My journey into impact assessment
I first learnt about environmental impact assessment during my geography A-Levels around 1997 at Sandown High School on the Isle of Wight. The Island is a magical place, just off the south coast of England, and in 2019 it was recognised as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in recognition of its natural beauty, biodiversity, culture and landscape.
For my A-Level dissertation, I compared “restored” habitat and natural habitat on an aggregate quarry on Arreton Downs. I discovered that the restored land had only a fraction of the biodiversity of the undisturbed area. Worse still, the quarry’s original permits showed that land promised for restoration had instead been turned into a golf course. I wasn’t pleased, and I felt the local authority and regulators had not done their jobs in holding the quarry to account. That experience left a mark. I decided then and there that I would dedicate my work to environmental protection and nature restoration.
That choice guided my education and career. I studied Biodiversity Conservation and Management at the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, followed by a Master’s in Environmental Law and Policy at Kent Law School. After graduating, I joined AMEC Earth and Environmental in 2004 as a graduate environmental consultant. It was during this time that I discovered the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA).
Growing with the Institute
I joined the Institute early in my career and over the following 20 years I progressed through the membership grades to Fellow and Chartered Environmentalist, along the way becoming a Registered Auditor and Registered Principal EIA Practitioner. I worked at the Environment Agency and Royal HaskoningDHV before setting up my own consultancy, Greenfriars, in 2019.
Throughout these years, the Institute has been a constant companion. I volunteered as Chair of the Impact Assessment Network, acted as a mentor, and served on working groups and steering committees. Each step reinforced my belief that impact assessment is not just a technical discipline, but a professional community with shared values, high standards, and a strong sense of purpose.
That is why, when the Institute recently evolved its name to ISEP, the Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals, I understood the concern some colleagues might feel. For those of us who have lived and breathed “assessment” for decades, not seeing the word in the title can feel unsettling. But from my vantage point, I can assure you: impact assessment is still woven deeply into the fabric of ISEP.
Impact assessment at the heart of ISEP
Impact assessment has been central to this organisation since its origins. Back in 1998, the Institute of Environmental Assessment merged with the Institute of Environmental Management and the Environmental Auditors Registration Association to form IEMA. From the very beginning, environmental assessment was at the heart of the Institute’s purpose.
That centrality has not changed. What has changed is the world around us. Sustainability has moved from the margins to the mainstream, and our profession has expanded to include climate, biodiversity, social value, the circular economy, and more. The new name reflects that breadth. But within it, impact assessment remains as strong as ever.
Today, the Impact Assessment Network is one of the most active and dynamic parts of ISEP. Its working groups cover a range of impact assessment topics from health, social impacts, digital innovation, greenhouse gas emissions, marine issues, and even spaceflight. Far from being in decline, the discipline is diversifying and branching into new areas of practice.
The Impact Assessment Outlook Journal is now on its 25th volume, continuing to push the boundaries of innovation and good practice. Recent highlights include a special edition on recruitment and retention in the profession, and new advice on supporting mental wellbeing for practitioners. These aren’t just abstract or purely academic publications, they address the issues that matter most to our community of practitioners right now.
ISEP’s commitment is also evident in its EIA Quality Mark and EIA Practitioner Register. More than 50 organisations are now part of the EIA Quality Mark, all committed to delivering best practice and producing the highest quality assessments. At the individual level, the community of Registered EIA Practitioners offers a professional benchmark that supports career development and signals credibility to employers and clients alike.
I am proud that our collective work carries real influence. ISEP’s policy outputs have been cited in Secretary of State decisions, referenced in High Court cases, and used by government agencies. Internationally, our resources are respected and applied by practitioners and policymakers around the world. In 2024 this was recognised with global award for our impact assessment volunteers from the International Association for Impact Assessment.
All of this demonstrates that impact assessment is not peripheral within ISEP, it is one of the central and integral disciplines within the organisation.
Looking forward
For me, the story comes full circle. As a young student, I learnt that promises of environmental protection are only meaningful if there are professionals with the skills and courage to hold them to account. As a practitioner, I found my professional home in the Institute. And today, as a Fellow and Policy Lead for Impact Assessment, I see that home evolving but still grounded in the same values that first drew me to the field.
Names change, contexts evolve. But impact assessment remains at the core of ISEP’s identity. It is still the place where EIA, SEA, HIA, and SIA professionals come together to share knowledge, uphold standards, influence policy, and support each other in delivering better outcomes for people and the environment.
So to all my fellow impact assessment professionals: you are valued, you are needed, and you are part of a profession with a vibrant future at ISEP. Let’s continue to shape that future together.
How to get more involved
Don’t forget to log in to MyISEP and sign up for the Impact Assessment Network newsletter to keep up with the latest developments, opportunities, and resources.
If you’d like to join one of our Impact Assessment working groups, guest-edit a Journal volume, or contribute to our guidance documents, email ia@isepglobal.org. We’d love to hear from you.
