Cutting Through The Noise: Why Combatting The Climate Emergency is More Than Just Net Zero; Sponsored by Waterman Group

UKREiiF – Phil Laycock, Director

Waterman Infrastructure & Environment – Ruth Jeffs, Regional Director

Ruth Jeffs is Waterman’s Regional Director for the Midlands focused on infrastructure and environment, and has a wealth of experience in delivering sustainability-focused projects across the UK. Throughout her career, Ruth has championed placing the natural environment at the heart of a diverse range of projects, including the UKs largest self-build development at Graven Hill, the award-winning Elliott’s Field retail park at Rugby, and she is currently developing social housing in Northampton which incorporates intensive green roof space where residents can grow their own food.  Recently, she was instrumental in delivering Jersey Hospital’s Nightingale Wing in just four weeks from a standing start. Ruth is currently Chair of the Association for Consultancy and Engineering’s (ACE’s) Midlands area, and she is also an ACE Board Director. Ruth is committed to helping develop the next generation of engineers, and has been involved with mentoring young engineers for many years, both within Waterman and supporting the ACE’s Emerging Professionals.

M&G Real Estate – Nina Reid, Director of Responsible Property Investment

Nina is responsible for managing the on-going development and implementation of M&G Real Estate’s RPI strategy and environmental reporting programs by further embedding sustainability into the investment decision-making process. She oversees a wide range of sustainability projects including energy management, environmental risk management and sustainable investment. Prior to joining M&G Real Estate in 2011, Nina was an associate director within the Upstream Sustainability Services Team at Jones Lang LaSalle. She has an MA (Cantab) in Natural Sciences and is an Associate Member of the Institute for Environmental Management & Assessment (AIEMA).

Skanska UK – David Mason, Environment Technical Director

David plays an integral role in the development and implementation of Skanska UK’s Net Zero Carbon 2045 strategy.  He oversees a specialist carbon team responsible for developing Skanska’s carbon competency and improving the company’s strategic insight through improved carbon data across projects and supply chain. David works with specialists from around Skanska’s international business tracking low carbon innovation and bringing relevant initiatives back to the UK business.  He has over 20 years environmental experience in the construction industry, holds an MSc in Applied Environmental Sciences and represents Skanska on a range of industry working groups.

Waterman Group – Terri Wills, Consultant

Terri Wills is an independent climate change and social impact consultant supporting Waterman Infrastructure & Environment in the delivery of climate resilience support to public, private & infrastructure clients. She has worked extensively in climate change for the last decade, including as an analyst with the UK Climate Change Committee, the CEO of the World Green Building Council, and the first Director of Global Initiatives for C40 Cities. Befitting her deep experience within the field, Terri’s career has included impactful roles with the Ontario government in Canada where she provided policy advice, the Clinton Climate Initiative where she was City Director for London and the BBC where she was a Head of Strategy.

Waterman Infrastructure & Environment – Anna Bacon, Director

Anna is a Board Director of Waterman’s Infrastructure & Environment business. She has over 20 years’ experience in delivering multidisciplinary consultancy services to private and public sector clients. She has acted as client director for a number of major developments including Brent Cross, Battersea Power Station and Canada Water. Anna has been a drive behind many of Waterman’s business growth initiatives. such as in infrastructure, rail and climate resilience. A due diligence expert, Anna has supported clients on hundreds of property and infrastructure transactions across road, rail, aviation and ports. Her technical expertise also covers advisory work to private equity, corporate and infrastructure investors in the development of robust approaches to sustainable investment, ESG risk/opportunity management and climate resilience/TCFD preparedness.  She recently joined the Institute for Apprenticeships & Technical Education’s Green Apprenticeship Advisory Panel which aims to shape skills and training of the next generation of engineers and specialists required to support delivery of the government’s net zero target