Why I became a CIWEM Fellow - Katie Pearson

Katie Pearson FCIWEM C.WEM CEnv tells us why she became a CIWEM Fellow. Katie is AECOM technical head for modelling (water UK&I), has worked in the water and environment sector for 20 years and became a Fellow in 2022.

What does your day-to-day look like?

It’s a cliché but working in consultancy, every day is different!

My role includes a mix of technical leadership on some of our largest and more complex modelling projects, business development and bidding, framework management and leading our technical community through knowledge sharing, innovation, and improvement.

I spend a lot of the day on Teams calls but what I love most is sitting down with teams and listening to what they are doing.

And all that is topped & tailed by being a mum to my 12-year-old and 9-year-old boys who keep me always learning through their love of books and facts.

Who or what inspired you to become a CIWEM Fellow?

Being on the CIWEM Professional Standards Committee (PSC) inspired me to become a CIWEM Fellow.

Previously my impression had been that becoming a Fellow was only for those well-known leaders and figureheads in our industry, or something to do towards the end of a career. Through the PSC I realised the value that becoming a CIWEM Fellow would bring for me, my company and for CIWEM and that I had ‘enough to show’ in an application.

Why does CIWEM fellowship matter?

CIWEM Fellowship shows my on-going commitment to the Institution, to my own professional development and to the industry. It is external validation of the progress I have made since originally getting Chartered (in 2011) and shows others working in the industry the career development and progression routes available to them.

I also think it is important for CIWEM to have a growing group of Fellows, with increasing diversity, to show that the Institution is staying relevant to the challenges in our industry and moving forwards to face those challenges.

How did you go about becoming a Fellow?

I found three potential sponsors who were all FCIWEM - people I either still worked with or had worked with in the past, all of whom were people I looked up to and admired for their contribution to the industry. They all agreed that I was in a good place to apply to be a Fellow, and each wrote me an encouraging and positive sponsor letter. I had been keeping a detailed CPD log for enough years that it did not take me long to tidy that up ready for submission with a CV.

How did you know you were ready to become a Fellow?

It is difficult to know when you are “ready” to become a Fellow as there is not a specific set of competences to demonstrate as there is to become Chartered (C.WEM), therefore it’s a bit more subjective. This makes it hard to judge when to apply so it does take a bit of confidence to take the step.

Talking to others, especially members of the PSC or CIWEM Executive, through ‘Meet a Fellow’ type events can help provide reassurance on the process.

How has being a Fellow helped you and your career?

Being a Fellow gives me confidence to tackle bigger challenges and to jump on bigger opportunities. It is also important to my employer because it demonstrates to our clients that we value and promote technical and professional development.

What do you hope to contribute to CIWEM as a Fellow?

I have contributed through 3 years on the PSC committee and my on-going role as an assessor and reviewer for Chartership, which I always enjoy and find equally challenging and rewarding.

I also enjoy sharing my story and promoting careers in our industry through CIWEM and other STEM outreach work. Within AECOM I mentor and support applicants on their journey to Chartership through.

I intend to carry all of this on and to work more with further and higher education providers so that they understand the jobs and careers in this sector, to make sure that apprentices and graduates are developing the skills we need in water and environmental management.

Find out more about becoming a CIWEM Fellow.