International Association for Impact Assessment
Login

IAP2’s Fundamentals of Public Participation: Engagement in Times of Conflict

Online training courses

IAP2’s Fundamentals of Public Participation: Engagement in Times of Conflict

Learn what it really means to implement public and stakeholder engagement that matters — from building a strong foundation in engagement principles to knowing how to navigate the tensions that naturally arise when people and organizations are impacted.

Dates TBD

Register now

This course will dive into what it really means to host and implement public or stakeholder engagement that matters — from building a strong foundation in engagement principles to knowing how to navigate the tensions and controversy that naturally arise when people and organizations are impacted.

This course brings together two essential IAP2 learning experiences, into one integrated program. It is designed for practitioners who want to strengthen both the strategy and the humanity of their engagement practice. Through interactive workshops, real-world case studies, and reflective peer learning, participants will:

  • Define what public participation and engagement are—and what makes them effective and ethical in practice.
  • Explore the benefits, risks, and common misconceptions of engagement, and the role of leadership in building trust.
  • Apply IAP2’s Core Values, Spectrum, and Practice Framework to design intentional, values-based participation processes.
  • Examine the roots and dynamics of conflict, including emotional triggers, power, and influence.
  • Develop practical skills in active listening, empathy, and de-escalation to manage conflict constructively.
  • Learn to identify the early signs of tension and address them before they escalate.
  • Strengthen your ability to create inclusive engagement processes that hold space for differing perspectives and foster mutual understanding.

By the end of this course, you’ll be ready to design and lead participation processes that are grounded in IAP2’s globally recognized frameworks—building trust, inclusion, and collaboration even in the face of conflict or controversy.

Kim Hyshka is a trailblazer in high-stakes, high-impact engagement and communication and the powerhouse behind Dialogue Partners, a boutique public engagement consultancy. She doesn’t just facilitate conversations—she transforms them. With a deep passion for navigating complexity, Kim helps organizations, teams, communities, and leaders push beyond the status quo to create real, lasting change. Her expertise has shaped multi-million-dollar projects, influenced policy, and brought diverse voices to the table in meaningful ways.

She brings with her a long history with the International Association of Public Participation (IAP2) including holding the distinguished CP3 (Certified Professional Public Participation Professional – that’s a mouthful).  Additionally, Kim has been a licensed IAP2 trainer since 2015 and she regularly teaches the Certificate in P2/Engagement as well as many of the additional elective courses on behalf of IAP2 Canada and IAP2 USA as well as to Dialogue Partners clients. 

As a speaker, trainer, and facilitator, Kim brings the principles of IAP2 and Daring Dialogue to life, inspiring audiences to embrace bold, intentional conversations that matter. Whether tackling polarizing issues, navigating deep distrust or equipping leaders with the communication tools to strengthen relationships, Kim leaves audiences energized, empowered, and ready to engage in dialogue that moves us (and our projects) forward.

IAIA Members: USD$480  //  Non-Members: USD$580. Full payment must be received by the posted registration deadline.

All course times are listed in UTC. Make sure to check that the time of this course works for you in your time zone. 

Registration instructions: Create or login to your IAIA Member Compass account. Register online using a credit card. To pay via wire, choose the invoice option at checkout. If paying via wire, please keep in mind that payment must be received by the registration deadline, and wire transfers can take several days to process. Please plan accordingly. 

Please register early! The course will be cancelled if the minimum number has not been reached one week before the course start date. If the training course is cancelled at that time due to low enrollment, IAIA will notify you and provide refund information.

Payment & refund policies: Registration is not confirmed until payment has been received and a receipt has been issued. Pre-registration and pre-payment by individual course deadline is required. IAIA will refund registration fees upon written request received before the specific course deadline; a US$125 processing fee will be retained. After the course deadline date, no refunds will be issued for cancelations or no-shows. Substitutions for paid registrants may be made in writing without financial penalty.

It is obvious Kim has a passion for her work. it was a pleasure to be a part of the workshop because of this. I felt even more engaged because of her high level of enthusiasm and professionalism.

- Recent course participant

Kim was a great instructor. She had high energy and kept the moral of the group up. She is good at dealing with multiple personalities. She made adjustments to the learning examples /case studies when concerns were brought forward by certain participants.

- Recent course participant

Kim was extremely adaptive to the needs of the group. She was intuitive, articulate and motivating. One of her many strengths was how clearly she spoke with intention.

- Recent course participant

Kim was an absolutely incredible facilitator and the real-world examples of community engagement was extremely valuable. Her ability to keep us focused, engaged and on track was fantastic.

- Recent course participant

Can't make these dates?

Join our email list to get notified when new course dates open.

Join the list