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Virtual
Join us on Friday 31 October at 12:00 pm for a webinar with the co-founders of the groundbreaking I2S Next Generation Engagement Research Program, Sara Bice and Kirsty O’Connell, to learn more about their pioneering work in Australia and discuss the upcoming project to begin building a similar evidence base here in New Zealand.
Infrastructure New Zealand is proud to be launching the I2S Next Generation Engagement Research Programme for New Zealand. This research will explore how social factors influence infrastructure planning and delivery, helping to build a robust evidence base to support better decision-making across the sector.
In Australia, community and stakeholder opposition has been rated as one of the leading influences of project delays by infrastructure practitioners for seven consecutive years. This, and other social factors surrounding infrastructure planning and delivery have been the subject of an eight-year research effort by the Australian National University’s Institute for Infrastructure in Society (I2S).
“We’ve worked with more than 7000 community members and 150 proponents who are delivering more than $230 billion in large and small infrastructure projects. Through this collaboration we've been able to identify what drives project acceptance and how improved approaches to social risk management, social licence and social value creation can prevent costly delays and improve project and community outcomes.” I2S co-founder, Kirsty O’Connell said.
We’re delighted to be bringing this world-first work to New Zealand and to understanding some of the unique social challenges and opportunities impacting our infrastructure and energy sectors.
Professor Sara Bice - Research Director, Next Generation Engagement
Sara Bice is one of the world’s leading researchers, speakers and authors on social licence to operate in the infrastructure and energy sectors and a co-founder of I2S and its implementation arm, Next Generation Engagement.
Sara is Professor and Vice-Chancellor’s Futures Scheme Senior Fellow at the ANU Crawford School of Public Policy, the Asia Pacific’s number 1 public policy school.
She has extensive international experience in social impact assessments and is a past President of the International Association for Impact Assessment (2018-2019). Sara is also Professor (Special International Guest) at the School of Public Policy and Management, Tsinghua University, Beijing.
Kirsty O'Connell - Industry Director, Next Generation Engagement
Kirsty O’Connell has successfully led communication and engagement for more than $30 billion in transformational multi-billion dollar infrastructure projects and is a co-founder of I2S and its implementation arm, Next Generation Engagement.
Kirsty holds an MBA with majors in finance, sustainability and innovation gained in Australia, the UK and France and is a Council Member of the Environmental Defenders Office. She lends her considerable industry experience to ensure industry concerns and aspirations stay at the heart of the Next Generation Engagement Program.
