Session proposals invited

Submit a proposal to chair a session by 30 July

IAIA27

Ka mua, ka muri: Looking back for the future of impact assessment

46th Annual Conference of the International Association for Impact Assessment

20-23 April 2027
Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre
Ōtautahi Christchurch
Aotearoa New Zealand

With more than 50 years of formal, legislative impact assessment behind us, we are at a pivotal moment of global reflection and renewal:

  • Are we using the accumulated knowledge and experience about IA to meet emerging challenges?
  • Have we followed a steady path of progress, or experienced cycles of innovation and setback?
  • What valuable approaches have we left behind that we now urgently need?
  • What lessons can we apply to ensure that the practice of impact assesssment improves in the future?

Inspired by the Māori proverb Kia whakatōmuri te haere whakamua—beautifully described by Dame Patsy Reddy, former Governor-General of Aotearoa New Zealand, as “look to the future while being mindful of the past”—IAIA27 challenges us to move forward with intention, wisdom, and courage.

This conference is your opportunity to help define the future of impact assessment.

We invite planners, practitioners, researchers, regulators, Indigenous leaders, community and industry representatives, and early-career professionals to bring forward bold ideas, critical reflections, and practical solutions. Together, we will explore how impact assessment can evolve to meet today’s complex environmental, social, and governance challenges.

Indigenous communities, in particular, have long developed deep and place-based understandings of environmental systems—knowledge refined over centuries and embedded within culturally grounded management practices.

Recognizing, respecting, and elevating Indigenous rights and knowledge systems is not only essential for equity, but vital for strengthening the future of impact assessment practice worldwide.

Conference streams include:

  • The evolution of impact assessment: how did we get here, and where are we headed?
  • Being adaptive: rethinking impact assessment in a rapidly changing world
  • Revisiting past practice: lessons we should not have forgotten
  • Respecting traditional, cultural, and local knowledge in impact assessments
  • Indigenous-led impact assessment and management
  • Changing baselines and the critical role of monitoring
  • General impact assessment and each of IAIA’s special-interest Sections
  • The evolution of impact assessment: how did we get here, and where are we headed?

Join us in shaping the future of impact assessment by drawing strength from the past, embracing diverse knowledge systems, and reimagining what is possible.

Your voice, your research, and your experience matter. The future is not predetermined. Let’s move it forward together.

Join us to share insights, advance best practices, and drive meaningful change in environmental assessment communication!

hosted by

IMPORTANT DATES

18-19 April 2027:  Pre-conference training courses and technical visits

20-23 April 2027:  IAIA27 Conference

24 April 2027:  Post-conference technical visits

1 October 2026:  Online registration opens

13 January 2027:  Presenter registration deadline & early bird rate deadline

31 March 2027:  Final registration & payment deadline for regular attendees (No on-site registrations accepted)

10 June 2026:  Deadline for training course proposals (no exceptions)

30 July 2026:  Deadline for session proposals (no exceptions)

3 August 2026:  Sponsored meeting proposal forms due

31 August 2026:  Session chairs notified of acceptance status

7 September 2026:  Paper & poster abstract submission opens

1 October 2026:  Preliminary Program available

2 November 2026:  Deadline for submission of paper or poster abstract (no exceptions)

3 December 2026:  Authors notified of paper or poster acceptance status

13 January 2027:  Registration & payment deadline for presenters & all individuals to be listed in the final program (no exceptions)

31 May 2027:  Deadline for optional papers

supported by Tourism New Zealand

About Christchurch, New Zealand

Nestled on the east coast of Aotearoa New Zealand’s Te Waipounamu South Island, Ōtautahi Christchurch is a vibrant city where innovation meets natural beauty.

Known as the “Garden City,” it blends historic charm with bold contemporary design, shaped by a remarkable spirit of recovery, resilience, and renewal. With the Ōtākaro Avon River winding through its revitalized center, easy access to beaches and the Port Hills, and the Southern Alps just beyond, Christchurch offers a unique balance of urban energy and outdoor adventure.

Technical visits, training courses, and more

IAIA27 will offer conference sessions, training courses, sponsored meetings, technical visits, and networking events that will promote learning, networking, and making unforgettable memories.

  • One and two-day training courses are offered in the two days prior to the start of the conference. Taught by experienced instructors, these courses cover a wide range of topics.
  • IAIA conferences offer 130+ technical sessions. No matter your sector—academia, government, industry, donor, consultant, or other—there is something for you.
  • Technical visits will be available before and after the conference. Hosted by IA professionals, participants will learn about projects in the region as well as experience some regional culture.
  • Networking events such as the welcome reception, newcomer network, and banquet offer entertainment and opportunities to expand your network beyond your usual circle.