There is often much useful data in the large documents involved in Impact Assessment (IA) (or Assessment of Environmental Effects in New Zealand) and the final conclusions are often sensible. However, it can be difficult for readers to see how the data actually leads to the conclusions or supports the recommendations offered. Those challenges can be resolved!

This popular workshop, back for the sixth year running, shares two ‘toolboxes’ collectively called ‘Organised Reasoning™’. The first provides a structured set of steps to help organise your thinking and your argument. (‘Argument’ in this context means ‘reasons arranged to support a conclusion). The second shows how to better present arguments in the written text of your documents. Assessments are complex documents. Using the tools of argument can make them easier for audiences to understand—and easier for authors to write!

Organised Reasoning™ provides a way to make assessments faster, cheaper, more transparent and more effective while reducing risk. These are particularly important benefits as governments look for ways to ‘fast-track’ development approvals for renewable energy projects.

The workshop shows how IA documents contain common errors in their arguments and weaknesses in their writing. Participants will assemble evidence and reasoning for several different kinds of argument found in IAs. We practice steps that show how to bring improved arguments into technical report writing. We discuss how different organisations have already implemented these steps in their IA practice. Participants learn a revised approach to planning, preparing and writing that they can use immediately to write stronger cases in their IAs.

The workshop will be held as four x 3.5-hour online sessions over two weeks. A fifth session, approximately 3 months later, will review key points, address tips and challenges of implementation and allow participants to share experiences since the initial workshops. The sessions are not webinars, but include a variety of presentations, interactive discussions, small group break out activities and breaks to ensure you remain fresh and attentive! You’ll receive handouts documenting the main ideas and further learning material prior to the review session three months later. Please note that there is no recording, digital summarizing or use of AI tools during these sessions.

Participation is limited to 15 participants per workshop to enhance interaction. To enable workshops to share a variety of opinions and conversations, each workshop is limited to no more than five employees from the same organisation. If you wish to host a workshop tailored to employees from a single organisation please reach out to us at events@eianz.org and we will work with yourself and Dr Brown to find suitable dates.

Note: These workshops will be held approximately every two months during 2024, depending on demand. If you are unable to register for the current advertised workshop, email office@eianz.org and ask to be put on the wait list to ensure you have the first opportunity to register for the following workshop.

This workshop will run on the following days:
Monday 3 February, Wednesday 5 February, Monday 10 February & Wednesday 12 February from 12pm - 3:30pm (AEDT)

Meet the speaker

Dr Glenn Brown has over 25 years experience as an ecologist and educator specialising in environmental management. He has worked on environmental projects for industry, government and non-governmental organisations in Canada and other countries. He teaches courses on Ecosystem Science and Management and on Analytical Thinking and Communications for 15 years in the masters program in Environment and Management at Royal Roads University in British Columbia and works as an independent consultant.

He has delivered this course at the International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) conferences in Florence, Durban, Brisbane, Vancouver, Kuching and Dublin.

Click here to view Dr Glenn Brown's website and biography →

Not an EIANZ member?

Consider joining as a student, associate or full member today! To receive the member rate to the workshop make sure you apply for membership prior to registering for the event! Join here →

CPD points

Cancellation and payment policy

Registrations are via credit card. If you are unable to register via credit card please contact us at office@eianz.org. Should you need to cancel your registration the following conditions apply:

• 50% refund up to 4 weeks before course
• 25% refund up to 2 weeks before
• We will accept an alternative person in lieu of someone who can’t attend who meets the criteria of the ticket
• Notification of cancellation must be provided to EIANZ Central Office by email office@eianz.org