As Director of the Natural Resources Centre, Marla Orenstein champions the responsible development of the West’s natural resources for the benefit of all.

Marla is a subject matter expert in impact assessment, and brings a comprehensive understanding of current standards and best practices including guidelines on impact assessment established by regulatory agencies, multilateral finance institutions, international agencies and industry organisations. She also currently holds the position of President of the International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA).

Marla has led projects for both the public and private sector, on behalf of government, Indigenous government, industry, and community organizations. Her focus has been on ensuring the wellbeing of communities in the context of development and change.

Her network includes industrial project proponents and industry organizations (e.g., Shell, Statoil, Eni, BP, Qatar Petroleum, the International Council on Mining and Metals); lending agencies (e.g., the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the International Finance Corporation); environmental and strategic consulting companies (e.g., Golder, Amec Foster Wheeler, Stantec, HDR, URS); academic units (e.g., Johns Hopkins, University of California, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen); national and regional government ministries (in Mongolia, Lebanon, United States, Canada, Uganda, Ghana, China), national and transnational organizations (the Global Fund, the World Health Organization, the US Centers for Disease Control, the Pew Charitable Trusts / Robert Wood Johnson Foundation) and many more.

Marla holds an M.Sc. in Epidemiology from the University of Edinburgh and a B.A. from McGill University. In her position as Director, Marla will lead efforts to ensure the West continues to prosper as we respond to new patterns of resource demand.