Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA Plus) is an analytical process that assesses how diverse population groups experience the impacts of major projects differently. We all have multiple identity factors such as race, ethnicity, religion, age and mental or physical disability that intersect to make us who we are. By considering early in the assessment process that some groups may be disproportionately affected by a project, GBA Plus helps to ensure negative effects can be identified and mitigated. It ensures broad participation by asking ‘who is at the table and who is missing?’. GBA Plus leads to better outcomes and supports more fully informed decision-making in the public interest.

Impact assessment processes in Australia and New Zealand generally require proponents to consider how different population groups are impacted by a project. Most notably, this is addressed in the ‘distributive equity’ principle in the NSW Social Impact Assessment Guideline. But current practice generally falls short of the comprehensive approach required by GBA Plus. Consequently, closer examination of GBA Plus may identify ways to improve practice in Australia and New Zealand.

GBA Plus has been required for impact assessment of designated projects in Canada since the Impact Assessment Act came into force in 2019. In this webinar, GBA Plus experts from the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada will describe Canada’s experience with GBA Plus, provide examples of where it has been applied to projects, discuss benefits to the proponent and the community, and outline the challenges and lessons learnt in applying the approach.

Meet the speakers:

Gia Kim is a Policy Analyst at Impact Assessment Agency of Canada. She provides subject matter expertise on social and Gender-Based Analysis Plus and ensures that project assessment incorporate a broad and diverse range of views. Gia is a dedicated proponent for reconciliation, anti-racism, cultural safety and mental health. She holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of British Columbia.

Marion Doull is a Senior Policy Advisor in the operational policy division of the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada. Marion provides advice and guidance on data collection methods, indicators, and data analysis in the process of integrating GBA plus into impact assessments. As a feminist social scientist, she is committed to advancing methods and tools to understand and mitigate the impacts of resource development and extraction projects on diverse populations. Marion has a PhD in Population Health from the University of Ottawa.

This event will run off Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) and will NOT be recorded, you will need to attend live.

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