Steve Bonnell

Steve Bonnell serves as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Geography at Memorial University of Newfoundland while holding a leadership position at the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada. With over 25 years of cross-sector experience in impact assessment, he bridges academic research and practical application in environmental decision-making.

His educational credentials include:

• PhD in Strategic Environmental Assessment from the University of Dundee (2016)
• MA in Geography from Memorial University (1998)
• BA (Hons) in Geography from Memorial University (1995)

Dr. Bonnell's research centers on transforming Impact Assessment (IA) from a regulatory hurdle into strategic planning tool. Key thrusts include:

• Advancing Strategic/Regional Assessments for systemic environmental integration
• Optimizing IA efficiency specifically for renewable energy projects
• Addressing institutional barriers that reframe IA as permitting rather than design improvement

His work emphasizes contextual factors influencing corporate and regulatory adoption of effective IA practices.

Analysis of his 2020-2025 publications reveals a clear trajectory toward modernizing Canadian impact assessment frameworks. Recent work examines corporate strategic planning integration, renewable energy assessment efficiency, and implementation challenges under the new Impact Assessment Act, demonstrating consistent focus on theory-practice translation during regulatory transitions.

Dr. Bonnell actively seeks graduate students and collaborators, with current research involving multiple consented studies on IA project design and regional assessments. These projects engage regulators, proponents, and practitioners through structured surveys, indicating ongoing grant-supported research despite no specific funding details being provided.

As Head of Strategic and Regional Assessment Research and Planning, he leads a multidisciplinary team at the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada, facilitating collaborations between government bodies, Indigenous groups, and industry stakeholders to advance assessment methodologies in complex development contexts.