My route to chartership with CIWEM: Hannah Purkis

01 December 2025

A flood and water manager at Suffolk County Council shares her route to becoming a chartered water and environmental manager

I didn’t begin my career with engineering in mind. My journey started with a fascination for the weather, which led me to study meteorology and oceanography at the University of East Anglia. I had planned to train as a forecaster at the Met Office – until a final-year module on catchment water resources introduced me to sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) and natural flood management. That module changed everything.

After graduating in 2016, I joined the Environment Agency as an intern, working on reservoir operations manuals and flood asset maintenance. I loved being out in the field and quickly realised that flood risk management was where I wanted to be.

In 2017, I joined JP Chick & Partners as a graduate environmental engineer. I worked across flood risk assessments, contaminated land and SuDS design, progressing to senior environmental engineer. My background in numerical modelling for weather forecasting translated well into drainage and flood modelling, and I began to specialise in this area.

In 2020, I joined Suffolk County Council’s flood and water management team, starting as a flood and water engineer, leading on major planning applications and national infrastructure projects. I redrafted the Suffolk SuDS guidance and mentored junior colleagues. But I also became increasingly aware of the gaps in my engineering knowledge. That awareness led me to pursue a part-time MSc in civil engineering at the University of Surrey, while working full time.

By 2024, I had become Suffolk County Council’s flood and water manager, leading a high-performing team of passionate professionals to deliver our duties as the lead local flood authority. I’ve acted as an expert witness at planning appeals, regularly engage with elected members and senior stakeholders, and have led the adoption of new software and cross-departmental digital transformation initiatives to keep our service current and efficient.

I also oversee our career-grade engineer pathway, helping new recruits – especially those from non-traditional backgrounds – build the skills and confidence they need to thrive.

Choosing a chartership

I became a chartered member of CIWEM in 2024. My decision to pursue chartership came from a desire to validate my interdisciplinary background. I’d changed direction a few times – meteorology, consultancy, engineering – and I wanted something that said, "You’re good at what you do". It was as much about building confidence as it was about professional recognition.

Preparing my application

Preparing for chartership felt daunting at first, but once I broke the application into manageable chunks and started with the easier sections, it became much more achievable. Having a sponsor who had been through the process – Cathryn Brady of the Water Management Alliance – was invaluable. Her support and guidance made a real difference, and I’m still in touch with her. Knowing firsthand how helpful that can be, I’d be happy to support others looking for a sponsor.

Preparing for the interview

To prepare for the professional review interview, I looked up typical questions and thought through how I might answer them. I also did a practice interview with my sponsor, which helped settle my nerves. On the day, I was very nervous – but it wasn’t like any interview I’d had before. It felt more like a conversation with a fellow professional at a networking event, someone genuinely interested in my career journey.

My top tips for getting chartered

1. Own your unique background – your interdisciplinary knowledge is your strength. Use it!
2. Invest in mentoring – someone who believes in you can make all the difference.
3. Say ‘yes’ to opportunities – whether technical or strategic, every challenge is a chance to meet someone new or grow your skillset.

Next steps

Looking ahead, I’m focused on continuing to grow as a leader—building and empowering high-performing teams and broadening my impact beyond flood and water into the wider environmental sector. I’m passionate about creating space for people from all backgrounds – whether they come from geography, environmental science, engineering or entirely different disciplines – to find their place in this field.

The challenges we face demand diverse perspectives and I’m committed to helping shape a profession that is inclusive, resilient and ready for the future.

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Want to become a chartered water and environmental manager? Find out more at: ciwem.org/membership/chartered-member.

This article originally appeared in the Winter 2025 print edition of The Environment. CIWEM members can read the issue in full (and all back issues dating back to 2016) via MyCIWEM. You can also stay up-to-date with our free monthly The Environment newsletter – subscribe here.

Hannah Purkis is a flood and water manager at Suffolk County Council