Young Environmentalist of the Year

CIWEM Young Environmentalist of the Year Award, sponsored by Jacobs, recognises the outstanding contribution to environmental understanding made by a professional at the start of their career

View previous winners

Young Environmentalist of the Year

CIWEM Young Environmentalist of the Year Award, sponsored by Jacobs, recognises the outstanding contribution to environmental understanding made by a professional at the start of their career

View previous winners 

Young Environmentalist of the Year

CIWEM Young Environmentalist of the Year Award, sponsored by Jacobs, recognises the outstanding contribution to environmental understanding made by a professional at the start of their career

View previous winners 

CIWEM Young Environmentalist of the Year 2020 Award is now accepting applications !

Read press release on the 2019 winner

Entry and judging criteria

CIWEM and Jacobs look for inspiring adults, who are early into their career in the water and environment sector, and are working hard to help protect our environment. The chosen winner will be awarded a £1,000 cash prize, access to CIWEM 2021 events and a 1:1 CIWEM membership session.

Each candidate is assessed by a panel of judges including representatives of CIWEM and Jacobs, as well as independent experts. Judging is based on the following criteria:

    • Contribution made to environmental awareness and understanding
    • Work the nominee has carried out outside their normal remit
    • Qualifications and career progression

Candidates must have their entry supported by their employer (usually line manager), or via a CIWEM Branch or Group. Candidates must be at the start of their career – with 5 years or less industry experience. You don’t need to be a CIWEM member to apply.

Entries for 2020 have now closed. If you are interested in the latest updates please get in touch with the awards team at: awards@ciwem.org

Thomas Fudge - 2019 Winner

Thomas Fudge - 2019 Winner

Thomas Fudge is the winner of the 2019 award. Thomas demonstrated a passion for environmental wellbeing both in his application and presentation. Whilst undertaking his PhD, Thomas also founded the company WASE, whose mission is to provide safe, affordable wastewater treatment, solving the global sanitation crisis by reducing the cost of wastewater treatment. He has won a number of awards for his research and hard work including the Santander University Entrepreneur of the Year. As CEO and Founder of WASE Ltd, Thomas has been awarded the Young Environmentalist of the Year for his outstanding work on water and sanitation. Read more

Thomas Fudge
@TomFudge
Vyvyan Evans - 2018 Winner

Vyvyan Evans - 2018 Winner

Vyvyan Evans is the winner of the 2018 award. After working as an environmental engagement officer for the London School of Economics, and volunteering with a number of charities on Environmental and Humanitarian Response projects, Vyvyan was inspired to undertake an MSc in in water security and sustainable development. She aims to simplify environmental messages and empower people to take action through her social enterprise projects and role as a STEM ambassador.

Matthew Jack – 2017 Winner

Matthew Jack – 2017 Winner

Matthew Jack won the 2017 award. He has been working with Engineers for Overseas Development since November 2014, raising over £60,000 to build a sustainably constructed medical centre in Uganda. He has also been working with Chartered CIWEM members to set up a CIWEM group providing mentoring and mutual support to new CIWEM Chartership candidates. His latest project is an initiative to mobilise his local community and politicians to restore a local nature reserve in his local area of Manchester.

Helen Allister – 2016 Winner

Helen Allister – 2016 Winner

Helen Allister was the winner of the 2016 Young Environmentalist of the Year Award. Helen, who works as a team leader in Northumbrian Water Group’s (NWG) wastewater operations team, joined the company’s graduate scheme as a mature student in 2012 after completing a degree in Biology at Newcastle University. She has quickly progressed within NWG and has lead on major projects, whilst championing her passion for protecting water resources and the environment across the organisation.

Alex Nicholson – 2015 Winner

Alex Nicholson – 2015 Winner

Dr Alex Nicholson received the 2015 Young Environmentalist of the Year Award. Alex, an Environmental Engineer at international consultancy Arup, completed a PhD in Natural Flood Management at Newcastle University, and has continued to develop and champion Natural Flood Management from within Arup. Alex has been involved in a long-term part time secondment to the Environment Agency, in addition to developing and delivering an assessment tool, design guide and training courses with organisations including Natural Resources Wales and the River Restoration Centre.


Being awarded the CIWEM Young Environmentalist has been a great honour and helps recognises that varying ways you can be an ‘environmentalist’. I have met an excellent range of people as part of the process and has allowed the projects I have worked on to gain more recognition. It is an invaluable platform to recognise localised action young individuals have taken to advance the environmental debate and environmental practices”

Vyvyan Evans, 2018 Winner

I would like to thank CIWEM and Jacobs for recognising the value of competitions such as this to young professionals and giving us the opportunity to showcase our skills at an early stage of our careers, I cannot express how thrilled I am to receive this accolade.

Matthew Jack, 2017 Winner

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Celebrate a professional who is early into their career and working hard to help protect the environment. You can nominate yourself or a colleague!

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