ERM at the 2022 International Association for Impact Assessment Conference

Nathan Braun is a Partner at ERM based in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Prior to joining ERM, Nathan spent over 20 years with the governments of BC and Canada, primarily as an environmental regulator, most recently as the Executive Project Director (Mining) at BC’s Environmental Assessment Office. Nathan has led over 40 different projects through one or more major milestones, in the mining, energy and other sectors. He has also delivered assessments for the government of Canada and other high profile decisions. He provided strategic leadership for the development of BC’s Environmental Assessment Act (2018) and associated regulations and policies. He has worked with federal, provincial and territorial regulators across Canada. He has extensive experience in Indigenous consultation, having worked with approximately 150 of BC’s 200+ Indigenous groups.

Allison has nearly ten years’ experience supporting midstream projects in Western Canada, including environmental permitting, assessment and project management in the oil and gas sector. She has been responsible for implementation of environmental commitments during construction as part of a team of environmental inspectors, served as a co-environmental advisor, and undertaken condition compliance auditing to support approvals conditions, as well as engagement with First Nations, stakeholders, and regulators.

François Landry has over 25 years of experience in the field of environmental, social, and safety consulting with the majority of his career spent within the extractives sector. His expertise covers the full range of impact assessments, permitting and management plan implementation for major projects. has managed and worked on projects in Canada, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Argentina, Albania, Alaska, Washington, Barbados, and New Caledonia.

Dr. Jackie Lerner has over 25 years of environmental consulting experience, including extensive work leading and executing impact assessments for large-scale resource development projects—primarily for mining and energy companies in British Columbia and the rest of Canada. Jackie has expertise in providing regulatory guidance and in overseeing deliverables associated with provincial, territorial, and federal, and international impact assessment processes. Her academic research focuses on methodological innovations for cumulative effects assessment, as well as practicable approaches to gender-based analysis as part of impact assessment.

Dr. Nicola Lower is experienced in managing complex environmental programs, and contributes technical and strategic advice to impact assessments, environmental permits and approvals, compensation plans, and baseline programs. Nicola has led environmental programs for the mining industry across Canada, at all stages from early exploration to post-closure. On behalf of proponents, Nicola has conducted reviews on behalf of Indigenous communities, and previously provided fisheries expertise to an Inuit Association, including attendance at Nunavut Impact Review Board Hearings and Technical Pre-Hearing Conferences.

Zoë Mullard has 12 years of experience in social performance, including stakeholder and Indigenous engagement, social baseline research and development, socio-economic and land use impact assessment, resettlement, and management planning. She uses a risk and impact assessment approach to understand complex issues faced by industrial developments. Zoë has a breadth of experience within the natural resources industry including mining, oil and gas, and the port/transportation sector. Zoë has project preparation and evaluation experience using International Finance Corporation Performance Standards, World Bank Safeguard Policies, and the Equator Principles.

Dr. Gillian Gregory has 12 years of combined consulting and research experience on the social dimensions of natural resource management and extractives, with a particular focus on mining and mine closure. Gillian has experience working internationally, including North America, Australia, and Africa, with extensive experience in Latin America. She has managed and provided technical and planning expertise for a variety of mine closure, mining transition, and land reclamation projects, including stakeholder identification and engagement. Gillian has also led and contributed to impact assessments and traditional knowledge and use studies related to power, gas, and mining projects in Canada and South America.