Last year IEMA underwent a number of changes, all of which were designed to make us a stronger organisation.
Going by what I’ve heard from members in recent months, the benefits of those changes are already being felt, and I’m excited about what we can do together in 2015.
Last year IEMA underwent a number of changes, all of which were designed to make us a stronger organisation. Going by what I’ve heard from members in recent months, the benefits of those changes are already being felt, and I’m excited about what we can do together in 2015.
Members’ contributions to the 2013 consultation on IEMA’s vision for 2020 helped the Institute to identify some areas for improvement and growth. The key areas that were mentioned time and again were around the topic of sustainability, the need for a better structure for continuing professional development (CPD) and for IEMA to have a much stronger voice. So, I and my colleagues here in Lincoln spent a lot of time and effort throughout 2014 addressing those three issues.
In April last year, we adopted GACSO – the Global Association of Corporate Sustainability Officers – to provide the Institute with a firm foothold in the field of corporate sustainability. We’ve already grown the association’s membership by opening up the criteria to eligible IEMA members. With the publication of the white paper, Defining corporate sustainability, GACSO is making real headway in developing corporate sustainability as a profession.
Last September, we launched our training arm, iemaSTS, with the aim of delivering quality training at the necessary scale with our training partners. This development will make opportunities for environment and sustainability training and CPD more accessible than ever.
In October, the Institute launched its campaign, “Preparing for the perfect storm”, which encourages collaboration to bridge the environment and sustainability skills gap threatening the UK’s economy. This has had a huge impact, resonating with members, businesses and the media, and we will continue this campaign throughout this year.
Which brings me to 2015, which will provide a year of activity, engagement and influencing opportunities for IEMA members. In the first three months of the year, we will be revising the environmental skills map to ensure it incorporates sustainability skills. Later this year, the Institute will begin a consultation on its membership levels to ensure they are fit for the future. I hope you will all take part in the surveys and events that will form part of this consultation, as I hope the recent successes I’ve outlined remind you that your voice really does influence our work.
None of what IEMA did in 2014 would have been achieved without your input, and I think that together we can achieve great things, this year and beyond.
Tim Balcon, CEO of IEMA
