IEMA Connect 2022 – A roaring success

24th November 2022


Web p7 IEMA Connect 2022

Related Topics

Author

Chris Seekings

Chris Seekings reports back on this year’s member conference programme

IEMA members have described this year’s IEMA Connect 2022, which was packed full of engaging sessions and speakers, as “interesting”, “excellent”, “compelling” and “fantastic”.

The week-long conference saw a wide range of experts come together for hard-hitting keynotes and panel discussions on net zero, climate change, embedding green skills and more, with thousands of IEMA members also taking the opportunity to expand their global network of contacts and continuing professional development.

IEMA members’ central role

Kicking off proceedings was COP26 president Alok Sharma, who spoke of the “central role” that sustainability professionals play in “keeping 1.5°C alive”, before describing the lead-up to COP27 as a “critical moment” to “redouble our efforts” in tackling the climate crisis.

In a rallying speech, he said: “Friends, the case for action is immense. The cost of inaction would be catastrophic. The choice is clear. Let’s all redouble our efforts and recommit to making the right choice for the planet and for future generations in everything you and your businesses do.

“Skilled climate, environment and sustainability professionals like those across the IEMA membership, many of whom are at the vanguard of the green skills revolution, will have a central role to play in keeping 1.5°C alive.”

“Environment and sustainability professionals will have a central role to play in keeping 1.5°C alive”

A packed schedule

Given the vast array of speakers and topics, it’s impossible to single out just one highlight from the conference.

However, with COP27 taking place in Sharm El Sheikh a couple of weeks later, it was particularly enlightening to attend a session on the sustainability challenges facing Africa, with speakers from Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Ghana discussing the unique issues facing the continent.

The Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, Sophie Howe, called for Universal Basic Income to improve life chances for young people, and several experts shared their insights on starting a career in sustainability.

Another feature of this year’s conference was the #IEMAChampions campaign, which saw IEMA members nominate any person or organisation that is going above and beyond for sustainability and the environment.

The huge interaction on social media was a testament to the great work that so many are doing.

IEMA also made several important announcements during the week, including the launch of its Green Careers Hub (greencareershub.com) – a new platform where anybody, from any sector or background, can go to understand how they can play a role in greening the economy. It also launched its Guidance on Sustainability for NHS Non-Executive Directors (bit.ly/Guidance_NHS_NEDs) and a new policy briefing on COP27 (bit.ly/COP27_briefing), giving members an overview of what to expect at the climate summit in Egypt.

Showcasing knowledge

As the curtain closed on IEMA Connect 2022, CEO Sarah Mukherjee MBE spoke of the encouragement she felt at seeing so many members networking together, and the honour of attracting such a wide range of experts speaking on major topics from around the world.

“Something I will personally take from Connect 2022 is the vast variety of areas of work that are represented by our members and speakers, and of course the level of skill and knowledge showcased – evidence of the crucial role that you all play,” she said.

“We are already looking ahead to next year, so make sure to watch this space for more information, and the chance to join us again for an unmissable event.”

IEMA members can watch sessions on demand at bit.ly/3gLjb1L

Subscribe

Subscribe to IEMA's newsletters to receive timely articles, expert opinions, event announcements, and much more, directly in your inbox.


Transform articles

Taking the lead

To make real change on sustainability, it’s time to redefine leadership models, writes Chris Seekings

1st February 2024

Read more

Caris Graham (she/her) is Diverse Sustainability Initiative officer at IEMA

1st February 2024

Read more

Lisa Pool reflects on the highlights of the past year and what they mean for the future

1st February 2024

Read more

The percentage of women working in the built environment sector rose significantly last year although people from ethnic minorities find it up to six times harder to be recruited, according to a major survey.

17th January 2024

Read more

IEMA’s CEO and deputy CEO, Sarah Mukherjee MBE and Martin Baxter, respectively, called for greater support for green skills at several events today on Youth, Children, Education and Skills Day at COP28.

8th December 2023

Read more

A look at the latest edition of Stephen Asbury’s IEMA-endorsed book, Health and Safety, Environment and Quality Audits, and the CPD opportunities it presents

28th November 2023

Read more

Media enquires

Looking for an expert to speak at an event or comment on an item in the news?

Find an expert

IEMA Cookie Notice

Clicking the ‘Accept all’ button means you are accepting analytics and third-party cookies. Our website uses necessary cookies which are required in order to make our website work. In addition to these, we use analytics and third-party cookies to optimise site functionality and give you the best possible experience. To control which cookies are set, click ‘Settings’. To learn more about cookies, how we use them on our website and how to change your cookie settings please view our cookie policy.

Manage cookie settings

Our use of cookies

You can learn more detailed information in our cookie policy.

Some cookies are essential, but non-essential cookies help us to improve the experience on our site by providing insights into how the site is being used. To maintain privacy management, this relies on cookie identifiers. Resetting or deleting your browser cookies will reset these preferences.

Essential cookies

These are cookies that are required for the operation of our website. They include, for example, cookies that enable you to log into secure areas of our website.

Analytics cookies

These cookies allow us to recognise and count the number of visitors to our website and to see how visitors move around our website when they are using it. This helps us to improve the way our website works.

Advertising cookies

These cookies allow us to tailor advertising to you based on your interests. If you do not accept these cookies, you will still see adverts, but these will be more generic.

Save and close