Doug Smith
Doug is an accredited Lead Assessor with extensive experience on hydropower projects ranging from 3 MW to 2,520 MW in capacity. He has led assessments on major projects worldwide, including Devoll (243 MW) in Albania, Reventazón (305 MW) in Costa Rica, Programme Sava (156 MW) in Croatia, Romanche-Gavet (94 MW) in France, eight projects totalling 353 MW in Ghana, Nam-Lik 1-2 (100 MW) in Laos, Bakun (2,520 MW) in Malaysia, Jostedal (290 MW) in Norway, Tina River (15 MW) in the Solomon Islands, and Semla IV (3 MW) in Sweden. In addition, he has served as an Accredited Assessor on a further 20 assessments across all global regions, covering projects with capacities of up to 14,000 MW.
Doug is a leading specialist on the Hydropower Sustainability Standard and played a significant role in its development, as well as in the preparation of related guidance and training resources. He was among the first assessors accredited to conduct and lead assessments under the framework.
He is the author of several How-to Guides, including those on Environmental and Social Assessment and Management, Communications and Consultation, and Erosion and Sedimentation. Doug is also an experienced trainer and provider of capacity-building programmes, having delivered training on hydropower sustainability to project developers and financial institutions at numerous events across all global regions. He has authored training content and served as a presenter for Hydropower Sustainability Alliance training courses.
With more than 30 years of international experience, Doug specialises in environmental and social management planning, environmental and social assessments, environmental and social action plans, and due diligence for hydropower projects at early, preparation, construction, and operational stages. He has long-standing experience in the review and preparation of Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) and associated specialist studies for hydropower projects. Doug is highly familiar with the environmental and social standards of international financial institutions and their guidance for large dams and hydropower, and has served as an adviser to organisations including the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and other international financial institutions.
Doug has worked in more than 45 developed and developing countries across all global regions. He holds a Master’s degree in Conservation from University College London and a BA (Hons) in Pure and Applied Biology from Oxford University.
Languages: English, French
Assessed projects
