The Praxis Group™ | Involving People.

President

Founder of Praxis, Richard has nearly 30 years of experience in public consultation, social and economic impact assessment, group facilitation, survey research, consensus building, and social planning. Richard’s primary focus is the design, implementation, and delivery of large public consultation projects. Many of Richard’s projects have involved provincial and national consultations for both public and private sector clients. Internationally, Richard has undertaken projects in Vietnam, South Africa, Colombia, Peru, China, Britain, and the United States.

As a skilled communicator, Richard has conducted a myriad of workshops; facilitated numerous public, stakeholder, and professional meetings and forums; and presented to groups in local, national, and international contexts. Drawing from a wealth of experience, Richard has also provided training, advice, and guidance for capacity building projects.

Following are some more recent examples of projects directed by Richard:

• Alberta Park’s Planning Framework: Consultation Program
• Provincial Recreation Strategy: A Situation Analysis
• Alberta Land-use Framework: Public and Stakeholder Consultation Program
• EnCana: Corporate Responsibility Stakeholder Consultation
• AltaLink: Stakeholder Consultation Processes
• Ghost-Waiparous Access Management Plan: Consultation Program
• ImagineCALGARY: A Vision for a Sustainable City in 100 Years
• Cancer Research Priorities: Three-Stage Delphi Process
• Business Partners for Development: Training Manual
• Emerging Environmental Issues: Survey of Experts
• Westco Fertilizer Plant Decommissioning, Calgary, AB: Public Consultation Program
• Public Safety and Sour Gas in Alberta: Public Outreach and Consultation Program
• Talisman Energy: Community Relations Strategy for NW Alberta
• Four Mountain Parks Five-Year Management Review
• Suncor Oilsands Steepbank Mine Project: Stakeholder Engagement Process
• Environmental Assessment Capacity Building, Vietnam: Training Program

Throughout his career, Richard has been invited to serve as an advisor to a variety of organizations and projects including:

• Consultation Advisory Committee for the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development — Office of the Auditor General of Canada.
• Steering Committee on Integrating Social Concerns into Private Sector Decision Making — Social Policy and Resettlement Division, Environment Department, World Bank.
• Advisory Board of the Applied Social Research and Evaluation Program — Department of Sociology, University of Denver.
• International Association for Impact Assessment, Past President.
• International Association for Public Participation, Vice-President, International and Affiliates.

Richard graduated with a M.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Washington. Richard’s academic affiliations have continued throughout his career, which includes serving as an Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Environmental Design, University of Calgary.