World Health Organization collaborative author Ryngan Pyper joins RPS

RPS is delighted to appoint World Health Organization (WHO) collaborative author Ryngan Pyper as its new Health & Social Impact Director.

As a professional consultant for nearly twenty years, Ryngan’s vast experience has seen him advise governments, international public health bodies, and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe on good practice for Health Impact Assessment (HIA).

Ryngan has been at the heart of defining what health means in impact assessment and how it is assessed when major decisions are made. Such assessments include Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), which shapes legislation, policy, plans and programmes; and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), which shapes individual major projects. He’s successfully advocated approaches that promote both public health and sustainable development.

Ryngan’s role will use his strong public health, environmental and legal background to deliver high quality assessments. He will be working on public and private sector projects across the UK and further afield. A significant hire for our business, Ryngan's expertise brings unique value to RPS’ work, including promoting opportunities for public health and building consensus with health stakeholders. These activities de-risk the consenting processes for clients and support better outcomes for society and the environment.

Ryngan comments: “It’s a great honour to be at RPS and I’m delighted to have joined. The team possesses great expertise and knowledge in the HIA field, and the work that’s been achieved is unparalleled in its international quality. I’m looking forward to complementing the business with my own expertise in health and social impact assessment and delivering the best value to clients.”

Ryngan is the first author.of a landmark WHO publication, “Learning from practice: case studies of health in SEA and EIA across the WHO European Region”, launching March 2022. The report sets out a clear WHO expectation, and supporting evidence from practice, that a comprehensive public health approach should be taken in SEA and EIA. This would be a significant shift for many, with resourcing and planning risk implications.

The WHO report describes good practice with reference to published academic literature and to practical examples from a range of WHO European Region countries. A key message is that SEA and EIA should consider not only the direct environmental effects on people’s health, but also the social, behavioural, economic and institutional consequences for public health.

Tom Dearing, Associate Director, Climate and EIA, Consulting UK & Ireland, comments: “Ryngan is a fantastic appointment, and his experience and career accomplishments to date are outstanding. With RPS being an internationally recognised HIA service provider, adding Ryngan’s industry knowledge and skillset will bring a great level of expertise and value to all client projects. He’ll be a huge asset in leading the HIA division.”

An Honorary Research Fellow and Member of the World Health Organization Collaboration Centre at the University of Liverpool, Ryngan previously held a Director role at BCA Insight Ltd.

This WHO publication builds on previous reports where Ryngan released guidance. These include: a leading EIA textbook chapter; United Nations draft guidance on health in SEA; an EU wide guide on health in EIA; and the guidance for Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland on HIA.

Looking forward, RPS continues to have a strong collaborative relationship with the WHO, a further report on the circular economy and health is expected out later this year.