Early Career Professionals Challenge 2026: The Judging Event | GROUP AWARD | Rivers and Coastal Group | IN-PERSON

Hosted by the CIWEM Rivers and Coastal Group

Event description

The Challenge Award is for early career professionals within the first three years in the water and environment sector and is designed to foster collaboration across organisations and geographies to solve a challenge in the water and environment sector.

The successful teams were announced at the Briefing Event on Monday 11 May 2026 and have been invited back to present their work in front of a judging panel and audience at the Judging Event taking place on Tuesday 14 July 2026. This event will be introduced and followed by keynote speakers.

To find out more about the competition and how you can take part next year, please click on the button below which will take you to the Early Career Professionals Challenge Award page:

Part of CIWEM Awards and Competitions.

The Challenge Theme

2026

This year, participant teams have been challenged to design a game (analogue or digital) that encourages the integration of sustainability into everyday life, with a focus on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and Nature-based Solutions (NbS).

The judging event will focus on playing the games developed by each team and assessing how effectively they address the challenge theme. To support the judges in evaluating teamwork and the development process, participating teams will also prepare and submit a video presentation in advance of the judging event, narrating their creative and collaborative journey.

Programme

13:00 - 13:30

Welcome to the event from the CIWEM Vice President and the Chair of the Rivers and Coastal Group

Sun Yan Evan | Vice- President and Trustee | CIWEM and Flood Risk & Water Quality Director | Mott MacDonald

James Trafford | Regional Director | Waterman Aspen and Chair | CIWEM Rivers and Coastal Group

13:30 - 13:45

Keynote speech

Pete Lambert | Project Executive & Demonstrator Programme Manager | Environment Agency

13:45 - 13:50

Judging Panel Introduction

13:50 - 14:50

Gaming Session 1 - Judges and participants visit 4 gaming stations (first four teams)

14:50 - 15:05 | Comfort/coffee break

15:05 - 16:05

Gaming Session 2 - Judges and participants visit 4 gaming stations (remaining four teams)

16:05 - 16: 35

Judging time and Coffee break and networking time for participants

16:40 - 17:00

Awards presentation

17:00 - 18:00

Food and drinks reception and networking

Close | 18:00

Who are the team finalists

We have a great selection of Early Career Professionals from across the UK and from a range of organisations who are supporting them to take part in the challenge. They are organised by region to enable face-to-face collaboration if they wish to do so.

About the chair and judges

This year our judging team will be head by James Trafford, current Rivers and Coastal Group chair, and includes a selection of professionals and role models in the sector from across a range of organisations with experience and interest in both support for early career development, sustainability and Nature based Solutions. They represent a range of organisations, including our event supporter WSP.

Chair

Judges

Are you a CIWEM member? Want to find out more?

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About the venue and getting there

The event will take place at the WSP Offices at The Mailbox, Wharfside Street, Birmingham, B1 1RQ. Birmingham railway and bus stations are within easy walking distance and there are several bus routes that run near the offices for those travelling by bus.

Travelling to the venue

As part of CIWEM’s commitment to tackling the climate and ecological emergency we would encourage delegates to use the most environmentally sustainable means of transport possible.

By Train

Birmingham New Street station is five minutes’ walk away. Exit Birmingham New Street Station via “B” end of platform and Navigation Street or Hill Street exit.

By Bus

Closest bus stop is Navigation Street.

By foot

A short walk from Birmingham New Street. Enter through the front of The Mailbox, up the escalator to the first floor.

By car

If you are coming by car, please consider sharing the journey with others to reduce your environmental footprint. Closest car park is the Q-Park Mailbox on Royal Mail Street.

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