Goodbye from this year's Welsh branch chair

Dear Members,

2012-13 has been another busy year for CIWEM Welsh Branch. We have put on a number of interesting and well attending evening technical lectures. Jim Poole's talk "Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Ecosystems Services - how do they fit together?" was the winner of this years 'otter award' for best evening lecture.

Morlais Owens who donated the otter to Welsh Branch on his retirement form Welsh Water unfortunately passed away earlier this year and the Branch pass our condolences to his family.

We partnered with ICE to deliver a very successful conference "Learning to Live with Flooding". John Griffiths joined us on his last day as Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development to deliver the key note speak.

We held a very successful Welsh Branch Annual Dinner, appropriately on St. David's day. The event was well attended by members and corporate sponsors. I was joined on the top table by Paul Hillman current President, Peter Matthews a past President and Nick Reeves CIWEM's chief executive. The raffle on the night raised £500 for water aid. The Salvation Army's homeless shelter on Bute Street also benefited as we donated overbooked food to them.

I would like to thank the Welsh Branch committee and new members group committee who have given me a lot of support this year in fulfilling my duties as chair and making sure the Branch and our events run smoothly.

I would also like to thank the other institutions in Wales that we have run joint events with including ICE and the Geological Society.

Thank you for a great year and see you soon

Regards

Claire Scannell MCIWEM CWEM, CSci, CEnv.

CIWEM Welsh Branch Chair