EIA Community welcomes four new Steering Group members

Meet the new steering group members

Gary Chapman, MIEnvSc, CEnv

I am an experienced private and public sector environmental consultant (since 2012), Chartered Environmentalist, Full Member of the IES and fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. I currently act as an Environmental Advisor specialising in scrutiny and advice on Environmental Impact Assessment and Habitats Regulations Assessment matters for the Planning Inspectorate, the body responsible for planning appeals and the examination of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs).

My advice is reported to examining inspectors and ultimately the relevant UK Government's Secretary of State on NSIPs. I am also a team leader of up to five junior staff and am responsible for their training in environmental matters.

Jamie Gleave, CEnv, CSci, MISEP, MIEnvSc
I am an experienced environmental consultant specialising in the coordination, delivery and review of Environmental Impact Assessments for strategically important and nationally significant projects. My career spans more than two decades across the transport, regeneration, energy, oil and gas, leisure and waste sectors. Across my career, I have served as a subject matter expert on EIA within several major consultancies, and have been responsible for maintaining the “EIA Quality Mark” accreditation of three multidisciplinary organisations. I have authored technical papers, published articles on EIA practice, delivered training to practitioners, and presented expert evidence at Development Consent Order examinations and planning committees. I am also highly experienced in Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment, having delivered and reviewed numerous technical assessments throughout my career and prepared expert evidence for public inquiries. I provide global technical leadership on EIA practice, driving the development and sharing of best‑practice approaches across international teams. I am an active contributor to professional guidance and capability building within the UK impact assessment community, regularly peer‑reviewing emerging guidance and supporting its development. I also support practitioners pursuing chartership, guiding and mentoring individuals as they advance their professional development.

I am a member of both the IES EIA Community Steering Group and the ISEP Impact Assessment Steering Group, contributing to national leadership in the profession.

Colin Slater MIEnvSc
I am a Lead Environmental Design Manager for the Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV) with over 20 years of experience in Environmental Impact Assessment and landscape restoration. Currently, I oversee the environmental design for a 90km section of the HS2 route, where I lead multidisciplinary teams to embed sustainability into large-scale infrastructure projects. I am an advocate for the avoidance principle, focusing on designing out environmental impacts before construction through collaboration with environmental, engineering and engagement teams. I actively support junior colleagues to lead carbon and biodiversity initiatives.

Prior to my current design and assurance role, I spent several years at Jacobs as a Senior EIA Coordinator. In that capacity, I led or supported the delivery of complex infrastructure EIAs, from on early-stage screening, scoping, and alternatives analysis through ES delivery. While my current role in BBV continues to be rewarding, I concede that working intensely within the HS2 bubble has left me a little rusty on day-to-day EIA practice. However, I am keen to look ahead and play an active role in understanding and help shaping EIA and the transition to Environmental Outcomes Reporting (EOR).

Astrid Tishler, MIEnvSc, CEnv
I am an Associate Director and Chartered Environmental professional with over 15 years’ experience in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), specialising in major infrastructure and urban regeneration projects. My experience spans Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects across the solar, nuclear, aviation and water sectors, as well as complex urban regeneration schemes in London.

I focus on delivering robust environmental assessments and driving sustainable outcomes on projects.

Get involved in the Community

Our EIA Community holds regular meetings and events. Our next Community Meeting is taking place in November. Make sure you are signed up to the Community mailing list in your Member's Portal!