CIWEM'S Water & Environment Conference 2011

CIWEM holds an annual conference addressing the multidisciplinary issues of the global water and environment sector. This year it is focused on the issue of the “Big Society” and the implications for the environment sector. The conference will be held at Olympia Conference Centre in London, England on the 6th-7th of April 2011

The current trend toward austerity is a major global challenge. Funding for projects will be more restricted, demanding novel and innovative solutions. We are facing a new financial reality which will focus our efforts towards achieving our aims for sustainability and environmental gains with decreasing funding.

The UK coalition government has launched a “Big Society” programme intended to “take power away from politicians and give it to the people,” (see programme). The programme includes giving communities more power, transferring power from central to local government using ‘third sector’ resources to deliver government programmes and giving wider public access to government data. This programme will create opportunities and challenges for the environment sector and society as a whole.

In April 2011, CIWEM will hold a two-day Annual Conference that will address multidisciplinary issues across all areas of the global water and environment sector and will also focus on the issue of the “Big Society” and the implications for the environment sector.

The aim of the conference is to challenge and inspire the water and environmental community by sharing knowledge and best practice, which is at the heart of meeting key global challenges. There will be a mix of keynote speakers, offered papers, exhibitions and networking opportunities that will make this the key event for water and environment professionals.

Outputs from the conference freely available on the CIWEM website after the event.

Confirmed keynote speakers include:

Richard Benyon MP, Minister for Natural Environment and Fisheries

Tony Juniper, campaigner, writer, sustainability adviser, environmentalist and former Executive Director of Friends of the Earth

Dr Mike Clarke, Chief Executive of RSPB

John Edmonds, Aldersgate Group Lead on Environmental Skills, Non-Executive Director of Carbon Trust, Former General Secretary of the GMB Trade Union and Chair of the Inland Waterways Advisory Council (IWAC)

Phil Rothwell, Head of Strategy and Engagement, Environment Agency

For more information on conference speakers see the Speaker Programme.

To see details on Water & Environment 2010, see the Conference Outputs page for the presentations and delegate notes.

For more information go to Water and Environment 2011. For information on sponsorship contact Lauren Goozee.