Sustainability skills map
Discover the skills & knowledge for a sustainable profession and your next steps...
What best describes where you are in your career?
A New Kind of Leader
Join a new generation of ambassadors for sustainability — leaders who are challenging the norms and transforming the world.
The nature of leadership is changing: leaders increasingly need a strong sustainability record while sustainability professionals are being called to step up and lead. IEMA Fellow is the definitive mark of these new advocates for change. Becoming a Fellow will put you at the forefront of our network of sustainability professionals — the largest and most established in the world. You’ll join a powerful alliance of ambassadors at the top of their profession, equipping you to live IEMA’s vision and lead to your full potential.
What is it?
The world’s foremost community of sustainability leaders and advocates for sustainable business. The ultimate destination on your IEMA membership journey.
Who is it for?
Proven, visionary leaders in business and across the sustainability profession. People at the head of major national and international organisations. Those who stand out for their sustained record of achievement and innovation. Ambassadors for transforming the world to sustainability, with the drive to turn vision into action.
Where on the journey?
Fellow is a natural next step for Full members but is open to anyone (including those who’ve yet to engage with IEMA) who is making a significant mark as a sustainability ambassador, has the right vision and is exercising modern leadership at a high level.
What do you get?
- A place at the forefront of the environment and sustainability profession, as an IEMA Ambassador.
- A platform for shaping the contours of our profession. Use your knowledge and experience to shape agendas and policies, through industry-defining consultations.
- The FIEMA suffix — to build and capitalise on your personal brand.
- A channel for using your expertise to develop industry guidance.
- New opportunities to speak at high-profile conferences.
- Access to exclusive events created just for IEMA’s most senior members.
- Leadership of new and developing networks of professionals, through openings on our steering groups.
- A key role as mentor for aspiring Full and Fellow members — to help them scale the heights
How do you get it?
Demonstrate what you’ve achieved as a visionary leader and ambassador for sustainability, through a case study and peer review, which is a chance to share with us how you are leading change.
What does your organisation get?
Having an IEMA Fellow puts your organisation at the forefront of the drive to sustainability and can add real value and credibility to your brand.
The Power to Influence
Lead change in your organisation — with the full force of IEMA behind you.
Full membership of IEMA is the gold standard for environment and sustainability professionals who are setting agendas and leading initiatives within their organisations. If you’re working to turn a sustainability vision into action then we’re right with you. And as part of the worldwide community of IEMA Full members, you can expect to build a more influential network, accelerate your career and enhance your earning potential.
What is it?
The globally recognised standard for environment and sustainability professionals who are leading change within organisations.
Who is it for?
Experienced environment and sustainability professionals with a strong record of achievement. Individuals playing a key role within organisations.
Where on the journey?
Full membership is open to anyone with the right knowledge, capabilities and experience. It’s a next step for Practitioners who have stepped up to lead this agenda, and a natural route towards IEMA Fellow.
What do you get?
- The globally-recognised MIEMA suffix.
- The opportunity to meet and network with others facing the same senior-level professional challenges as you. Access to leading events designed for people like you.
- The possibility of taking part in high-level roundtable debates, giving you a way to shape new guidance, policies and initiatives.
- A role in developing our networks, guidance and media profile, as you use your knowledge to inform IEMA’s output.
- The chance to contribute to Government consultations and help shape policy outcomes.
- Potential for a presenting role at industry events, conferences and webinars.
- Recognition as a mentor.
How do you get it?
Demonstrate what you’ve achieved, by sharing your story with other professionals like you.
What does your organisation get?
IEMA Full members help make companies future-proof, bringing the resources, connections and influence that can enable organisations to deliver on a sustainability vision.
Taking Action
At the heart of IEMA is a community of professional experts working to make the future better
Practitioner membership makes you part of this community. It recognises everything you’re doing to help make business future-proof while giving you the practical support you need. We can help you deliver on your sustainability goals, with information, best practice and tools to put you ahead on ideas and innovation. You can also get the training you need to increase your knowledge and skills in the field. You can expect to build your influence and connect with others like you across IEMA, as part of the Practitioner community.
What is it?
The benchmark for environment and sustainability professionals with sleeves rolled up; membership for the working experts who are driving change.
Who is it for?
Professionals who are working across organisations at an operational level, and pursuing a career path in environment and sustainability.
Where on the journey?
Practitioner membership is open to anyone with the right competencies. It makes a natural step from Graduate or Associate membership and is a recognised route towards Full IEMA membership.
What do you get?
- The in-demand PIEMA suffix on your CV, in an industry needing experienced practitioners.
- Access to a wealth of practical guidance, advice, case studies and discussions to build your knowledge base.
- The opportunity to present your own achievements to all IEMA members, as a case study in one of our industry-leading webinars.
- 24/7 access to industry news from Transform, to help you tackle every workplace challenge - with the latest edition of your members-only magazine sent directly to your workplace or home ten times a year. The provocative publication explores the issues that shape and challenge our profession.
- The chance to get involved in events taking place in your region – either as a presenter or a delegate.
- A way to meet other members who care about the same things – face-to-face at an event or through our online networks.
- Involvement in industry-defining surveys and consultations.
- Direct one-to-one mentoring to help you achieve MIEMA status.
How do you get it?
Show us what you’ve achieved in the workplace and what you’ve learnt in your role, through an online professional assessment, which we’ll guide you through.
What does your organisation get?
The confidence that your employees are equipped, connected, fully up-to-date and in touch with learning opportunities that will help them
Next Steps...
Make Your Mark
There’s a whole new world of opportunity for environment and sustainability professionals — and this is your way in.
The drive towards sustainability has opened up new professional avenues across all sectors. If you’re looking to start out or make a change in your career and have real working experience to share, then Associate membership of IEMA is your gateway into the profession. You don’t have to have a conventional academic background in environment and sustainability. As part of our worldwide community you can quickly access the training, support and industry knowledge you need, while gaining recognition and building your network within the profession.
What is it?
The entry point for those building a career in environment and sustainability. A way to get recognition for the knowledge you’ve gained through your work.
Who is it for?
Professional people looking to get more fully involved and make an impact in an environment and sustainability role.
Where on the journey?
This is the starting point for environment and sustainability professionals and you can expect to progress to Practitioner membership and beyond.
What do you get?
- The AIEMA suffix — a way to prove to employers, clients and colleagues that you’re on a great career path.
- Weekly invitations to events that will connect you firmly with other professionals and help build your knowledge.
- Up-to-date knowledge of developments in practice and changing legislation, with your subscription to Transform magazine - the world's most-read environment and sustainability publication. Published ten times a year, the provocative members-only publication explores the issues that shape and challenge our profession.
- Access to the guidance you need to help you do your job.
- A chance to get involved in IEMA’s surveys and consultations, which influence the policies and regulations affecting your work.
How do you get it?
Take our online exam in your own time, or an IEMA accredited course. We can prepare you with everything you need to know with our Foundation Certificate training courses. These provide a great way for you to get a foothold and demonstrate your competence in this kind of work.
What does your organisation get?
Associate membership offers support, training resources, information and professional connections, so that your organisation has the expertise to manage environmental risk and compliance.
Leaders of the Future
We’re already looking to the next generation of sustainability professionals. We’re looking to you.
Becoming an IEMA Graduate is a decisive first step towards a transformational role in business. On the way you’ll encounter new opportunities, deepen your knowledge and build relationships to last a lifetime. You’ll gain recognition and earning potential too. We’re ready to guide and support you all the way. Because by working together, we have a chance to reset the norms of business and uncover the way to a bright future for everyone.
What is it?
A launchpad for graduates who want to take on a transformational role in business.
Who is it for?
University graduates from across the subject spectrum, who have recently graduated.
Where on the journey?
Graduate membership is a decisive first career move and the start of your progression towards becoming an IEMA Practitioner, as you apply your skills and knowledge
What do you get?
- The GradIEMA suffix — the mark of all you’ve learned in your degree and an essential asset when you apply for jobs.
- Free entry to hundreds of events each year, where you’ll meet people who can offer you the best advice about your career path.
- A way to keep your knowledge of developing practice and changing legislation up-to-date, with your free subscription to the world's most-read environment and sustainability publication - Transform magazine. Published ten times a year, the provocative members-only publication explores the issues that shape and challenge our profession.
- Access to the guidance you need to help you do your job.
- The chance to get involved in IEMA’s surveys and consultations, which influence the policies and regulations affecting your work.
How do you get it?
It’s easy to join online. Tell us about you and your plans. You’ll need proof of your graduation from an approved or relevant degree or programme.
What does your organisation get?
Graduate membership is the mark of employees with essential skills for building future-proof organisations. By providing Graduate membership for your graduate recruits you can be confident that they’ll have the support, training resources, information and professional connections they need to perform to their full potential and help to drive change.