Stakeholder Engagement
& Corporate Social Responsibility

Communicating with stakeholders is an essential part of earning a social licence to operate. While an organization’s stakeholders can be diverse and not always easy to identify, sustainable development requires that dialogue be initiated with all relevant parties so that acceptable solutions can be devised. Stakeholders can also present significant organizational risks when they are left unengaged. Stakeholder analysis and mapping is one of the first steps an organization should take, to be followed by more detailed management planning and communication. Our stakeholder engagement and corporate social responsibility services will help you earn, and then maintain, your social licence to operate:

  • Stakeholder identification, analysis, and mapping
  • Stakeholder management plans
  • Stakeholder engagement and consultation
  • Social risk assessment
  • Reporting and documentation
  • Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program development, analysis, and monitoring
  • Meeting / workshop design and facilitation
  • Customized research and analysis

Selected project experience:

Community Engagement Program

2012 – Present

Community relations advisor for a proposed gold mine in northern Canada. Involved in community stakeholder identification, the preparation of a community engagement plan, execution of community engagement activities (e.g. organizing public and stakeholder meetings, developing relationships with local stakeholders and community advisory groups, producing communications materials, tracking and responding to stakeholder issues and concerns), reporting on community engagement progress, and oversight of traditional knowledge studies conducted for the project’s environmental assessment process.

Establishing a Social Licence to Operate Amidst Complexity: Issues and Opportunities for Mining Industry Governance

2009 – 2014

Lead researcher on a multi-year project that conceptualized the various obstacles and opportunities associated with establishing a ‘social licence to operate’ (SLO) in the mining sector. Case studies were conducted on mining operations in the United States, Canada, Peru, and Papua New Guinea; a comprehensive literature review was completed; and 50 key informant interviews were conducted with mining stakeholders and observers. As a result, a series of guidelines for establishing a SLO were developed, a framework for assessing SLO determinants and outcomes was created, the concept of a ‘resilient’ SLO was introduced and defined, and key issues and opportunities for mining industry governance were described. Involved in the design, preparation, execution, and reporting of the research. This research resulted in a number of peer-reviewed journal articles and conference presentations.

Community Engagement Program

2007 – 2012, 2014

Involved in various aspects of the community engagement program for a proposed (and subsequently permitted) iron ore mine in northern Canada, including: stakeholder engagement planning, hosting community consultations, stakeholder issue tracking and management, and leading and supporting community-based research programs (e.g. traditional knowledge and socio-economic studies). Provided oversight of the Aboriginal language translation program, which included organization and execution of an interpreter/translator workshop, development of an Aboriginal language mining glossary, recruitment and management of a Canada-wide translating team, and meeting client translation deadlines. Also involved in other elements of the client’s community engagement program, including the development and engagement of community advisory groups, and relocation of two local Hunters and Trappers Organization (HTO) cabins to outside the project area.

Review of Aboriginal Consultation, Traditional Knowledge and Socio-Economic Considerations

2009

Review of existing Aboriginal consultation initiatives for a proposed mine in northern Canada and development of recommendations for future consultation activities. Also reviewed existing traditional knowledge and socio-economic research in the project area and developed recommendations for future research.

Review of Changes to the ISO 14001 and Responsible Care Standards

2005

Preparation of a report outlining proposed changes to the ISO 14001 and Responsible Care standards. This report also described potential implications of the changes in regards to the Ontario client’s corporate environmental and quality management systems.

ISO 14001 Environmental Management System Design and Support

2004 – 2005

Provided support in the design and implementation of an ISO 14001 environmental management system for a mid-sized transportation provider in Ontario.

Environmental Management System Maintenance and Support

2003 – 2005

Involved in the implementation, maintenance, and auditing of environmental and quality management system components (i.e. for ISO 14001, ISO 9001 and Responsible Care) for a mid-sized chemical recycling and manufacturing operation in Ontario.