Presidential blog: How I became president

I am 7 weeks into the Presidential year and time has flown by rather quickly! I’ve been asked by several people about my journey to get here so I thought I’d share my experience on our blog.

I have volunteered for CIWEM for approaching 20 years (as of Spring 2025). This is alongside my day job in the flood and coastal sector, where I have grown from an early career professional (ECP) into a Regional Delivery Director over the course of my career to date.

I became a Chartered Water and Environmental Manager in 2009 and a Fellow in 2019. I am incredibly proud of my professional qualifications as they mean something to me personally.

CIWEM means a huge amount to me. As an organisation we exist to further the science and practicse of water and environmental management for public benefit and to develop and uphold standards of professional competence through supporting CPD and awarding Chartership. Through CIWEM, I have had an amazing opportunity to support other people to develop and grow professionally and it is this that I am most proud of.

Early years

Around Easter 2004, I had my first experience of a CIWEM event. As an ECP embarking on my career, this was incredibly exciting and rewarding. We went on a Rivers and Coastal Group (RCG) study weekend at the University of East Anglia in Norwich. We had talks, networking in an informal social setting (on a river boat!) and site visits and I came away from the weekend energised and eagerly looking forward to the next one!

The very next year we went to Oxford on the annual study weekend and I nervously put my name forward to help organise the one the following year in 2006. I was super excited to be chosen as part of a small team to work with the CIWEM RCG committee to arrange the weekend.

We had a fabulous time at the University of Wolverhampton in Telford and I realised the power of a network early in the process to bring in excellent speakers and site visits. We also had a great social in the interactive science museum in Ironbridge that I remember fondly for how much fun we had!

Rivers and coastal group

Following that, I joined the RCG committee and my most powerful memory as an ECP is one of acceptance. My views as an ECP were sought after and valued by the much more experienced colleagues from across the industry around the table. I love to learn and observe from more senior colleagues and I was also empowered by senior female leaders on the committee to believe that one day that I could get there too in a still largely male dominated industry.

Coming back from maternity leave in 2008, the CIWEM RCG Committee had entered me into the CIWEM Young Members Award competition. I was shortlisted and sat through a final interview in London in the old CIWEM John Street offices. Later that day I got a phone call to say I had won and this was such a great privilege on behalf of ECPs working across the water and environmental sector. I will always remember how special it was to collect my award at the CIWEM Annual Dinner.

I spent nine years on the RCG Committee, as an ordinary member, the Honorary Secretary and the Chair from 2013-14. During this time, I organised and chaired conferences, built up my network and contributed to CIWEM policy development.

Most memorable was the updating of the CIWEM Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management policy statement over a weekend during the Somerset floods, to help us respond to intense public and press interest on sustainable approaches to flood management.

Branch life

After this time, I became involved in Branch activity. I first joined the East Midlands Branch Committee before moving over to the West Midlands Branch Committee due to a change in employment location around 2014.

This gave me a new perspective, as I was working with peers in different parts of the water and environmental sector and able to organise insightful events on topics from energy from waste to air quality. I chaired the West Midlands Branch between 2019 and 2022 and during the pandemic. I remember feeling a great sense of responsibility to help support our members through this difficult time and for example, recall we put on membership webinars to engage with them.

Trustee and President

I had been contemplating my next CIWEM move for a while, when the opportunity came up to apply to be a CIWEM Trustee in 2021. Having applied, I was fortunate enough to be shortlisted and sat quite a challenging but enjoyable interview that summer. I was delighted when I found out I had been successful as CIWEM means so much to me.

As President, I have been elected by my peers on our Trustee Board to represent our 11,500 members for a 12 month term. I work alongside our Junior President Peter Rook, who represents ECPs. You can find out more about our plans for the Presidential year here.

So, in terms of the Ripple Effect, what is the my biggest takeaway to share with others to make a positive impact?

Be brave, be bold and volunteer for things! You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by getting more involved in CIWEM.

We have Branches, Groups, Special Interest Panels, a CIWEM Mentor Platform and our more formal committees and Trustee Board. You can find out more about volunteering with CIWEM here.