THE IAIAsa
ANNUAL
AWARD
2013
Nominations to be submitted by:
Friday, 14th June 2013
Supporting documentation submitted by:
Friday, 5th July 2013
Submit your nominations to:
The IAIAsa Operations Manager: International Association for Impact Assessment, South African Affiliate
Phone: (011) 646-2834
Fax: 086-662-9849
E-mail: operations@iaia.co.za
www.iaiasa.com / www.iaia.co.za
QUALIFICATION CRITERIA
“Will my submission qualify?”
NATURE AND SCOPE OF THE SUBMISSION:
The submission may relate to innovative concepts, activities, tools, ideas, methods, or a whole projects (referred to
as action from here on) that advance Integrated Environmental Management (IEM) practice and the profile of the
sector.
The initiative submission may relate to the full scope of disciplines, tools and activities within the IEM field including
amongst others: (a) policy development, (b) training and education, (c) decision making, (d) impact assessment,
(e) environmental reporting, (f) environmental monitoring and auditing, (g) rehabilitation programmes,
(h) environmental framework development, etc.
That is, does the project meet the objectives of the Award showing: “excellence in Integrated Environmental
Management (IEM) practice that advances the Environmental Profession and demonstrates a clear contribution to
Environmental Sustainability”?
The submission may not relate to a product – such as a physical output or technology.
Submissions should be succinct, but well-motivated and documented covering such aspects as detailed below.
LOCATION OF THE INITIATIVE:
The IAIAsa Award is open to any initiative that has taken place within South Africa. Submissions from outside of
South Africa will be considered, but specific motivation should be included addressing this facet of the submission.
STATUS OF THE PROJECT:
The initiative must be near enough to completion to be assessed by the end of July of the year in which the
nomination is submitted.
The project must be current or recently completed, that is, within the last three (3) years.
Submissions that were finalists in past IAIAsa controlled awards are not eligible for the awards, however, submissions
that were rejected as not being sufficiently advanced at the time when they were submitted previously are
encouraged to re-submit if that status has changed.
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SCOPE OF THE PROJECT:
The scope of the project in terms of both spatial and temporal scale will be considered for each project on a case-bycase basis. That is, consideration of the project’s appropriateness and relevance to that scope will be integrated into
the adjudication process.
ELIGIBLE SUBMITTING ENTITIES:
Submissions are encouraged from the full spectrum of environmental professionals including (a) policy and decision
makers (i.e. regulating authorities), (b) non-government organisations (NGOs) and community-based organisations
(CBOs), (c) specialists, (d) private sector, (e) industry, (f) environmental assessment practitioners (EAPs), or
(g) academia / educators / research sector. Submissions can be made by individuals, the entire project team, or a
participating organisation. You may nominate another team’s project if you believe it to show excellence and best
practice, all we request is that you obtain permission from that team prior to submitting their nomination.
The award is open to non-IAIAsa members.
History and Objectives of the Award
The mission of the International Association of Impact Assessment (IAIA) is to advance innovation, development and
dissemination of best practice in impact assessment, management and policy throughout the world.
The South African Affiliate, IAIAsa, has since 2002 run an Award to give credit to the wider industry in the field of
Impact Assessment in its broadest sense.
The EPPIC Awards were first presented at the 1988 World Environment Day Symposium. This Symposium was
previously held annually under the auspices of EPPIC, the SA Society for Professional Engineers (SPE), the Associated
Scientific and Technical Societies of SA (AS&TS) and the Habitat Council. The Awards were made annually until 1999
and have honoured those who have made substantive and exemplary contributions to sustainable development in
South Africa.
IAIAsa thus sought to continue this very worthwhile tradition and from 2002 presented the award as the IAIAsa
Premium Award which was annually awarded to “to recognise excellence in environmental management through the
application of the principles of Integrated Environmental Management (IEM)”. The Award was presented for a
specific activity, namely a policy, programme, process, project or operation that had been developed, planned and
managed for the benefit of social and environmental sustainability. The acknowledged limitation of these awards
was that they gave preference to the larger scale projects and potentially overlooked best practice shown via smaller
projects and programmes that enhance the day-to-day practice of IAIAsa’s members.
To consider this issue, in 2011 the focus of the awards was shifted and the Hidden Talent Award was instituted. The
objective of the Hidden Talent Award was “to showcase best practice in Integrated Environmental Management in
South Africa”. This Best Practice Award sought to recognise innovative concepts, activities, tools, ideas, methods, etc.
that people from across the sector had developed, applied or conceptualised within larger projects or initiatives, or
which they implemented / applied in their everyday operations, and which demonstrate best practice in IEM. It is the
‘cumulative impact’ of such efforts that thus sought to raise the profile and standing of the sector.
A number of valuable lessons have been learnt through the various formats in which the Awards have been cast in
the past. Drawing on the rich history running from 1988, the IAIAsa National Executive decided in 2012 that the
Awards need to be reconsidered as a whole and thus the National Awards were not run in 2012, with the aim to have
a new combined Award rolled out in 2013 combining the best of the EPPIC, Premium and Hidden Talent Awards into
the new named …
The IAIAsa Annual Award
“To recognise excellence in Integrated Environmental Management (IEM) practice that advances
the Environmental Profession through showing best practice and demonstrates a clear
contribution to Environmental Sustainability.”
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SUBMISSION CRITERIA
“What do I need to submit?”
A six (6) page (maximum) summary and motivation as per the attached format that covers the Background and
Motivation items following. The motivation should be as concise as possible whilst considering the points presented
in this document. Critically, a summary section is required at the start of the submission. The importance of this
summary cannot be understated – this summary will be sent out to the IAIAsa membership when the nominations
have been received. This is done in the interests of transparency and to allow the members to provide input to the
adjudication panel prior to their detailed consideration of the full information pack submitted.
BACKGROUND:
Provide information on the project that summarises:
a)
b)
c)
d)
Nature – policy, programme, implementation, environmental assessment, reporting, education, training, etc.
Location and extent (sphere of influence).
Motivation – the need, function and/or purpose of the work / activity / project / innovation.
Institutional summary:
i. Project team and client (roles and responsibilities) (who developed / implemented it?),
ii. End-users / beneficiaries (who has been involved / benefited?).
MOTIVATION:
The motivation should include reference to relevant evidence (i.e. documentation, data, correspondence, other
awards, press releases (please be selective!)), that clearly demonstrates:
a) Integrated Environmental Management (IEM) principles – Application of IEM principles in the work presented.
b) Professionalism – A high quality / standard of work and integrity of the team’s approach and conduct in the
project.
c) Innovation – How the work is different to or builds on existing standards / benchmarks
d) Best practice – What makes this project best practice, that is, pushes the greater industry forward towards the set
goals of IEM and sustainability.
e) Sustainability – How the approach and/or outcomes contribute to the achievement of sustainability.
f) Lessons learnt – Reflection on aspects that could be further improved and thereby advances the sector.
Benchmarks against which the success of other projects may be tested can also be included.
Supporting information should be submitted in electronic format (preferably on a CD/DVD) and should be chosen for
direct relevance and to prove specific points. Guidance should be included as to where points of specific interest can
be reviewed.
PRESENTATION CRITERIA
“What do I need to present at the Conference?”
It is clear from previous Award processes that the presentation of the project to the IAIAsa members is a critical part
of the final adjudication process. As such, any submitting person / teams should ensure that they will be present at
the National Conference and that they have developed a presentation specific to the Award process and its goals.
A slot of fifteen to twenty (15 – 20) minutes will be allowed during a dedicated plenary session at the conference,
working on the basis of the finalists presenting in the session to the IAIAsa conference attendees. All attendees of the
conference are encouraged to attend this session as it relates to what the Association believes to be “cutting edge” in
our profession. All attendees of the session will have an opportunity to raise concerns or obtain more detailed
information on the project, as well as teasing out additional information that will be taken into account by the
judging panel prior to the final decision being made. The Award will then be made at the Gala Dinner of the
Conference.
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ADJUDICATION
“How will the Award be adjudicated?”
The Award is adjudicated through a series of steps. This multi-step process is so as to ensure a robust, well-informed,
transparent process that is open to interrogation if required by the IAIAsa membership.
STEP 1: IAIASA MEMBERSHIP FEEDBACK:
Once collated and checked for completeness, nominations are sent out to the IAIAsa membership allowing the
opportunity for any specific concerns / objections to be raised and investigated.
STEP 2: ADJUDICATION PANEL AND DETAILED REVIEW:
At the end of July / during August an adjudication panel gathers to review the full submissions. Any submissions for
which the supporting documentation has not been presented are disqualified if not made available to the panel
timeously. The adjudication panel comprises of IAIAsa National Executive Committee members, including past
Presidents, while representatives from past winners are given the option to form part of the committee, and the
remainder of the panel are co-opted by the Award Co-ordinator from the IAIAsa membership to serve in this process.
A detailed evaluation process is undertaken by the panel which considers the critical considerations as detailed in this
document. The feedback from the IAIAsa membership is a critical consideration – feedback from the members, if
verifiable, may be used to potentially exclude nominations before they are considered further.
STEP 3: PRESENTATION AT CONFERENCE:
The formal presentation by the finalists (normally set at three (3)) is thus a chance to provide any additional
information, or to respond to queries raised at the presentation or those received previously.
STEP 4: FINAL DECISION:
The adjudication panel will then meet to decide which of the finalists is the winner.
Note: Depending on the quality and/or nature of the submissions made, fewer finalists than three could be selected,
or no award may be presented for a particular year, as has occurred in the past.
STEP 5: THE AWARD PRESENTATION!
CONDITIONS
• All Awards will be made on merit, with evidence of demonstrated excellence and outstanding contribution to
achieving sustainable development.
• Prospective applicants for the IAIAsa Annual Award should submit a Nomination Form (attached) as soon as
possible, as an expression of interest, to guide the Awards Committee on the conduct of the competition.
• The Summary section of the nomination form should be concise but sufficient to be provided to the IAIAsa
membership in isolation to allow for input to be made.
• Clarity in the wording of the title of the project and the names of the project team is requested as the information
included on the nomination forms will be used on the certificates / trophy if chosen as a finalist / winner.
• A distinction is drawn between the Nominating Body, and the Proponent, as these two may not necessarily be the
same organisation. In order to acknowledge the obvious role of the Proponent in the Activity (if they are not the
nominating body), it is the intention that they should if at all possible participate and receive credit at the Award
ceremony.
• Nominations judged to be the best finalists for the Award will be invited to give a presentation on their submission
IAIAsa AWARD – 2013
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as part of the Conference programme.
• All finalists will receive a certificate; the winner will be awarded the floating trophy to display for the year.
• Every effort will be made to keep the winner confidential until the moment of announcement at the Conference
dinner, in order to contribute to an atmosphere of suspense.
• The Award will not necessarily be made every year.
• IAIAsa reserves the right to retain material submitted until the end of July of the following year for exhibition and
other promotional purposes. Whilst all reasonable precautions will be taken to ensure the safe-keeping and
subsequent return of material submitted in support of nominations, IAIAsa will not be liable to any entrant for loss
of, or damage to, any such material, whatsoever the cause.
PREVIOUS AWARD RECIPIENTS – EPPIC AWARD
1988
Eskom
Palmiet Pumped Storage Scheme, Western Cape
1989
Richards Bay Minerals
Tisand Project, St Lucia, KwaZulu-Natal
1990
Environmental Evaluation Unit, University of Cape
Town
Course: “Practical Techniques in Environmental Impact
Assessment”
1991
Amcoal Colliery and Industrial Operations Limited
New Vaal Colliery
1992
Denel
Houwteq Facility Establishment Project, Haasvlakte
1993
Derek Chittenden & Associates
Jakkalsfontein Coastal Estate
1994
Department of Environment Affairs
SANAE IV: Comprehensive Environmental Evaluation Process
1995
De Beers Consolidated Mines
The Venetia Balance
1996
Eskom
Environmental Impact Assessment on Linear Developments
1997
Alusaf Limited
Hillside Aluminium Smelter Project, Richards Bay
1998
Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority / Highland
Delivery Tunnel Consultants
Highlands Delivery Tunnel, Lesotho Highlands Development
Project
1999
Hawkins, Hawkins & Osborne
Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Upgrade Project
PREVIOUS AWARD RECIPIENTS – IAIAsa PREMIUM AWARD
2002
CSIR / ACER / MGM
Hillside Aluminium Smelter Expansion Project, Richards Bay
2003
Skorpion Zinc project Owners Team
Skorpion Zinc Mine and Refinery, Namibia
2004
Sasol (Pty) Ltd
Sasol Gas Pipeline Resettlement
2005
Department of Water Affairs & Forestry
Relocation Action Plan for Nandoni Dam
2006
Pezula Private Estate, Knysna
Pezula Private Estate
2007
2008
2009
2010
IAIAsa Regional Conference – Awards not run due to focus of the conference being wider than South Africa alone
TCTA
Berg River Water Project
Award not given as nominations submitted not seen to be of the calibre of previous winners
SSI (now Royal HaskoningDHV)
Guide to the Integrated Coastal Management Act
PREVIOUS AWARD RECIPIENTS – IAIAsa HIDDEN TALENT AWARD
2011
Carried out at Branch level with all presentations given at the IAIAsa National Conference
2012
Awards not run due to intent to fully rework the awards and re-run them in 2013
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NOMINATION FORM
Nomination may be submitted in hand-written or electronic format, please however confirm receipt telephonically
or via email. Please request the document in electronic format if so required.
DATE OF
SUBMISSION:
ACTIVITY NAME – What short name shall this activity be known by? (30 characters maximum)
ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION / SUMMARY: (1 PAGE MAXIMUM – SUBMIT IN ELECTRONIC FORMAT)
LOCATION:
NATURE OF THE SUBMISSION (PROJECT, PROGRAMME, etc.)
ACTIVITY DISTINCTIVENESS (BEST PRACTICE, SUSTAINABILITY FACETS, BENEFITS TO WIDER SOCIETY, INNOVATION):
WHAT SUPPORTING INFORMATION WILL BE SUBMITTED?
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NOMINATION FORM
NOMINATING BODY:
NOMINATING BODY REPRESENTATIVE:
Name:
Position:
Phone:
Cell:
Postal:
Fax:
E-mail:
ACTIVITY PROPONENT:
PROPONENT REPRESENTATIVE:
Name:
Position:
Phone:
Cell:
Postal:
IAIAsa AWARD – 2013
Fax:
E-mail:
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