IEMA's 2011 conference: Putting environment professionals in the driving seat

This year IEMA's conference focuses on how environment professionals can help organisations to meet the challenge of sustainability

The skills, talent, knowledge and thought leadership of environment professionals are helping to lead business change. Last month’s launch of the IEMA competency framework enables employers for the first time to see the depth, complexity and value of an environment professional’s skills.

But the business community and environment professionals still face many challenges, from the transition to a low-carbon economy to understanding the limitations of operating within the natural capacity of the planet.

In November, IEMA’s “Sustainable business: environmental professionals driving change” conference will focus on how environment professionals can play a vital role in helping business and organisations meet these challenges and develop sustainable solutions.

The conference will attract more than 300 IEMA members, environment practitioners, business leaders and public sector decision-makers to Savoy Place, situated on London’s Victoria Embankment, on 15–16 November.

IEMA chief executive Jan Chmiel will chair this year’s conference and he will be joined by a distinguished list of speakers from the business world and government.

With less than five months to go before the two-day conference and just two weeks before the early bird booking discount expires, the environmentalist profiles the programme and the session speakers (with more to be announced) that members and other delegates can look forward to seeing in November.

Speakers at the 2011 IEMA conference

	Jan Chmiel – Chief executive at IEMA. Jan previously held a number of senior roles in large international organisations including Shell, the BG Group and the Energy Saving Trust.
	Peter Young – Strategy director at SKM Enviros, chair of the Aldersgate Group and a member of the government’s Green Economy Council.
	Miles Watkins – Director of sustainable construction at Aggregate Industries, and an ambassador for the UK Green Building Council.
	Steve Wallace – Global head of environment at National Grid Properties, corporate office, where he leads operations in both the UK and US.
	Andrew Bloodworth – Head of science, minerals and waste at British Geological Survey (BGS). He is responsible for all BGS research related to mineral and metal resource security.
	Henrietta Anstey – Head of environment and sustainability at BAE Systems. She is responsible for shaping strategy and direction across the global business.
	Peter White – Director for global sustainability at P&G (formerly Procter & Gamble). He was a key architect of the firm’s long-term sustainability vision.
	Fiona Ball – Head of environment at BSkyB, where she developed and manages the communication company’s environment and carbon strategy.
	Paul Turner – Head of sustainable development at Lloyds Banking Group’s wholesale division and a tutor on the Programme for Sustainability Leadership.
	Steve Evans – Professor of life-cycle engineering at Cranfield University and director of the EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Industrial Sustainability.
	Sarah Eppel – Head of sustainable products and consumers at Defra. Sarah leads work on behavioural change and embedding sustainability into procurement.
	Richard Aylard – Director and special adviser to the chief executive at Thames Water. Richard was previously director of external affairs and sustainability.

Conference programme