Social Clarity creates a bespoke consulting team for each client brief from amongst our core team and associates. As needed, additional associates with the requisite skills are sourced from amongst our professional networks.
We ensure that our consulting teams have the optimum mix of skills and experience to meet the specific needs of our clients and deliver value.
Social Impact Assessment and Management
Lucas Batton
Lucas is an environmental and social impact specialist who has over 10 years experience working on major extractives sector projects in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Australia.
He has extensive experience in conducting social baseline and impact assessments and preparing social management plans for large, complex projects including several coal seam gas (CSG) to liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects in Australia – GLNG (Santos), APLNG (Origin / ConocoPhillips) and Surat Gas (Arrow / Shell).
Lucas has worked in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea (PNG) conducting social impact assessments, developing management plans, undertaking stakeholder engagement and implementing resettlement action plans. In Indonesia he prepared social baseline surveys, feasibility studies and provided in-migration management advice and community investment recommendations for BHP’s Maruwai Coal project.
Lucas worked on the PNGLNG (Exxon Mobil) and QCLNG projects (QGC / BG) where he managed contractor social performance and undertook compliance monitoring and due diligence.
He has experience working in accordance with the IFC Performance Standards on Social and Environmental Sustainability, Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (VPSHR) and World Bank environmental and social standards. He also has significant experience developing and managing community investment programs.
Lucas has a Bachelor of Environmental Planning from Griffith University, Australia, and a Certificate in Social Impact Assessment: Concepts, Methods and Techniques from Griffith University / International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA).
Petrina (Trina) Fahey
Trina Fahey has 20 years experience in the extractive and energy sectors across a range of functions. Specifically, she has spent the last 15 years working as a social performance and corporate affairs practitioner on international exploration and major infrastructure projects across Australia, the Middle East, Africa and the Former Soviet Union.
Trina supports infrastructure clients across Africa and the Middle East seeking to secure project financing from international financial institutions by ensuring that they satisfy lender environmental, social and governance requirements. Recent projects include a refinery development in Oman and a mineral extractive project in Kenya.
Prior to her consulting role, Trina worked as Regional External Affairs Manager, South & East Africa, for Tullow Oil, where she had functional accountability for social performance, public policy, political risk management and communications across the regional portfolio.
Trina has international experience in social baseline development, impact assessment and mitigation planning for major extractive industry infrastructure projects including Lake Turkana Oil Development Project (Kenya), South Omo Oil Exploration (Ethiopia), Lake Albert Oil Development Project (Uganda), Gaza Gas Project (Palestine / Israel) and Egyptian LNG (Egypt).
As Acting General Manager, Social Performance for QGC (Australia), she oversaw the social performance activities of the Queensland Curtis LNG (QCLNG) project and was accountable for socio-economic impact assessment, community/stakeholder engagement and delivery of the $150 million social impact management and mitigation plan.
Trina has developed political risk management strategies to support delivery of key business objectives; supported senior executives (to Board level) in pursuing robust political engagement at a range of levels from Ministerial to local council / district authorities; and managed local government / authority relationships.
She holds Bachelor degrees in both International Business and Commerce (majoring in Human Resources and Industrial Relations). Trina also has a Graduate Diploma in Communications (majoring in Financial Communication) from Queensland University of Technology and has undertaken a six-month corporate finance programme at London Business School. In 2013, she completed a Graduate Diploma in Community Aspects in Mineral Resource Development at the University of Queensland. She is an Associate of the Institute of Public Relations (London) and a member of the International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA).
Tim Hart
Tim Hart has more than 40 years experience in the fields of human resource management, social assessment, social development consulting and social performance auditing. Much of his work has been undertaken in the natural resources sector, with a focus on water and mining.
Tim has acted as an advisor to many major and mid-tier mining companies on issues of stakeholder engagement, empowerment and sustainable human development. He has also advised major international clients on management and institutional arrangements for sensitive cross-boundary water resources.
His expertise includes social baseline research and human development analysis; social impact assessment and social management planning; engagement planning and implementation; socio-economic development planning; socio-economic monitoring, auditing and due diligence; community resettlement planning and livelihoods restoration; capacity assessment and capacity building; corporate social investment assessment and planning. He also has particular expertise in issues related to artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM).
Tim offers world-class skills in the planning and facilitation of social development outcomes. In the mining sector, for example, he has designed and guided complex yet practical approaches to stakeholder engagement and relationship building, social management, corporate social investment, shared value and development partnerships.
Since 2009, he has facilitated an extensive engagement programme leading to the establishment of Community Development Trusts serving communities neighbouring Anglo American Platinum mines in South Africa. This work (including the contribution of colleagues) was recognised by the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2), winning Southern Africa and International Project of the Year awards in 2014.
Tim has an MA Human Geography from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, and a teaching degree from the Johannesburg College of Education. He is an IAP2 (SA) Board Member (since 2015) and past president of the South African Geographical Society.
Land Acquisition and Resettlement
Anne Girardin
Anne is a land information and administration expert with significant experience working across Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and the Americas in fragile and conflict-affected states and also in reconstruction and development contexts.
Anne has been involved in projects related to governance, environment, navigation, geomarketing and archaeology where her responsibilities have ranged from technical expert to project manager including business development advisor, auditor, trainer, communication advisor and mediator. She is currently supporting the National Land Observatory in Burkina Faso to configure open land administration tools to support the newly adopted rural land law and decrees. Registration of Rural Land Possession Rights are being deployed in 16 communes across Burkina Faso, following ‘fit-for-purpose’ land administration principles.
Anne is very versatile in undertaking data capture, processing and analysis (using different survey and geographic information system [GIS] equipment and software) to design and implement land information systems. She often acts as a ‘bridge’ between local leaders, users, cartographers, software engineers, project managers and donors. Her core focus is supporting organisations to transform data into information.
Most recently, she has been working with the United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) providing technical support for land administration software.
Previously, she worked in Nigeria providing technical support for land reform, with a special focus on: tenure security for land belonging to women; design of a property expropriation and resettlement model in rural areas based on the UN land tenure guidelines for ensuring good practices regarding traditional farmers; and training local government teams to undertake systematic land registration.
To support her work, Anne has regularly produced innovative communication materials (e.g. cartoons) accessible to a wide range of people, especially the poorest.
Anne has a Masters of Science in Land Engineering (Surveying and Topography) from the Ecole Supérieure des Géomètres et Topographes and is a Licensed Land Survey Engineer (in France).
Greg Huggins
Greg has over 20 years experience in the research and consultancy fields and specialises in resettlement planning, social impact assessment, resource economics and utilisation analysis, IFC compliance auditing and assessment, socio-economic survey research, public participation and facilitation, social research and consultancy with respect to corporate social responsibility planning.
He is a Director of Nomad Consulting (Pty) Ltd, a dynamic and innovative consultancy concentrating on socio-economic research analysis and resettlement planning, with extensive experience in the water, mining, infrastructure and energy sectors.
He has been involved in a wide variety of studies prepared to World Bank and IFC standards. Recently he has acted as a review consultant auditing various institutions and organisations against compliance with the IFC Performance Standards.. He has carried out audits and reviews commissioned by the Bank and lenders in Zambia, Ethiopia, Uganda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Mozambique, Democratic Republic of Congo and Mauritania.
Greg has worked extensively in the water, extractive and bio-energy sectors. He has been the project leader for social impact and resettlement studies for a suite of mining houses as well as bio-energy firms, oil and gas companies, housing projects and port development. These have included operations across northern, central and southern Africa; the Philippines and Malaysia.
Greg has a Masters of Social Science – Anthropology – from the University of Cape Town, South Africa.
Social Investment
Mary Arnesen
Mary has over 15 years wide-ranging experience in the corporate social responsibility (CSR) / sustainability arena – from the development of overarching CSR policies and objectives (including community investment programmes) to the auditing of company activities and the implementation of specific social programmes to international standards.
She has worked within the oil and gas sector in Angola, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Papua New Guinea and Mozambique over the last decade, dealing with complex and dynamic social environments.
Mary has worked with Oxfam, project managing NGO-private sector initiatives aimed at alleviating poverty within international supply (value) chains. This involved managing cross-country teams, internal staff and external consultants to deliver outcomes and, at a more strategic level, managing consultation processes with both internal and external stakeholders.
Most recently she has been working in Mozambique, providing support to Anadarko’s Social Management Team in the development and implementation of their stakeholder engagement and community investment programmes. This has included:
- drafting relevant social management plans to meet IFC compliance standards;
- facilitating the development of strategy for both stakeholder engagement and community investment and pulling together the implementation schedule;
- helping to raise awareness of the environmental and social management plans and associated activities within Anadarko;
- supporting Anadarko in the selection of community investment partners and in helping to develop their implementation plans.
Mary has an Honours degree in English and French from Otago University, New Zealand, and a Masters of Science in Development Studies from the London School of Economics.
Stakeholder Engagement
Michelle Hohn
Michelle is a sustainability and social performance consultant with expertise in the design and implementation of corporate responsibility, sustainability, and social performance initiatives for Canadian exploration and mining companies operating in developing countries. Her experience over the past 20 years has focused on sustainability strategy and reporting, stakeholder engagement, human rights impact assessments, and the corresponding strengthening of corporate standards, procedures and corporate governance policies surrounding international guidance and best practice for Responsible Business Conduct.
Michelle also provides guidance as to the presentation and communication methods that best reflect these multi-stakeholder, continuous improvement corporate efforts. Her early career began in the financial industry as a registered financial advisor. Knowledge of capital markets and regulatory reporting requirements as well as familiarity with investors as key stakeholders provides a unique layer to Michelle’s industry perspective, project input, and analysis.
In addition to being Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G4 Certified, Michelle has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Simon Fraser University and a Master of Arts degree in Professional Communications from Royal Roads University, both of which are in Canada.
Boreth Sun
Boreth Sun has more than 20 years development experience in the private and public sectors in Cambodia, the United States and Thailand, and was instrumental in the development of the emerging Cambodia civil society movement in the early 1990s, the post war era. He has successfully undertaken technical and management roles on short- and long-term development partner-funded projects in Cambodia, including as Team Leader for the ADB-funded Trade Facilitation: Improved Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Handling in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Trade Project and as Deputy Chief of Party for a USAID-funded Supporting Forests and Biodiversity Project.
Boreth has more than 15 years experience in the agriculture sector in Cambodia including in relation to access to finance for farmers/smallholders. He was one of the key players involved in establishing the first rice seed company in Cambodia: a joint- venture between the government, farmer seed association and associated staff, and has managed a number of agribusiness value chain projects. He has supported the formation and development of many farmers’ organisations and has strong working and personal relationships with key players in the agriculture sector (both private and public sector).
Boreth’s expertise spans agriculture, finance, agribusiness management, project design and management, civil society and local NGO capacity strengthening, training facilitation, project review and evaluation, farmer and association/community development, and cooperative governance.
Kyleigh Laughlan
Kyleigh is a highly motivated communications specialist with strong community relations, social impact and risk management skills. She also has highly developed project, change and operational management skills.
Kyleigh has sound experience in the development, implementation and management of integrated communications, stakeholder management, government relations, issues management, social impact, risk management and public affairs strategies. She has applied this experience across industry sectors including oil and gas, mining, defence, government and not for profit.
Kyleigh has a Bachelor of Social Science from the University of Newcastle, Australia, and is currently undertaking a Masters degree in Social Change and Development. She is a member of the Australian Institute of Public Relations (AIPR).
Cultural Heritage
Dr Ishanlosen Odiaua
Ishanlosen’s experience spans: 18 years as a university lecturer; organisation and delivery of cultural heritage training; project development, management and capacity building in conservation as well as programme monitoring and reporting; addressing the socio-economic issues linked to balancing development and conservation issues in developing countries.
She has hands-on experience in working with local communities for conservation and economic empowerment programs and a working knowledge of international heritage policies and conventions and environmental assessment. She is familiar with World Bank safeguard policies and IFC performance standards.
She worked with the UNESCO World Heritage Centre on an Impact Assessment related to the Lamu Port – South Sudan – Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) corridor and the new Lamu Port and Metropolis Development Project on the Lamu Old Town World Heritage Site. As part of a current World Bank consultancy, Ishanlosen is reviewing Environmental Assessment (EA) instruments prepared by borrowers in the Africa region to ensure compliance with the Bank’s environmental safeguard policies.
Ishanlosen has Bachelor and Masters of Science degrees in Architecture from the University of Jos, Nigeria. She also has a Master in Earth Architecture from the Ecole National Supérieure d’Architecture de Grenoble and a PhD in Art History from the Université Panthéon-Sorbonne.
She is a member of the International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA), International Council for Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and Expert Member, ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on Earthen Architectural Heritage.
Briony Eales
Briony is widely experienced in the fields of government and administrative law, insurance law, corporate law and banking and finance law.
Most recently, she worked as legal advisor to Sagittarius Mines, Inc. on its multi-billion dollar Tampakan copper-gold mining project.
She advised on general legal compliance with government regulatory frameworks, corporate policies and international social safeguards.
Briony prepared land acquisition contracts and advised on legal aspects of the resettlement program, including working to secure the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) of the Project-affected indigenous communities.
She is skilled at high-level stakeholder engagement with senior managers of a multi-national corporation and with regulatory bodies.
Briony has a Bachelor of Arts from the Australian Catholic University and Bachelors degrees in Business and Law from Queensland University of Technology.
Small and Medium Enterprise Development (SME)
Bruce Coyne
Bruce is an international development consultant with over 25 years of international experience encompassing international development consulting (strategic program direction, impact evaluation, private sector development), project finance, diplomatic trade postings to the United States [World Bank and the United Nations] and Japan, and also a wide range of management consulting assignments, including on resource sector projects.
His experience spans over 40 countries. Bruce has held technical and managerial roles on a range of aid initiatives throughout Asia, including the Australian government’s largest aid initiative, the Basic Education Program in Indonesia where he was Project Director.
He has led impact assessments of international development initiatives and private sector consulting assignments in social performance for resource sector companies.
Bruce has a Post Graduate Diploma in Management and has partially completed a Masters of Business Administration. He is currently on the Board of Ronald McDonald House Charities (Monash) and has held other Directorships of international companies. He has also been a member of a Board sub-committee on risk management for a publicly listed company.
Reputation and Brand Management
Kylie Bryden-Smith
As a marketing and communications professional, Kylie has experience working as a Board Director, Marketing Director, Marketing Communications Manager and Public Relations consultant in a diverse range of industries from the performing arts, tourism and major events to consumer goods, healthcare, executive leadership, financial services and government. She is a clear strategic thinker who approaches client briefs with enthusiasm, infectious energy and with a positive attitude.
Kylie’s recent roles have included:
- media relations and advocacy for the Better Planning Network, an organisation that is aiming to achieve sustainable local and state government planning within Australia; and
- public relations, marketing and sponsorship for The 100% Project, a not-for-profit organisation that is working to address the issue of gender equality in leadership of Australian organisations.
She has been a Board Director for a range of organisations and is involved in her local area providing marketing and communications support for local community groups.
Kylie has a Bachelor of Arts (Organisational Communications) from Charles Sturt University – Mitchell, Australia.