CIWEM’s president has an ambassadorial role representing all CIWEM members, with the junior president specifically advocating for early career professionals. Elected each year on a 12-month term, they are supported by the immediate past and future presidents, providing continuity.
The president helps promote the institution, awards excellence among the CIWEM membership each term and represents the water and environmental profession in the UK and around the world.
In 2024, we welcome Hannah Burgess as CIWEM’s 38th President, and Peter Rook as CIWEM’s Junior President.
2024/2025 Presidential theme:
The Ripple Effect: Scaling up resilience and adapting at pace to climate change
On the theme of adaptation and resilience to our changing climate, Incoming President Hannah Burgess added: “No one individual can solve the climate and ecological crisis alone. Our strength is in collective action as professionals in the Water and Environmental sector. Let’s take action, share our knowledge and inspire others to act by starting a ripple. How far will yours spread?”
Underpinning the core theme will be the following sub-themes:
The chosen Presidential theme will support charitable purposes outlined in section four of CIWEM’s royal charter:
4.1 To advance the science and practice of water and environmental management for the public benefit
4.2 To promote education, training, study and research in the said science and practice for the public benefit and to publish the useful results of such research
4.3 To establish and maintain for the public benefit appropriate standards of competence and conduct on the part of members of the Institution
Find out more about the theme and our new presidents:
CIWEM President Hannah Burgess is a fellow of CIWEM and a chartered water and environmental manager. She has worked in flood and coastal management for 21 years and has witnessed first-hand the devastating impacts of flooding and coastal change. For her day job, she is a regional delivery director for the Binnies UK flood, coast and maritime business (part of the RSK Group).
Hannah has volunteered for CIWEM since 2005 and was past chair of the Rivers and Coastal Group and the West Midlands Branch. Back in 2008, she won the CIWEM Young Members Award.
She was a founding member of the Women in FCERM initiative and the Chair of the RSK Women’s Network. In summer 2024, Hannah also won the RSK Group People Award for Network Builder of the Year. She is a keen runner, public speaker and an active panelist and judge across CIWEM and within the sector.
On her successful nomination as President, Hannah spoke with delight at taking on this exciting new role: “CIWEM has supported me throughout my career and given me the opportunity to support others, who all work for the benefit of communities and the environment. Being president is a huge privilege and it will be honour to serve you over the next 12 months. It’s our role as an industry to support communities on the front line of environmental change to adapt and enhance their resilience, and that’s why our theme is very important to me.”
You can get always get in touch with her by email: president@ciwem.org
See more from Hannah below:
Junior President Peter Rook is a chartered water and environmental manager and has worked in flood and coastal management for seven years. Day-to-day, he is a chartered senior analyst and team leader in flood resilience at JBA Consulting, and previously worked at a lead local flood authority.
His career in flood risk management began at East Sussex County Council, where he led flood risk schemes and provided planning advice. In 2020, he joined JBA and became a CIWEM-accredited professional. Peter now leads a team at the Haywards Heath office and enjoys working on a variety of projects, including supporting lead local flood authorities (LLFAs), working with local planning authorities (LPAs), and undertaking site-specific flood risk assessments.
Peter is also a fellow of The Geological Society and was awarded a merit in his Masters degree from the University of Manchester, where he read ‘Petroleum Geoscience for Exploration’.
On his election, he added: “As junior president it will be a great honour to champion the role of early career professionals in our industry over the coming year. From my experience across both the private and public sector, I know that our ability to adapt to the climate challenges we’re facing and improve our resilience will be crucial, extending to our personal and professional development.”
You can speak to Peter by email: juniorpresident@ciwem.org
See more from Peter below:
Look out for updates from the presidential team in the news section of this website, in addition to the CIWEM newsletters, social media pages, and The Environment Magazine.
Presidential Blogs:
Further reading and media:
CIWEM and CSL Ltd are part of the CIWEM Group.
CSL Ltd (CIWEM Services Limited). Registered in England and Wales. Company No. 3166701. Registered office address: 106-109 Saffron Hill, London EC1N 8QS.
CIWEM (The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management) Registered Charity No. 1043409 (England & Wales) Registered Charity No. SCo38212 (Scotland). Registered office address: 106-109 Saffron Hill, London EC1N 8QS.
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