I2S has developed a world-first evidence base around the social aspects of infrastructure and energy delivery, which it continues to expand. These projects represent a world-first evidence base to inform decision making in the infrastructure and energy sectors and provide the building blocks for future research. Next Generation Engagement utilises this foundational evidence, and the research capabilities of the I2S, in providing bespoke research solutions to our clients.
I2S has developed and validated what we believe to be the world’s first engagement standard developed specifically for the infrastructure sector – the Infrastructure Engagement Excellence Standards. These standards and the accompanying assessment tools support professional to plan for, implement, monitor and evaluate optimal engagement.
Since 2017 I2S has tracked the experiences of Australian project professionals in infrastructure and engagement with the State of Infrastructure and Engagement Survey. In 2025 we expanded this work to New Zealand. Through the survey we have learned more about what’s driving project delays, cancellations and mothballing, the professionalisation of the engagement discipline in the infrastructure sector and the impact of social risk management on project performance.
I2S complements perspectives from industry professionals with perspectives from Australian communities through Australian Perspectives on Infrastructure. This work with more than 7,000 Australian community members provides a unique 360-degree view of the relationship between project teams and impacted communities and also of the needs of Australia’s most infrastructure-impacted communities.
I2S is also working toward industry’s long term priority of modelling the costs of social risk in the infrastructure sector. Our ARC Linkage Social Risk Research initiative is working with infrastructure professionals to understand how social risks are currently defined, identified, priced and managed and to build associated management tools to help make a step change in performance in this critical area.