After nine years of outstanding service as the Institute of Water’s Vice President Environment, we extend our heartfelt thanks to Professor Ian Parker CEnv FIWater for his dedication to championing commitment to the environment and the development of our people.
As Ian transitions to a broader role on the Board, we are delighted to welcome Natalie Akroyd CEnv, Director of Quality and Environment at South Staffs Water and Past Chair of IWater, as our new Vice President Environment!
Natalie brings a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm to this role, and she’s passionate about recognizing the positive contributions of the water sector and renewing pride in the critical work we do to protect our planet.
Join us in thanking Ian for his remarkable contributions and welcoming Natalie as she steps into this pivotal role!
by Professor Ian Barker
Outgoing Vice President Environment, IWater
“The thousands of people who joined the March for Clean Water in London on Sunday 3rd November were a clear reminder of how passionately our customers care about the water environment. Politicians care too: the government is introducing new legislation which will affect water companies and regulators and which demonstrates a commitment to reform. It has also announced a wide-ranging review which will report next summer. In the midst of all this change there are two certainties for those of us who work in water in England and Wales: we can expect more scrutiny and higher expectations of our performance. The same will be true in Northern Ireland and Scotland.
A good friend of mine, who is a Sikh, once told me a proverb from his culture which for me sums up where we are: “When elephants fight, the grass gets trampled.” Faced with what seems like relentless reform, scrutiny, and expectations, it is easy for the grass to get trampled. But I think we are tougher than we look. Those working in our sector should not be rolling their socks off every day if they didn’t care about the environment, their customers, and their colleagues. The grass will always grow back; that is a powerful natural process.
It’s been my privilege to have served as Vice President Environment and to help champion IWater members’ commitment to the environment and to our customers. But I’m now moving on, to take a broader role on the Board which will be the focus for professional standards and personal development for all our members.
I am delighted to be handing the baton of VP Environment to Natalie Akroyd, Director of Quality and Environment at South Staffs Water and Cambridge Water. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Natalie for a number of years and I know that she will bring passion and vitality to the role. And that she will be encouraging even more of our members—that means you!—to become professionally registered and so demonstrate that the environment really matters to us all.
Natalie – over to you!”
by Natalie Akroyd
Vice President Environment, IWater
“I would like to start by saying how excited I am to take this opportunity, particularly at a time when the water industry’s focus on the environment has never been stronger. The elevated role we occupy now places us as environmental stewards at the forefront of leadership, and this is something I’m keen to help our members recognise and be proud of.
The Institute of Water offers a unique opportunity to support each and every one of us through our environmental stewardship journey, whether that be through building technical skills, site visits, webinars, and events, to recognising the experience and contributions of individuals through professional registrations. This also gives us the opportunity to build our confidence in our profession and our skillset. It is so important that we have pride in the work we do, which is ever more important in the current climate we find ourselves in.
I believe the environment deserves the very best people to act and speak on its behalf, protect it, and advocate for it. Fortunately, I know from my 20 years in the industry that we have a wealth of just those people all across our industry. However, the current negative focus on the sector has led many to feel deflated and lose pride in the work that they do. So I actually believe the most important outcome of environmental professional registration is to help each of us to recognize and appreciate the positive contributions we make, celebrate the value of our achievements, and renew our passion and motivation to do more. It’s something I feel very passionately about, and hopefully you will too!
Finally, I’d like to say a heartfelt thank you to Ian for all of his dedication and hard work in his role as VP Environment, for the fantastic conferences and events he has delivered, and his relentless commitment to our members and the environment—they are certainly some huge shoes to fill!”
