About the online event

Environment Analyst's annual UK Business Summit took place on 15-16 and 22-23 June 2021 and once again brought together business leaders and senior executives working across the environmental & sustainability services industry to discuss how they are interpreting and responding to current and emerging market trends and disruptors through a series of speaker presentations and panel discussions.

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If you missed the event, don't worry it's not too late to join the conversation - all of the speaker presentations and panel discussions are available on-demand, so you can still hear from our expert speakers and learn how your competitors are responding to the latest market drivers.

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What will the UK Business Summit offer you?

Global Business Summit

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We also held our inaugural Global Business Summit on 8-9 June. Watch the Global Summit on-demand here.

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Event partners:

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Environment Analyst UK Business Summit 2021:

Delivering a Sustainable Recovery

Conference agenda:

All times are in British Summer Time (BST)

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Tuesday 22nd June - Morning 

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09.30 Welcome & Opening Remarks from the Session Chair

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Julian Rose, Managing Director & Co-Founder, Environment Analyst

Session One: UK Environmental Market Outlook, Drivers & Disrupters 

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09.45 Reviewing the UK Environmental Consulting Market Structure and Future Outlook

Environment Analyst share their latest findings on the UK environmental consultancy services market dynamics, including: 

• Update on the market structure, leading players and recent M&A activity 

• Reviewing the current market state and future forecasts:  

  • assessing the toll that COVID-19 has had on the sector and how business leaders are responding

• Assessing key business drivers and disruptors, and how companies and business models are evolving in response:

  • identifying emerging mega-trends and opportunity “hotspots” 

  • pinpointing where key growth opportunities and challenges lie

  • managing disruptors and emerging risks 

Ross Griffiths, Content Director, Environment Analyst

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10.10 Outlining Key Environmental Policy Drivers & Priorities 

• Update on progress of the Environment Bill, related policies and the creation of the Office of Environmental Enforcement:

  • what are the key implications for the environmental consultancy sector?

• Highlighting other impending environmental policy developments and key forces for change 

• Assessing progress on the path to net zero and COP26: 

  • what key measures and mechanisms are needed to deliver net zero ambitions? 

  • where do the Government and industry need to prioritise activity?

  • finding the appropriate balance of action: mitigation vs resilience

  • what should the UK be taking to the table at COP26?

Matthew Farrow, Executive Director, Environmental Industries Commission

10.30 Q&A

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Session Two: Industry Response

11.30 Industry Panel Discussion  

Industry panellists will offer their perspective on current and future market and policy drivers and the business response, sharing insight into how their companies are responding to different threats and opportunities.

Richard Ashby-Crane, Senior Director & Head of Environmental Services; Water & Environment, Jacobs

Mark Southwood, Group CEO and Chair, Temple Group

Philippa Spence, UK Managing Director, Ramboll

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13.00 Close of Session  

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Tuesday 22nd June - Afternoon

14.00 Welcome Back

Session Three: Leading the ESG Revolution 

14.05 Demonstrating Leadership in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) & Developing Positive Sustainability Strategies

• Defining “sustainability” and what it means for different clients and stakeholders

• Effectively translating the UN SDGs and TCFD outputs into tangible business and productivity goals and project deliverables

  • what needs to be added to the dataset to give a true picture of ESG and develop meaningful performance metrics?

• Analysing the role of green bonds, private equity and other sustainable finance to help fuel a green recovery

• Elevating ESG strategies to the C-suite and integrating purpose to truly deliver change 

Philip Stewart, Senior Partner, ERM

Richard Burrett, Chief Sustainability Officer, Earth Capital

Ian Heasman, Director of Sustainability, Taylor Wimpey

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16.00 Close of Session 

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Wednesday 23rd June

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09.45 Welcome Back from the Chair          

Session Four: Sector Spotlight - Renewables & Energy Transition

10.00 Exploring the Knowledge, Tools & Support Required to Enable an Effective Energy Transition

This session will spotlight the growth of the diversified energy sector; the policy and commercial drivers; investment in energies such as hydrogen and offshore wind, and the opportunities the energy transition provides for environmental consultants.

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• Discussing the conclusions of the energy white paper

• Exploring the energy sector’s role in delivering the green recovery and net zero 

• Preparing for the hydrogen economy, opportunities and challenges ahead

• Assessing how best to use existing skills and infrastructure in the provision of new energy sources

• Helping those sectors / industries most exposed to the net zero transition pivot their business models and strategy to embrace a decade of action, and what support is required

• Assessing how digital technologies can enable the energy transition

Stine Andersen, Head of UK Consents and Strategic Environment, Ørsted

Hannah Evans, Manager, Energy Systems Team, The Carbon Trust

Martyn Link, Chief Strategy Officer, Wood

Colin McNaught, Director Strategic Growth & Development, Ricardo Energy & Environment

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11.00 Short Comfort Break  

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Session Five: Embedding A Capitals-Based Approach into Delivery

11.15 Exploring how Natural and Social Capital-Based Approaches are Transforming the Delivery of Environmental Consultancy

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• Examining what is driving policy makers and stakeholders to embed the capitals-based approach into project finance and delivery

• Nature positive, the next net-zero?  

• Exploring opportunities to leverage the UK’s excellence and leadership in natural capital and social value in overseas markets

• Embracing digital solutions to revolutionise the delivery of social and natural-based solutions 

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Chair: Tim Polaszek, Collaboration Manager, Capitals Coalition

Tom Butterworth, Deputy Head of Ecology and Technical Director for Natural Capital & Biodiversity, WSP

Kerry Scott, Global Lead for Social Outcomes, Mott MacDonald

Stephanie Wray, Managing Director, Nature Positive, an RSK Company

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Session Six: Developing Flexible & Sustainable Procurement Frameworks 

12.15 Developing an Innovative & Flexible Supply Chain & Procurement Framework to Enable the Delivery of Sustainability & Social Value Goals

• Understanding how procurement is evolving to reflect current influences (climate change, social value, net gain) and the impact on supply chain expectations 

• Incorporating circular economy principles into the supply chain to achieve sustainability goals

• Harnessing best practice in supply chain engagement and collaborative relationships

• Clearly identifying clients’ needs and wants and effectively translating these into workable contracts:

  • building in flexibility to allow for innovation

  • using incentivisation effectively 

• Evaluating the role and acceptance of digital tools in the procurement process and embedding digital innovation into infrastructure projects

Stuart Cairns, Partner and Co-Head of International Projects & Procurement, Bird & Bird

Fergus Harradence, Deputy Director, Construction, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS)

Mike Hunting, Head of Governance, Risk and Commercial, Atkins

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13.15 Closing Remarks from Environment Analyst and Close of UK Business Summit

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Roundtable discussion session:

Tuesday 15th June 14:00-16:00 BST ​

For all UK & Global Business Summit Attendees

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One of the most popular sessions at the annual Environment Analyst Business Summit, the interactive roundtable discussion session, gives attendees an opportunity to discuss a topic of interest in a more informal, participative format. Delegates may choose one roundtable to attend, and each table will be hosted by a facilitator to lead discussion, encourage optimum debate and exchange of ideas.

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Roundtables include:

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A. Quantifying an Organisation’s ESG Impact 

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Dr Andreas Georgoulias, Director of Sustainability and Risk, The Environmental Financial Consulting Group (EFCG)

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B. Supporting a Green Recovery by Addressing the Sector Skills Shortages

The environmental consulting sector will play a vital role in the proposed “green recovery”. However, this has implications for a sector already struggling with a legacy skills shortage and under-capacity linked to project cycles. What are the skills required moving forward and how can these best be obtained at all levels within organisations.     

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Chris Gerrard, Catchment & Biodiversity Manager, Anglian Water & Governing Board Member, Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM)

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C. Effective Partnerships & Collaborative Strategies To  Maximise Value & Accelerate Innovation

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Lynsey Clarke, Global Technology Leader: Sustainability & Climate Action & Divisional Director of Sustainability, Jacobs

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D. Optimising Smaller and Mid-Sized Companies’ Position in the Market – Challenges & Opportunities

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Dr Adrian Williams, Managing Director, APEM

E. Improving Equality, Diversity & Inclusion in the Environmental Consulting Sector 

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There is an urgent need to tackle the lack of diversity and inclusion in the environmental consulting sector.  The Diverse Sustainability Initiative is a collaborative approach to facing up to systemic barriers that people from diverse backgrounds face in the sector, and working collaboratively to address them.

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Martin Baxter, Director of Policy and External Affairs & Deputy CEO, The Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment (IEMA)

F. Managing The Skills Gap: Best Practice Solutions for Future-Proofing Your Resource Requirements 

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Riad Habib, Senior Vice President & Energy Managing Director, AECOM

G. Securing Business Success in Emerging Market

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Angelique Dickson, Vice-President, Antea Group & President, Inogen Alliance

H. Effectively Embedding Social Outcomes into Project Delivery

Improving social outcomes is increasingly becoming a requirement of project delivery. This roundtable will discuss different approaches to achieving this through  incorporating social value and environmental justice criteria into projects.

Dr Vicky Hutchinson, ‎Environment Practice Director, Infrastructure, ‎ Atkins

I. Strategic Growth Options for Environmental Consultancies 

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Fredrick Royan, Vice President, Global Environment Practice, Frost & Sullivan

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J. Exploiting Opportunities to Support the Energy Transition

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Joseph J. Fluder III, CEO, President & Director, SWCA Environmental Consultants

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Panel discussion:

Wednesday 16th June 14:00-16:00 BST

For all UK & Global Business Summit Attendees

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Exploring Recent Mergers, Acquisitions & Emerging Financial Partnership Models in the Environmental & Sustainability Consulting Sector and their Impact on Market Structure & Service Delivery

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• Exploring the drivers for, and critical success factors of, recent sector M&A activity

• Assessing different growth strategies, both in the UK and internationally 

• Exploring case study examples of alternate financial partnering models and the pros and cons

• Size or specialism – what are the opportunities and future role for large-scale global firms vs. those offering a more niche proposition

• Evaluating how such activity in the market affects the service offering and the way in which we sell to clients

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Panellists:

Jessica Barclay, Managing Partner, The Environmental Financial Consulting Group (EFCG)

André-Martin Bouchard, Global Director Earth & Environment & Global Executive Director ESG, WSP

Tom Logan, President & Chief Operating Officer, Golder

Jose Revuelta, Chief Strategy Officer, Montrose Environmental Group, Inc 

Paul Dondos, Managing Director, Equiteq

The panel discussion will include questions taken live from the audience via a chat box. It will then be followed by an interactive question and discussion session where attendees can chat face-to-face with panellists and each other using our virtual networking platform, Remo. 

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Event supporters:

Why attend?

Expert Virtual Panel

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The UK Business Summit brings together a balanced panel of senior-level speakers from across the whole sector: consultants, Government, regulators, contractors and clients. They will provide valuable insights into the latest thinking on a number of key issues.

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Current Thinking

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The programme is currently being researched and will be written with direct input from Managing Directors and Heads of Environment within the environmental consultancy sector, and others, to ensure it addresses the most pertinent challenges facing the industry into 2021 and beyond.​

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Interactive Virtual Roundtable Discussions

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Regularly cited as a highlight of this event, the roundtable discussions provide an opportunity for attendees to choose a topic of interest to discuss with others in a small group, informal and participative format.

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Online Networking

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Join our live virtual networking space, allowing you to communicate with other attendees using the most advanced event technology - remo.co. Connect and engage with your industry peers in our virtual coffee breaks and virtual drinks reception.

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Q&A Sessions and Interactive Voting 

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Have your specific questions answered in designated Q&A sessions. Plus, the use of interactive voting at the summit will enable you to respond to key questions and gauge the opinions and reactions of your peers instantly in real-time.

Who should attend?

• Senior environmental and sustainability consulting executives
  (CEOs, MDs, E&S Leads/Directors)
   

• Those from other environmental management and service firms
   

• Business leaders and investors in the wider green economy