Many people feel that professional documents, including the demanding ones for Impact Assessment (IA) or Assessment of Environmental Effects in New Zealand, have problems.

• • Documents are long, complex and difficult to follow.
• • Links between data, reasoning and decision-making are often unclear.
• • Audiences cannot follow technical discussions.
• • Preparing and sharing technical information is difficult

But these are not just writing problems - they are problems of how reasoning is structured and communicated. Professionals need specific thinking tools to address them. Organized Reasoning training follows a simple premise. Clear writing follows clear thinking. So it is not a conventional writing course: it is both a thinking and a writing course.

The workshop shares two toolsets, collectively called Organised Reasoning.

• Tools to build strong arguments from technical information
• Tools to present those arguments clearly in writing

Strong arguments, clearly presented are more likely to be understood and accepted by the audience.

The workshop will be held as four x 3.5-hour online sessions over two weeks. It includes opportunities for discussion and practice. You’ll receive handouts documenting the main ideas.

The workshop addresses, with presentations and participatory activities:

• Common errors in arguments and written documents
• Three features necessary to build strong arguments
• How clear argument supports better decision making and professional judgement.
• Five strategies to guide the tactics of argument and writing.
• How to build arguments clearly into written documents.
• Steps to keep documents short, efficient and streamlined
• How people implement these steps in their professional practice.

Participants will be limited to 15 people. Please note that there is no recording, digital summarizing or use of AI tools during these sessions.

If you are unable to register for the current workshop, email events@eianz.org to be put on the wait list to have the first opportunity to register for future workshops.

This workshop will run over 4 half-day sessions on the following dates:
Monday 24 August, Wednesday 26 August, Monday 30 August and Wednesday 2 September at 12:00pm - 3:30pm (AEST).

Meet the speaker

Dr Glenn Brown has over 25 years’ experience as an ecologist and educator specialising in environmental management. He has worked on environmental projects for industry, government and non-governmental organisations in Canada and other countries. He taught courses on Ecosystem Science and Management and on Analytical Thinking and Communications for 15 years in the masters program in Environment and Management at Royal Roads University in British Columbia and works as an independent consultant.

He has delivered this course at the International Association for Impact Assessment conferences in Florence, Durban, Brisbane, Vancouver, Kuching, Dublin and Bologna and through EIANZ, both face-to-face and online, over 80 times.

Click here to view Dr Glenn Brown's website and biography →

Testamonials for previous workshop participants

• "Very useful and applicable to not only IA but all aspects of the professional world".
• "Glenn was a wonderful trainer; very passionate about his field, and keen to share it. He is an excellent trainer who made a complex topic easy to understand"
• "I came into the course expecting practical tools that I could apply immediately in my work, and I felt that I got this"
• "The instructor paid attention to all the participants and was mindful of cultural and background differences"
• "Fantastic course. Can’t wait to put into practice"
• "Really well organised, very practical"
• "I really enjoyed this workshop. It is useful for anyone needing to make and communicate complex arguments"
• "Useful at all levels within an organisation"
• "Great course to take to better understand how to write more concisely! Applies to academia, grants, and consulting!"
• "Would highly recommend to others"

Not an EIANZ member?

Consider joining as a student, associate or full member today! To receive the member rate for the workshop, make sure you apply for membership prior to registering for the event! Join here →

CPD points

Cancellation and payment policy

Registrations are via credit card. If you are unable to register via credit card, please contact us at office@eianz.org. Should you need to cancel your registration, the following conditions apply:

• 50% refund up to 4 weeks before the course
• 25% refund up to 2 weeks before
• We will accept an alternative person in lieu of someone who can’t attend, who meets the criteria of the ticket
• Notification of cancellation must be provided to EIANZ Central Office by email office@eianz.org