IEMA is working constantly to fulfil one of the main objectives of its Vision 2020 strategy: to increase its influence and reach.
This is an all-encompassing exercise, consisting of top-level policy engagement, media activity, member consultations, international development, and requires strong leadership. A new addition to the leadership team is commercial director Tom Taylor. He is taking strategic responsibility for increasing IEMA's influence, an objective set by members during the consultation in 2013 on the future of the institute and the development of Vision 2020.
Taylor has previously held executive and non-executive roles in the environment, health, agriculture and accountancy fields. He brings this wealth of experience to IEMA, where he now leads the development of the institute's brand, media, communications and commercial products.
Taylor said he aimed to ensure IEMA members get the best possible experience, value and recognition from their membership through an unrivalled range of benefits they receive and from the satisfaction of being a part of a growing, dynamic and highly influential professional body.
"IEMA has enormous potential to be a real game-changer. Given the critical need for every member of every workforce in the world to have the right sustainability skills, the time has come for IEMA to have a much bigger influence," Taylor said. "We are already seeing a definite shift in the way IEMA is recognised and its wide scale of influence; I aim to increase that momentum so that IEMA membership grows in number, influence and reach."
Further to his role at IEMA, Taylor has just started working with the Consumer Council for Water (CCWater), becoming the organisation's committee chair at the beginning of October. As the organisation's "consumer champion" in Wales, Taylor represents the views and interests of water customers in the country. He was appointed by Carl Sargeant, minister for natural resources in the Welsh government, and was welcomed by Alan Lovell, chair of CCWater, who said: "We're looking forward to Tom playing a leading role in championing the interests of water customers across Wales."