilitate meaningful conversations with affected communities so that people are well informed and involved in managing project impact
Workshop facilitation
We are experienced in designing and delivering stakeholder workshops that consider best practice facilitation techniques, are grounded in lessons learnt and a foundational knowledge of a project. We set clear objectives, manage expectations, adapt to emerging issues, and drive consensus to make informed and actionable decisions. We design respectful and inclusive environments where all participants can contribute ideas and opinions, supporting balanced participation and managing competing interests and expectations to find common ground and consensus. We work to ensure that workshops foster collaboration, encourage productive, outcome orientated discussion, and drive clear decision making.
Strategic advice
We are experienced in crisis communications and provide strategic advice to project teams, boards, ministerial offices, along with community and stakeholders in response to a range of contentious issues, including loss of social licence, community outrage, project design and safety and environmental concerns. We believe respect, good governance and robust, sustainable practice underpin social licence and reduce project risks. We offer monitoring and evaluation throughout the project lifecycle, helping to support evidence-based management decisions and uphold accountability. By analysing the health of a project in real-time, we can assess likely project success, as well as identify and implement organic responses and mitigation strategies to improve project outcomes.
Our Experience.
We have experience across many different sectors, from working both in Australia and the Pacific. For any project we combine global expertise with local knowledge and perspective to achieve shared value.
We work dynamically to respond to changing landscapes and project needs. We support projects of all sizes at various stages of their development, contributing to outcomes which safeguard the dignity and rights of communities and protect the local environment.
Renewable and traditional energies
Transport
Roads, marine and aviation infrastructure
Water, hygiene and sanitation
Health infrastructure
Schools and secondary education
International development
Social protection
Social safeguards
The Blue Economy
Livelihoods and cooperative development