200. Society for the Environment (SocEnv), 20-year Anniversary Awards and World Environment Day Lectures, Royal Society of Chemistry, 4 June 2024


As a past winner of a SocEnv Award I was invited to join the SocEnv celebrations supported by Crowberry Consulting, AECOM and Jacobs.

The first award was for Honorary Fellow of the Society for the Environment (HonFSE) which recognised exceptional contributions made to protect and enhance our environment.  The Fellows have a powerful voice, together influencing policy at the highest levels.  Receiving the HonFSE award was Water Conservators’ Freeman Martin Baxter.

There were then awards for the 2024 Rising Star and the 2024 Environmental Professional of the Year for CEnv, REnvP and REnvTech registrants.

The Employer Champion programme is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year and welcomed two more employers into the programme: Wates and RSK Group.  Martin Ballard (joining the Company as a Freeman on 3 July 2024) collected the award on behalf of Wates.

To celebrate the last 20 years of SocEnv, the 20-year anniversary panel featured special guests Water Conservators’ Past Master Peter Matthews CEnv, Fleet Warden Carolyn Roberts CEnv, Will Pope CEnv and Emma Wilcox CEnv.

Comments made included:

There are 11,000 CEnvs.  We want to normalise environment professionals like other professional groups represented in the high street. The acceptance and action on environmental issues is taking too long.  In comparison, in 1880 asbestos was recognised to be dangerous, and it took 100 years to address the risks.  Tobacco and smoking were identified as causing deaths in 1953, but products are still being sold.  The UK was at the forefront of wind turbine technologies.  While we have 10-12,000 wind turbines in UK, there is only one manufacturer left.

We have much to celebrate in 20 years. Tree huggers have gained the gravitas of chartered status. We need to learn lessons on how to be successful.  Governments think short term.  To progress we need to be more integrated, with societies working together in partnership.  There must be a range of ages in corporate organisations and members, bringing together the old and young.

Professional accreditation has become more important, and is frequently called upon in court. There are class representatives for class action against water companies.  People are more involved in and need a code of ethics. We must not lose the wisdom to get on top of environmental problems before they become serious.

Environmental professionals have a good status and are maintaining their competence.

People need support, advice and guidance. Green apprenticeships are a fantastic way of bringing people into the profession. Green wash is no longer coming through the finance sector, other sectors less so.

The World Environment Day themed panel discussion saw leading experts Dr Jane Rickson CEnv – Professor of Soil Erosion and Conservation, Cranfield University, Professor Ian Barker CEnv – Vice President Environment, Institute of Water, Dr Katie Medcalf CEnv – Environment Director, Environment Systems, and Will Arnold CEnv – Head of Climate Action at Institution of Structural Engineers discuss land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience.

The afternoon concluded with a huge 20th anniversary cake and a reception.

It was a most enjoyable afternoon.

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