Paola van Houten - social developement
specialistPaola van Houten (BA, MA) is a Social Development
Specialist with ten years of experience in sustainability,
Corporate Social Responsibility, environmental management, policy
and strategy, social development and EIA on both UK and
international projects. Her main area of expertise is in the
environmental and social due diligence of international development
projects against best international industry practice (e.g. Equator
Principles and IFC Performance Standards), primarily in the
infrastructure and extractive (oil, gas and mining) industries.
This involves working with the Lender, Project Sponsor, host
Governments, contractors and stakeholders in developing responsible
and sustainable solutions to reducing the environmental and social
risks and impacts of projects and avoiding or managing inherent
reputational risks before or as they arise.
Since joining Mott MacDonald, Paola has worked as an EIA Project
Manager on transport projects, and more recently across a range of
industry sectors looking at social considerations relating to the
design, planning process and development of UK and international
projects. This includes assessing health, safety, cultural heritage
and community issues as well as providing detailed and practical
recommendations on associated social development risks and impacts
of development. Prior to joining Mott MacDonald, Paola worked as an
environmental and social consultant for international and
multilateral financial institutions (IFC, IADB, and IIC); on
natural resources management strategy and policy for globally
funded USAID projects; and CSR independent assurance and consulting
for large multinationals with global operations.
