Environment & Sustainability Professionals' Conference
Wednesday 19th October -
Wednesday 26th October 2022
IEMA Connect is the must-attend inaugural event for everyone working, studying or interested in environment and sustainability.
Join our network of over 18,000 professionals and gain access to our unmissable conference to watch expert-led sessions, global panel discussions on net zero, climate change, COP27, upskilling to a greener economy, and more! Get inspired, expand your global network and enhance your CPD. The times shown are UK time.
Are you an existing
IEMA member?
You must be an IEMA member to attend IEMA Connect.

Agenda for Environment & Sustainability Professionals' Conference
12:00 - 1:00
New Zealand Networking session
This session is taking place at 12pm NZT on Wednesday 19th October. Join our New Zealand Networking Session to connect with other IEMA members in your area. This is an 'open' session designed to give you the opportunity to engage with peers, build your network and meet members from your Regional Steering Group.
9:00 - 9:20
Welcome and introduction from IEMA CEO

Sarah Mukherjee MBE
CEO of IEMA

Alok Sharma
President for the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference
9:30 - 11:00
Understanding global environmental and sustainability challenges
This panel discussion will explore the global environment and sustainability challenges that governments, businesses and civil society face and the action that is required to tackle them.

Sarah Mukherjee MBE
CEO of IEMA

Henry David Bayoh
Senior Planning & Development Officer/Head of Climate Change for the National Tourist Board, Sierra Leone

Will Lockhart
Deputy Director, Joint Head of International Environment Negotiations at Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Sergey Kononov
Manager, Department for Programmes Coordination of the UNFCCC Secretariat
12:00 - 1:00
Regional Networking Sessions
Join our Regional Networking Sessions to connect with other IEMA members in your area. These 'open' sessions are designed to give you the opportunity to engage with peers, build your network and meet members from your Regional Steering Group. Not sure which Region you're in? Use this map to help you choose.
9:00 - 9:30
Time is running out for our Future Generations
We've got 8 years left to prevent irreversible harm to our people and our planet. Predictions show that we aren't doing enough to meet our targets. In 2015, Wales introduced ground-breaking legislation that enshires the rights of future generations into law. Join Sophie Howe as she tells us about Wales doing things differently for the future.

Sophie Howe
Future Generations Commissioner for Wales
9:00 - 9:45
The organisation of the future - bridging the green skills gap
All organisations will be expected to commit and contribute to mitigating and repairing environmental damage, doing so while remaining economically viable will require different ways of operating from top to bottom, placing new demands on workers at all levels. Our panel will discuss the opportunities and hurdles organisations will encounter as we see the economy switch to a greener economy, whilst also outlining the necessary steps in plugging existing skills gaps and potential skills gaps of the future, what measures need to be taken or have been taken, and how new ways of working can impact this.

Laila Takeh
Head of Net Zero Transformation at Deloitte

Adam Read
External Affairs Director at SUEZ Recycling & Recovery UK
James Clare
Director Levelling Up, The Union, Climate Change & Sustainability at UK Ministry of Defence
9:00 - 10:30
IEMA Biodiversity and Natural Capital Network – Sowing the Seeds of Sustainability
The prominence of biodiversity and natural capital has increased nationally and internationally on business agendas. In this event we consider key developments and the topics of importance on members’ radar.

Faye Durkin
Head of Ecology and Regional Director at Ecus Ltd

Kerry ten Kate
Trustee and Chair of Conservation Committee at RSPB

Jonathan Nichols
Principle Natural Capital Consultant at Atkins

Mark Johnston
Strategy Lead for Biodiversity at BP

Dr Stephanie Hime (FIEMA)
Director at Little Blue Research

Amy Coulthard
Head of Operations at EnTrade

Lesley Wilson
Policy and Engagement Lead at IEMA
10:00 - 10:45
IEMA CPD Process
Join this session to learn how to make the most of the IEMA CPD process. The session will cover the purpose of CPD and CPD requirements of our membership levels. The session will also give an overview of the CPD Quality Assurance and sampling process. We want to tailor the session to your requirements, so if you plan to attend this session and have any specific areas you’d like us to cover, please let us know beforehand via email to [email protected]

Dave Dowson
Senior Environmental Consultant at
10:00 - 10:45
Welcome to the Impact Assessment Stream
IEMA Policy and Engagement Lead for Impact Assessment Rufus Howard and Chair of the Impact Assessment Steering Group David Hoare, welcome IEMA members working or interested in Impact Assessment and provide an introduction to IEMA's Impact Assessment Network and highlight activities over 2022 and planned for 2023.

Rufus Howard
Policy and Engagement Lead at IEMA

David Hoare
Technical Director at RSK
10:00 - 11:00
How organisational decision making undermines sustainability and what we can do about it
Organisational decision making is prone to conscious and unconscious biases and influences that corrupt and undermine the intended outcomes. The causes arise due to the complex intermingling of individual, group and organisational ethics, leadership, and cross cultural effects. Action relating to sustainability and climate change require long term decision making are even more prone to biased decision making due to moral disengagement. The session will explore how and why sustainability decisions are so difficult to take and what organisations can do to increase the effectiveness of their decision making to address long term challenges.

Dr Michael Nates
Director at Earth Active
11:00 - 11:45
Pathways to net zero: Why net zero?
As part of IEMA’s pathways to net Zero course, this will be a great opportunity for you to get a taste of the course or refresh your knowledge. These sessions are targeted at those who want to understand the course as a route for developing their colleagues understanding or for someone wanting to see if it’s what they after.
In this first session we will touch on:
- Summary of scientific consensus on climate action and principal recommendations of the IPCC AR6 Climate Change 2021 report and explanation of the key greenhouse gases
- Climate model predictions and scenarios including carbon budgets and reduction pathways necessary to keep warming below 1.5 globally (and the necessity for net zero)
- International agreements and governance for net zero including the Paris Agreement 2015
- Differences for a net zero approach between global level, state level entities and individual actors (e.g., companies)
- Introduction to outline terms including net zero, carbon neutral, climate neutral, climate positive (and negative)
- Introduction to carbon offsets and carbon removals
- UK context – Climate Change Act, SECR and ESOS

Peter Watts
Director of Watts Sustainability
11:00 - 11:45
Careers and CPD in Impact Assessment
In this session Rufus Howard is joined by Nicola Parker - Senior Project Manager, Defence Infrastructure Organisation, Stephanie Ball – Senior Environmental Advisor/Biodiversity Net Gain Advisor, National Highways, Eseld Imms - Associate GIS Consultant in the Environment and Social division at Mott MacDonald
and Phil Le Gouais Environmental and Social Expert (Independent) to discuss IA careers and continuing professional development.

Rufus Howard
Policy and Engagement Lead at IEMA

Nicola Parker
Senior Environmental Planner - Defence Infrastructure Organisation

Stephanie Ball
Senior Environmental Advisor/Biodiversity Net Gain Advisor at National Highways

Phil Le Gouais
Environmental and Social Expert
Eseld Imms
Associate GIS Consultant at Mott MacDonald
11:00 - 11:45
IEMA CPD Process
Join this session to learn how to make the most of the IEMA CPD process. The session will cover the purpose of CPD and CPD requirements of our membership levels. The session will also give an overview of the CPD Quality Assurance and sampling process. We want to tailor the session to your requirements, so if you plan to attend this session and have any specific areas you’d like us to cover, please let us know beforehand via email to [email protected]

Dave Dowson
Senior Environmental Consultant at
12:00 - 12:45
Inspiring and engaging employees in sustainability
Hear insights and case studies that show how individual climate action is future-proofing business whilst moving the dial on employee engagement.

Hermione Taylor
Founder of DoNation
12:00 - 1:00
EIA Back to Basics
This session is aimed at discipline specialists and environmental coordinators/leads who have contributed to, or have an aspiration to contribute to, EIA Screening Reports, EIA Scoping Reports and Environmental Statements/EIA Reports, this webinar covered the fundamental basics, including; the EIA Regulations, the EIA process and EIA in practice. With content focused on avoiding common pitfalls and tips on what to do and what not to do, this was a practical webinar written by practitioners for practitioners.
Although this webinar strips EIA 'back to basics', there is something for everyone, from early career professionals and those new to EIA, to seasoned EIA practitioners.

David Hoare
Technical Director at RSK
12:00 - 1:00
Meet the Circular Economy Network Steering Group
Come and meet the Circular Economy Network Steering Group. Come and hear about the programme of work for next year and meet the 15 member steering group. We will be allocating participants for breakout rooms with a couple of Steering Group Members. Participants will be able automatically switched around the different breakout rooms.

Tim Danson
Technical Director, WSP

Stephanie Palmer
Head of Sustainability, Wienerberger Ltd

Fleur Ruckley
Associate Director, Wood PLC

Andy Whyle
Sustainability Consultant at S-AW

Jason Light
Jason Light Head of Sustainability and Energy, University Hospital Southampton Foundation Trust

Keith Lawton
Director, Wood PLC

David Smith
Technical Director, AECOM

Debbie Ward AIEMA
EnTRESS/Cirklo Consult/The Rebuild Site

Catherine Weetman
Circular Economy Strategic Advisor, author of A Circular Economy Handbook, host of the Circular Economy Podcast

Ella Yarrow
Sustainability Consultant, Ridge and Partners LLP

Ashley Oates
Head of Environment and Sustainability, Balfour Beatty

Wendy Rayner
Head of Circular Economy, NHS Scotland

Bianca Drotleff
Project Manager, Centre for Business Transformation University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership

Adam Batchelor
Policy and Engagement Lead

Caroline Cochrane
Associate Director, Mace Group
12:00 - 1:00
People of Colour Network
The current statistics in the environment/ sustainability space evidence that there is a real lack of racial diversity in the profession. We would like to give people of colour in the sector, a safe environment, and an opportunity to network with one another.

Caris Graham
Diverse Sustainability Initiative Officer
1:00 - 1:45
Meet the Impact Assessment Steering Group
In this lunchtime networking session participants will be introduced to the steering group members and will then have the opportunity to network with them in breakout rooms.

Rufus Howard
Policy and Engagement Lead at IEMA

David Hoare
Technical Director at RSK

Ursula Stevenson
Environmental Consultant at Tresor Consulting

Nicola Parker
Senior Environmental Planner - Defence Infrastructure Organisation

Sam Timbrell
Principal EIA Specialist at Mott MacDonald

Jeremy Randall
EIA Practice Lead at Mott MacDonald

Lewis Jenkins
Associate EIA Practitioner - Quod

Simon White
Divisional Director – Environmental Assessment at Jacobs

James Sanders
Director at Temple Group

Stephanie Ball
Senior Environmental Advisor/Biodiversity Net Gain Advisor at National Highways

Urmila Jha Thakur
Lecturer in Environmental Planning Management at University of Liverpool
2:00 - 3:00
How can ISO management system standards help us reach sustainability goals?
Organisations all over the world recognise the value of ISO management systems for driving continual improvement in quality and environmental management, but did you know that many ISO standards can directly support your sustainability goals?
In this session, Heather Moore, Technical Director for Sustainability at leading assurance provider LRQA, will give an overview of the relevant standards including ISO 14001 (environmental management), ISO 50001 (energy management) and ISO 46001 (water efficiency). She will explore their effectiveness in tracking and meeting corporate goals as well as sharing real-world examples of the value certification links into sustainability reporting.
2:00 - 2:45
Pathways to net zero: Responding to net zero
As part of IEMA’s pathways to net Zero course, this will be a great opportunity for you to get a taste of the course or refresh your knowledge. These sessions are targeted at those who want to understand the course as a route for developing their colleagues understanding or for someone wanting to see if it’s what they after.
In this second session we will touch on:
- What makes a robust net zero claim?
- An overview of supporting initiatives, standards and frameworks including Race to Zero (UNFCCC)
- Race to Zero Breakthrough Initiatives (from different sectors)
- Risks and opportunities across the value chain from the transition away from fossil fuels (including risks from stranded assets)
- Building capacity for net zero – required governance, senior leadership – getting buy-in
- Developing internal capacity for delivering net zero – role of training, internal communication, procurement, finance, IT coalitions etc

Martin Elliker
Senior Learning and Development Consultant (MAKE UK)
2:00 - 2:45
EIA for Local Planners
Some Local Planning Authorities will have experience of multiple EIAs, however for some these are very rare or infrequent. In this session we hear from Planners experienced in EIA, who will share tips and pitfalls in this collaborative session.

Peter George
Environmental Planning & Projects Manager at Eden District Council

Aleksandra Milentijevic
Principal Planning Officer at London Borough of Tower Hamlets Council
3:00 - 3:45
Achieving organisational culture change – Green mindsets and behavioural shifts to a sustainable way of thinking
It is predicted that over the next decade we will see the emergence of a workforce in which every employee understands how sustainability can create economic value.
Environmental sustainability will be business as usual, just as digital is to the workforce of today. The blend of green skills adoption, coupled with an environmentally sustainable workforce culture will inspire new business models and creative strategies that deliver for people, planet and profit. This panel session will explore some of the many different ways in which organisations can and are working to instill such a culture.
What IEMA members can expect to get from this session:
- Practical insights about setting up award winning network within an organisation – based on psychology and barriers of sustainability engagement
- Insights about getting people engaged, educated and taking action at scale, and in line with our environmental and social targets – getting over 2/3 of the business volunteering to do 60mins of learning and take 6 actions per year.
- How we are trying to gamify our IEMA membership to make access and green skills available to every employee

Simon Kelly
Director – Sustainability Engagement at CBRE, UK

Rebecca Garner
Head of Environment, Energy & Sustainability

Amy Dickinson
Head of Sustainability South Western Railway

Alex Hilton
Head of Sustainability, His Majesty’s Revenue & Customs

Ben Knight
Head of Environmental Sustainability at GoCardless
3:00 - 3:45
SEA Back to Basics
The second of three back to basics sessions, the second session focuses on strategic level impact assessment (SIA, IIA SEA). The session will provide an introduction to the key terms, concepts and processes for those new to the field or seeking a refresher on the core principles.

Sarah Tooby
Associate Technical Director at Arcadis

Ursula Stevenson
Environmental Consultant at Tresor Consulting
3:00 - 4:00
Breaking down the internal barriers to real progress on climate change: harnessing the communications imperative in the ESG age
In this provocative panel session, experts in corporate reputation and change communication will explore the role of employee engagement and behavioural science as a cornerstone of real behaviour change – within and beyond the organisation.
Addressing the opportunities and risks of sustainability programmes, the panel will set out to answer one key question: “how do we bring our people and our communities with us so that, together, we can (genuinely) change the world?”

Rod Cartwright
Founder and Principal, Rod Cartwright Consulting

Shayoni Lynn
Founder and CEO, Lynn
Kate Levine
Founder at Kate Levine Consulting

Carly Santer
Business Sustainability Manager at Bayer
4:00 - 4:45
International E&S Due Diligence Back to Basics
The third of three back to basics sessions, the third session focuses on international environmental and social assessment (ESIA, ESDD). The session will provide an introduction to the key terms, concepts and processes for those new to the field or seeking a refresher on the core principles.

Colette Curran
Director, Arup

Neal Barker
Director - WSP UK

Phil Le Gouais
Environmental and Social Expert
4:00 - 4:55
Futures meet Fellows: The advantages and challenges of an increasingly digital world
Networking event between the future network and the fellow network

Natasha Worrall
Junior Project Manager

Beccy Wilson
Environmental Consultant at Arup

Mohammed Mohamoud
Sustainability Consultant at CGI

Emma Pye
Founder and Director of PYE-Management Ltd

Richard Smith
Head of Environmental Sustainability at University of Manchester.
6:00 - 7:00
Sustainability And Kaitiakitanga Through A Maori Lens
This session is taking place at 6 pm NZT on Friday 21st October. This event is a panel discussion on Sustainability an environmental stewardship (kaitiakitanga) from a maori perspective.
Our panellists are cultural advisers, consultants and innately involved in nurturing Te Ao Maori (the Maori world view) and ways of caring for nature. They will bring their unique perspectives on environmental stewardship vs Management
Ideal delegates are in Sustainability, land management or environmental management. We hope they will take away some elements that they can implement in their own work.

Danidu Wijekoon

Otene Hopa
Māori Cultural Manager at PWC

Te Rangihau Gilbert
Manager Tikanga and Environment

Juhi Shareef
Chief Responsibility Officer at Tourism Holdings Limited
9:00 - 9:30
Building a Career in Sustainability: Turner & Townsend
Join us to hear from Emma Woods, a Consultant in Housing & Energy at Turner & Townsend, one of our IEMA Corporate Partners. Emma will be talking to us about her career path, including main roles, responsibilities and example projects that she has worked on. The session is aimed at those in the early stages of their careers to provide insight into a career in sustainability, and inspiration to where they can progress to.

Emma Woods
Housing & Energy Consultant at Turner & Townsend
9:00 - 9:45
Pathways to net zero: Greenhouse gas accounting – a primer
As part of IEMA’s pathways to net Zero course, this will be a great opportunity for you to get a taste of the course or refresh your knowledge. These sessions are targeted at those who want to understand the course as a route for developing their colleagues understanding or for someone wanting to see if it’s what they after.
In this third session we will touch on:
- Explain different types of carbon footprint (basic overview – corporate, product/lifecycle, country-level, individual etc)
- The main principles of establishing a greenhouse gas inventory and the differences between Scope 1, 2 and 3
- Greenhouse Gas Protocol corporate standard and supplementary guidance (inc. Scope 2 standard, Scope 3 Value Chain standard) and other relevant standards including ISO 14064 and other carbon accounting standards
- Databases of emissions factors (Defra, ICE etc)
- Be able to explain the difference between location-based and market-based carbon accounting for Scope 2 emissions and why dual disclosure is important
- Basics of putting together an initial Scope 3 screening (e.g., using the Quantis Evaluator tool)
- Improving Scope 3 data over-time (e.g., moving from spend based to activity-based carbon calculations)

Peter Schofield
Director and Principal Environmental Consultant

Geraldine Boylan
Director - Environment, Mabbett & Associates Ltd
9:00 - 9:45
EIA Quality Mark Annual Review
This session is designed for members of the IEMA EIA Quality Mark Scheme. In this session, Rufus Howard and three senior panellists discuss the EIA statistics and trends from the past year, focus on areas for improvement, and discuss opportunities for 2023.

Rufus Howard
Policy and Engagement Lead at IEMA

Lewis Jenkins
Associate EIA Practitioner - Quod

Jeremy Randall
EIA Practice Lead at Mott MacDonald

Owen Cahill
Committee Member
10:00 - 10:45
Full Member Upgrade Session
This very popular session is invaluable for anyone thinking of upgrading to our Full member level. We will look at the defining characteristics of a Full member, your concerns about evidencing some of the Full member competencies, and any questions you may have about the application process, particularly the written paper and interview. We want to tailor the session to your requirements, so if you plan to attend this session and have any specific areas you’d like us to cover, please let us know beforehand via email to [email protected].

Simon Cordingley
Managing Director
10:00 - 10:45
Meet the Impact Assessment working groups
In this session the chairs from the IA working groups will each spend 5 minutes explaining what their group is working on and its plans for the future. Details will also be provided on how members can join groups.

Edward Walker
Principal Consultant at XODUS

Howard Waples
Director, Temple Group

Ella Niehorster
Senior Environmental Consultant at Arcadis

Sarah Tooby
Associate Technical Director at Arcadis

Andrew Ross
Technical Director, Mobility and Infrastructure UK, Royal Haskoning DHV

Paul Burgess
Associate at Arup

Emma Jenkins
Principal EIA Coordinator at WSP
11:00 - 11:45
Concurrent Impact Assessment working group meetings
This session will feature an opportunity to speak to working groups, find out more about their activities, and take part in topic themed discussions. IEMA members can listen in live to working group meetings to get a better understanding of how the groups work in practice

Edward Walker
Principal Consultant at XODUS

Howard Waples
Director, Temple Group

Sarah Tooby
Associate Technical Director at Arcadis

Paul Burgess
Associate at Arup

Ella Niehorster
Senior Environmental Consultant at Arcadis

Emma Jenkins
Principal EIA Coordinator at WSP
11:00 - 11:45
Full Member Upgrade Session
This very popular session is invaluable for anyone thinking of upgrading to our Full member level. We will look at the defining characteristics of a Full member, your concerns about evidencing some of the Full member competencies, and any questions you may have about the application process, particularly the written paper and interview. We want to tailor the session to your requirements, so if you plan to attend this session and have any specific areas you’d like us to cover, please let us know beforehand via email to [email protected].

Simon Cordingley
Managing Director
11:15 - 12:00
Advancing Sustainability in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities
The session will focus on providing real-life examples and political views on the practice of sustainability in Africa. The discussion will center on the key inhibitors/blockers, which impede the successful advancement of the sustainability agenda in Africa. It will also provide participants with pivotal views on how these challenges are being managed, and showcase the myriad of opportunities that exist for promoting sustainability in Africa.

Alhaji Umar Njai
Senior Scientist & Associate Professor

Victor Ohioze Imevbore
Co-Founder/Managing Director at Environmental Resources Managers Limited

Dr. Justice O. Derefaka
Technical Adviser (TA) – Gas Business & Policy Implementation

Lucy Okeke
Team Lead for Environment and Sustainability

Mary Cudjoe

Henry David Bayoh
Senior Planning & Development Officer/Head of Climate Change for the National Tourist Board, Sierra Leone

Sarah Mukherjee MBE
CEO of IEMA
12:00 - 12:45
Impact Assessment: Legal update and case law
Join this session for an update on key impact assessment and planning related case law from 2022 and a look ahead to 2023.

Daniel Freiman
Partner at Eversheds Sutherland LLP
12:00 - 12:45
Meet the IEMA Futures Network
IEMA Futures is a network of students, graduates and early-career professionals. Join us in this session to meet the network, find out what we do and how you can get involved!
You will hear a short introduction from each of our network volunteers and then we will have some time for networking and discussions. This is also your opportunity to tell us what you’d like to see from the IEMA Futures network next year.
So, if you want to network and connect with other students and early-career professionals, join us for this session!

Hannah Lesbirel
Resource and Waste Management Consultant

Beccy Wilson
Environmental Consultant at Arup

Joe Nisbet
Environmental Consultant

Mohammed Mohamoud
Sustainability Consultant at CGI

Natasha Worrall
Junior Project Manager

Rhys James
Water Quality Programme Officer
12:00 - 1:00
Women’s Network
Our recent state of the profession survey conducted at IEMA has evidenced a gap between men and women within the environment/ sustainability space in terms of barriers and pay. We would like to allow a platform for women to network and discuss these results.

Caris Graham
Diverse Sustainability Initiative Officer
1:00 - 2:00
Exclusive session for IEMA Volunteers
Natalie Fée, CEO, City to Sea, will deliver a presentation on her journey founding City to Sea and creating wider impact through engagement, exclusively for IEMA Volunteers.
This session is only open to IEMA Volunteers, including Regional Steering Groups volunteers, IEMA Futures steering group and Policy Networks steering groups.

Natalie Fée
Founder / CEO of City to Sea
1:00 - 1:45
Impact Assessment Outlook Journal - Meet the editors
Join this lunchtime networking session to meet the editors, pitch ideas for articles or issues, and have the opportunity to get feedback from former authors and editors.

Rufus Howard
Policy and Engagement Lead at IEMA

Rebecca Knight
Director (Landscape Planning) at LUC

Thomas Fischer
Professor Environmental Assessment and Management Research Centre - University of Liverpool

Alan Bond
Associate Professor in Environmental Management, School of Environmental Sciences - University of East Anglia
2:00 - 2:30
Impact Assessment Research and innovation
Rufus Howard moderates a panel of leading academics and innovators pushing the boundaries of impact assessment, theory and methods.

Rufus Howard
Policy and Engagement Lead at IEMA

Urmila Jha Thakur
Lecturer in Environmental Planning Management at University of Liverpool

Nick Giesler
Head of Profession for Environmental Assessment and Consents at WSP

Francesca Downey
Senior Geospatial Consultant at Atkins
2:30 - 3:00
Innovating in Marine Knowledge and Assessment: OWEKH
Join members of the steering group for the new, Offshore Wind Evidence and Change Programme (OWEC) funded Offshore Wind Evidence and Knowledge Hub (OWEKH), for a discussion on data sharing for offshore professionals
An opportunity to hear about opportunities to contribute to an innovation stream, which is seeking to engage with all levels of the consenting process in order to deliver against user driven requirements to support more efficient consenting without compromising environmental outcomes

Sion Roberts
Marine Consents Manager, The Crown Estate

Francesca Downey
Senior Geospatial Consultant at Atkins

Rhona Fairgrieve
Principal Environmental Consultant at Atkins
3:00 - 3:45
Pathways to net zero: Carbon neutrality
As part of IEMA’s pathways to net Zero course, this will be a great opportunity for you to get a taste of the course or refresh your knowledge. These sessions are targeted at those who want to understand the course as a route for developing their colleagues understanding or for someone wanting to see if it’s what they after.
In this fourth session we will touch on:
- Understanding the difference between net zero, carbon neutral
- Carbon neutrality – outline methodology using PAS 2060 as a reference

Martin Elliker
Senior Learning and Development Consultant (MAKE UK)
3:00 - 3:45
Roundtable on the Future of Impact Assessment
Rufus Howard moderates a panel of invited guests from government and industry to discuss the future of IA in the UK, including latest developments and planning reforms.

Emma Jenkins
Principal EIA Coordinator at WSP

Andy Ricketts
Director - Head of EIA, Turley

Thomas Fischer
Professor Environmental Assessment and Management Research Centre - University of Liverpool

Stephanie McGibbon

Stephanie Ball
Senior Environmental Advisor/Biodiversity Net Gain Advisor at National Highways
4:00 - 4:45
Workshop: Shaping IEMA's Impact Assessment Programme
In this collaborative session members can take part in workshop to reflect on the IA conference and propose IEMA actions and priorities for 2023 and beyond.

Rufus Howard
Policy and Engagement Lead at IEMA

David Hoare
Technical Director at RSK
9:00 - 9:45
Pathways to net zero: Net zero methodologies
As part of IEMA’s pathways to net Zero course, this will be a great opportunity for you to get a taste of the course or refresh your knowledge. These sessions are targeted at those who want to understand the course as a route for developing their colleagues understanding or for someone wanting to see if it’s what they after.
In this fifth session we will touch on:
- Science-based targets – calculating
- Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and its Net Zero Standard
- Carbone4 Net Zero Initiative
- Sector-based methodologies

Peter Watts
Director of Watts Sustainability
10:00 - 10:45
IEMA new-member meet and greet
This will be a chance for members who have recently joined, from all membership grades, to meet with IEMA and your fellow peers in a friendly, informative session.
This will be a chance to learn, chat and discuss:
· The history of IEMA and the importance of the environment/sustainability professional
· What we do and how we can support you
· The benefits and resources available and how you can engage with the IEMA community

Martin Baxter
Executive Director - Director of Policy & External Affairs
10:00 - 10:45
LinkedIn’s Global Green Skills Trends
Karim will present highlights from LinkedIn’s 2022 Green Skills report – with UK and global data on trends in green skills.

Karim Palant
Senior Public Policy Manager at LinkedIn
11:00 - 11:30
Future of green jobs & competencies
Without skilled sustainability professionals now and in the future, future irreversible planet impact is now recognised. Today’s sustainability professionals have the opportunity to shape and define how we can be more sustainable. IEMA recognises the key role of sustainability professionals have in gaining the skills, knowledge and experiences to lead and influence positive decision for a more sustainable world.
Hear from the chair of the IEMA Professional Standards Committee on the work the profession is doing to develop and prepare sustainability professionals with the skills and knowledge they need to take a pivotal role in sustainability now and in the future. Hear also how IEMA develops sustainability professional standards, what it takes to progress membership levels and how relevant the IEMA Skills Map is in defining sustainability professional skills.”

Arlette Anderson
Non Executive Director
11:00 - 11:45
Practitioner Upgrade session
This session will be hugely valuable for anyone thinking of upgrading to our Practitioner level. Using practical examples and case studies where possible, we will work through the criteria and experiences that we are looking for in our Practitioner members. We will review the IEMA competency framework and how our Practitioner members can demonstrate their skill in all 13 key competencies. Additionally, we will take you through the upgrade journey so you will know what to expect as your application progresses, how the assessment process works and what support is available to you.

Dipvandana Mehta
12:00 - 12:45
Practitioner Upgrade Session
This session will be hugely valuable for anyone thinking of upgrading to our Practitioner level. Using practical examples and case studies where possible, we will work through the criteria and experiences that we are looking for in our Practitioner members. We will review the IEMA competency framework and how our Practitioner members can demonstrate their skill in all 13 key competencies. Additionally, we will take you through the upgrade journey so you will know what to expect as your application progresses, how the assessment process works and what support is available to you.

Dipvandana Mehta
12:00 - 12:30
Skills Spotlight: Innovative & Leading Practices
The IEMA Skills Map supports our members in their journey through the different levels of IEMA membership; highlighting key skills and knowledge that is expected within the sustainability field. In this session, Ben Knight will be focusing on Innovative & Leading Practices, and talking about the ways in which this skill is embedded in his day-to-day life as a sustainability professional, providing key use cases and examples.

Ben Knight
Head of Environmental Sustainability at GoCardless
12:00 - 1:00
ReLondon – accelerating London’s transition to a circular economy
ReLondon will be introducing the work they’re doing to help London accelerate to a circular economy with practical case study examples. In this session you will hear about how local authorities, small businesses, and local communities are bringing the circular economy to life to deliver on core priorities, to reduce waste, and to promote reuse, repair, share and recycle
- Insight into who ReLondon are and our services to help drive collaborations on the circular economy
- Knowledge and practical examples of the circular economy in action delivering clear benefits: in local authorities, with businesses, and in the community
A blueprint for successful circular economy innovations between the public and private sector, and for empowering local communities taking positive action to waste less, and reuse, repair, share, and recycle more.

Doug Simpson
Senior advisor, circular economy at Relondon

Lamia Sbiti
Business transformation manager ReLondon

Amy Casey
Project advisor at ReLondon

Cindy Gardener
Head of Waste and Recycling for London Borough of Hounslow

Mary-Anne Cooper
Senior Local Economies Officer - Islington Council
2:00 - 2:30
Sustainable Continuous Improvement – the Key to meeting your 2030 manufacturing targets
I will describe how it is possible to convert manufacturing businesses to achieve year on year improvements in sustainability of between 5% and 20% by deploying Sustainable Continuous Improvement. I will give examples and explain how it is possible to get the whole factory to support and participate.
- Solutions to hitting SBT’s in manufacturing operations
- How to apply change management techniques in sustainability
- How to connect sustainability aims with the power and control elements of factories
- New ways to think about waste, energy, water and work in progress

Ian Bamford
Non Executive Director
2:00 - 2:45
Pathways to net zero: Developing a decarbonisation plan
As part of IEMA’s pathways to net Zero course, this will be a great opportunity for you to get a taste of the course or refresh your knowledge. These sessions are targeted at those who want to understand the course as a route for developing their colleagues understanding or for someone wanting to see if it’s what they after.
In this sixth session we will touch on;
- IEMA Pathways to Net Zero (November 2020) and the Greenhouse Gas Management Hierarchy
- Developing a decarbonisation plan to deliver on net zero
- Avoiding and eliminating emissions – examples and key considerations
- Reducing emissions and energy management –examples and key considerations
- Substituting emissions – examples and key considerations
- Compensation and neutralisation – examples and key considerations including nature-based solutions. The role of carbon offsets alongside reduction strategies
- Use of financial mechanisms such as internal carbon pricing
- Dealing with uncertainty with longer-term targets (costing, technologies, processes)
- • Examples of decarbonisation strategies from different sectors including decarbonising property, transport, industrial processes etc
- Purchasing renewable energy – certification requirements

April Sotomayor
General Manager & Principal Consultant
3:00 - 3:45
Healthcare Sustainability Professionals – leading with sustainability together
In their role, Non-Executive Directors (NED’s) can have significant influence over the strategic direction of their Trust/Health Board and will play a key role in the integration of sustainability.. To implement across the organisation, engagement from a range of roles throughout the NHS will be required . In this panel we will discuss how we can empower NEDs to support, encourage, challenge, hold the executives and the organisation to account and ensure good governance.

Ian Stenton
National Sustainability Programme Manager, National NHS Estates and Facilities Team, NHS England

Heidi Barnard
Head of Sustainability - NHS SupplyChain

Lisa Blackett
Non-executive Director and Sustainability Champion at NHS National Services Scotland

Katherine Risk
Associate Director at Nature Positive
3:00 - 4:00
Careers Guidance with Hays
This one-hour session will provide an insight into the future of careers in sustainability, as well as a broad overview of careers advice for IEMA members. Topics will include:
• What companies and recruiters are looking for
• How to define your personal objectives
• How to structure a CV
• How to search for jobs
• Making the most of LinkedIn
The session will be delivered by Paul Gosling at Hays, who has worked in sustainability recruitment for over 20 years.

Paul Gosling
National Specialism Director – Sustainability at Hays
4:00 - 4:30
Building a Career in Sustainability: Frazer Nash
Join us to hear from Ian Tarplee, Environment & Sustainability Group Leader at Frazer-Nash Consultancy, one of our IEMA Corporate Partners. Ian will be talking to us about his career path, including main roles, responsibilities and example projects that he has worked on. The session is aimed at those in the early stages of their careers to provide insight into a career in sustainability.

Ian Tarplee
Environment & Sustainability Group Leader at Frazer Nash Consultancy
9:00 - 9:45
Pathways to net zero: Net zero across the value chain
As part of IEMA’s pathways to net Zero course, this will be a great opportunity for you to get a taste of the course or refresh your knowledge. These sessions are targeted at those who want to understand the course as a route for developing their colleagues understanding or for someone wanting to see if it’s what they after.
In this seventh session we will touch on:
- Collaborating with your supply chain and other partner organisations on data collection, target setting and decarbonisation. The benefits of managing this with wider sustainability risks (modern slavery, conflict/critical minerals/environmental issues etc).
- Approaches for working with the value chain (e.g., CDP supply chain reporting processes)

Jan Maskell
Principal consultant, Investors in the Environment
10:00 - 10:30
IEMA Futures Coffee Morning
In this IEMA Futures Coffee Morning Joe Nisbet will be discussing: How can the built environment and development process be used as a means of delivering environmental and social benefits?
Can the built environment and development process really improve the environment? Can infrastructure projects deliver wider benefits to society beyond just their intended function? Join us for an informal coffee morning discussion to share your thoughts and experiences, ask questions and meet likeminded environment and sustainability professionals.

Joe Nisbet
Environmental Consultant
10:00 - 11:00
Linking Business Economic Performance to Environmental Performance and Education for Sustainable Development
Improving environmental performance of organisations is crucial and having the appropriate motivation to pursue such improvements is important. Education for sustainable development has been identified as a critical factor in the journey to a sustainable future. This session will explore motivations for investment in environmental performance improvement in organisations and the how education can be maximised as a tool in this journey.
- How improving environmental performance can contribute to better economic performance
- How to access training and education upskill for improving environmental performance

Dr. Uche Okere
Academic Lead – Environmental Management at the University of Derby
11:00 - 11:30
Building a Career in Sustainability: RSK Environment Ltd
Join us to hear from Warren Percival, a Business Development Director at RSK Environment Ltd., one of our IEMA Corporate Partners. Warren will be talking to us about his career path, including main roles, responsibilities and example projects that he has worked on. The session is aimed at those in the early stages of their careers to provide insight into a career in sustainability, and inspiration to where they can progress to.

Warren Percival
Director at RSK Group
11:00 - 11:45
How to be an effective mentor
In this session, we will explore mentoring as one of many tools to support professional and personal development. Mentoring is underpinned by a deep relationship based on trust, openness, curiosity, challenge and mutual respect which focuses on the mentees needs and ambitions.

Dr Michael Nates
Director at Earth Active
11:00 - 11:45
Practitioner Upgrade session
This session will be hugely valuable for anyone thinking of upgrading to our Practitioner level. Using practical examples and case studies where possible, we will work through the criteria and experiences that we are looking for in our Practitioner members. We will review the IEMA competency framework and how our Practitioner members can demonstrate their skill in all 13 key competencies. Additionally, we will take you through the upgrade journey so you will know what to expect as your application progresses, how the assessment process works and what support is available to you.

Dipvandana Mehta
12:00 - 12:45
Practitioner Upgrade session
This session will be hugely valuable for anyone thinking of upgrading to our Practitioner level. Using practical examples and case studies where possible, we will work through the criteria and experiences that we are looking for in our Practitioner members. We will review the IEMA competency framework and how our Practitioner members can demonstrate their skill in all 13 key competencies. Additionally, we will take you through the upgrade journey so you will know what to expect as your application progresses, how the assessment process works and what support is available to you.

Dipvandana Mehta
12:00 - 1:00
Circular Economy and Its Part in Reducing Nature Loss
In 2018, the UK generated 222.2 million tons of waste. Meanwhile, the UK is one of the most biodiversity depleted countries in the world. In this climate crisis, it’s easy to focus on solutions to reduce carbon but it’s important not to forget that there is also a crisis in nature that we must account for.
Circular economy doesn’t just move us away from our throwaway society towards managing our precious resources more sustainably but also supports the conservation and restoration of biodiversity.
Welcome – Adam Batchelor, Policy and Engagement Lead, IEMA
Circularity and Biodiversity – Keith James, Head of Policy and Insights, WRAP
Shaping a nature-positive future with the circular economy – Cindy Venho, Senior Research Analysist, Ellen MacArthur Foundation
Combining biodiversity and circularity in practice – Claire Wansbury, Claire Wansbury FCIEEM FLS CEcol CEnv CMLI, Atkins Fellow and Associate Director, Ecology, Atkins Ltd
Panel discussion and Q&As – Chaired by Adam Batchelor
Close

Cindy Venho
Senior Research Analyst at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Keith James
Head of Policy and Insights at WRAP

Claire Wansbury
Atkins Fellow and Associate Director, Ecology at Atkins Ltd
1:00 - 1:45
Introducing the Green Careers Hub; bringing a green economy to life
In a recent IEMA survey, almost half of respondents cited “unclear progression pathways” as a barrier in their careers. We are also regularly informed that there is a lack of understanding in the types of jobs that exist, or will exist, as part of a green economy.
Over the last few months, at IEMA we’ve been busy researching this area and putting plans in place to provide further support around careers that span across the environmental space.
Join us for this exciting session as we launch our plans and invite collaboration from our members to provide the best support possible.

Rebecca Turner
Careers Pathway Manager Commercial Marketing

Martin Baxter
Executive Director - Director of Policy & External Affairs
2:00 - 2:45
Pathways to net zero: Communicating net zero
As part of IEMA’s pathways to net Zero course, this will be a great opportunity for you to get a taste of the course or refresh your knowledge. These sessions are targeted at those who want to understand the course as a route for developing their colleagues understanding or for someone wanting to see if it’s what they after.
In this Eighth session we will touch on:
- Communicating on a net zero objective and its progress – what good practice looks like
- Communicating the environmental benefits of low-carbon goods and services
- Green claims fundamentals and examples and how to avoid greenwash
- Relevance of net zero to reporting frameworks including CDP and TCFD

Dave Evans
Founder of Act Sustainably
3:00 - 3:30
Skills Spotlight: Relationship Development
The IEMA Skills Map supports our members in their journey through the different levels of IEMA membership; highlighting key skills and knowledge that is expected within the sustainability field. In this session, Bryony Stocking will be discussing Relationship Development in the workplace, with a focus on working within Environmental Impact Assessment. She will talk about the ways in which this skill is embedded in her day-to-day life as a sustainability professional, providing key use cases and examples.

Bryony Stocking
Associate Director at WSP
3:00 - 3:45
IEMA Corporate partners – the social dimension of sustainability
Organisations that value the importance of social sustainability understand the significance of their relationships with people, communities and society. Social responsibility becomes part of their core strategy, and they consider how their activities affect people. Hear from some of the IEMA corporate partners on why social sustainability matters to them and their areas of focus

Mala Alahmadi
Principal Consultant- Sustainability and Climate Action & Strategic Consulting Social Value Community of Practice Lead- Middle East

Liz Holford
Social Sustainability Manager (Social performance) - Network Rail

Rebecca McLean
Sustainability Director for their Energy, Water and Environment Division

Sarah Ottaway
Sustainability and social value lead SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK
3:00 - 3:45
Meet the IEMA Biodiversity and Natural Capital member network Steering Group
This is a unique chance to meet the members of IEMA’s new Biodiversity and Natural Capital Network. The Network was set up in September 2022 for all members who want to stay up to speed with news, trends, tools and regulations relating to nature. This is a dop in session where you can:
- Meet the steering group members
- Find more about the Network
- Share what you think are the key issues in biodiversity and natural capital
- Learn about what the BANC Network will be doing in the next 12 months

Faye Durkin
Head of Ecology and Regional Director at Ecus Ltd

Sophie Mairesse
Biodiversity Net Gain Lead at Network Rail

Chris Moss
Green Infrastructure Consultant at Greengate Environmental

Jonathan Nichols
Principle Natural Capital Consultant at Atkins

Pat Snowdon
Head of Economics and Woodland Carbon Code at Scottish Forestry

Dr Stephanie Hime (FIEMA)
Director at Little Blue Research

Lesley Wilson
Policy and Engagement Lead at IEMA
9:00 - 9:10
Welcome and opening comments

Sarah Mukherjee MBE
CEO of IEMA
9:15 - 10:45
How to address the big picture challenges and drive change for a positive future
Following on from the panel discussion on 19th October we will explore how to address the big picture environment and sustainability challenges and drive change for a positive future.

Dr Eric Twum
Chief Executive Officer for Institute of Environmental Assessment in Ghana

Chibese Ezekiel
Ghanaian environmental activist

Olivia Whitlam
Head of Sustainability at Siemens PLC
Prof. Ali N Hassan FIEMA
Professor - Ain Shams University, Egypt.