On the 20th September 2004, following the awarding of our Royal Charter, we confirmed the first “batch” of Chartered Environmentalists (CEnv) professionals. To mark the 20th anniversary this month we have conducted a special Q&A with the very first CEnv, Baroness Barbara Young of Old Scone.
At the time, Barbara was the CEO of the Environment Agency (EA). Extracted from their website; the Environment Agency was established in 1996 to protect and improve the environment and now have over 12,000 employees across England. The EA is an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra).
Barbara registered as a CEnv via membership of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM).
CEnv number one
20 years on, what are your reflections on being the very first Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv)?
I was very proud to be the very first Chartered Environmentalist and have the 001 certificate. I achieved this accreditation by demonstrating the work I had done, my commitment to the environment, my knowledge of the science, and the experience I had gained. At the time, this experience- and professionalism-based criteria was new to many colleagues who would generally expect to sit an exam for a qualification. But the real kudos was that we had all worked hard to establish the Chartered status and be on the way to ensuring high standards for professionals of many sorts in the environmental field.
Why was CEnv a goal for you at the time?
Up till then, there was a lack of quality assurance in environmental work and there had been some few but important examples of lack of professional practice. CEnv was a means of establishing a visible accreditation of high professional standards which would be understood by the public and those commissioning environmental services.
How has the world of environmental professionalism changed in the last 20 years?
There is a lot more of it!! The demand for environmental expertise is big and will grow even further. It is therefore even more important that standards are kept high in a fast growing market.
The Environment Agency (EA) connection
You were CEO of the EA when you became CEnv and the Society for the Environment was officially launched at an EA event in 2002, so we have always felt a connection between the organisations. Why was the connection so strong from the beginning?
The link was strong because the EA employed lots of environmental professionals – and still does. Also, because one of the then EA Board members carried a blazing torch for the establishment of the CEnv. He did a great job in persuading us all that it was the right thing to do.
The EA continue to be the biggest employer of CEnv professionals. Why do you think this is? How might employing hundreds of CEnv professionals benefit the EA?
Every regulator needs to demonstrate that its staff are high quality if it is to maintain the respect of the public, government and those it regulates. CEnv plays an important role in that.
What are the key benefits of CEnv registration for an EA employee?
EA employees gain an independent accreditation of their professionalism, and I hope a sense of pride. They also become part of a professional peer group and can gain from contacts and shared learning.
Advice for future leaders
You have been a leader for many years across numerous organisations. But to focus on the EA – what did your journey to becoming the CEO look like?
I plotted for ages to become the EA CEO. It was a big train set with lots of levers to do good for the environment! So, I lured the then CEO onto my board at English Nature where I was then Chair in the hope that would persuade him to retire from the EA role and he did! I still had to persuade the EA Chair and Board that I was right for the job! It was a huge privilege to be able to deploy such massive resources for the environment.
What are the key skills needed to consider such a role?
A brass neck! But seriously, I had big organisation skills from my NHS career and from being Deputy Chair of the BBC and had regulatory skills from my time at English Nature. And I had worked around government across my whole career. I also had run big groups of professionals and knew how to help support them do the job they love doing. But the biggest skill required is commitment to the environment and reminding everybody when the going gets rough that’s what we are there for.
What were the most enjoyable aspects of being a CEO of a major environmental organisation?
Big resources, big leverage, for big results! When we first started to build biodiversity outcomes into the flood defence programme, wow!
Do you have any advice for future environmental leaders?
Make sure all your work is well founded on excellent science then reach for the stars with clear ambitious objectives. You are standing on a strong place, you have the skills, you know what is right. You may have to move crabwise towards your objectives but keep them always in view. Form alliances across sectors, public and private, and don’t stand any nonsense from Ministers!!
More from the Environment Agency
The EA were featured on our webinar in 2020 – “The Value of Professional Registration”. Watch now:
Statements on this blog reflect the views and opinions of the author(s) credited and they do not always represent the views or policies of SocEnv. The blogs shared on the SocEnv website are intended to be thought-provoking articles for informative and educational purposes only.
Barbara Young’s Registration
Barbara Young CEnv of Old Scone is registered via Chartered Institution of Water & Environmental Management (CIWEM).
