Speakers

I am the project manager for East Sussex County Council and it’s partner’s £4.4 million Blue Heart project under DEFRA’s £150m Flood and Coastal Resilience Innovation Programme. The project is seeking to demonstrate how practical innovative actions can work to improve resilience to flooding and coastal erosion.

In 2024, I was also recipient of the Flood and Coast Early Careers Professional award from the Environment Agency.

I am also the Flood Strategy and Drainage Officer for East Sussex County Council as part of the Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA). As a Drainage Officer, I respond to planning applications as part of the statutory consultee role as the LLFA. This involves reviewing surface water management proposals and discussing these with developers and the Local Planning Authority. In my Flood Strategy role, I am a project coordinator for the delivery for a wide range of projects on behalf of the LLFA.

Projects to date have included: Southern Wealden Groundwater Study, Eastbourne Fluvial Modelling, Hastings Flood Alleviation Scheme and the Seaford Property Flood Resilience scheme. More recently I formulated the concept design and drafted a £4.4m bid under DEFRA’s Innovation Fund. I have previously worked as a Flood Risk Consultant specialising in hydraulic modelling, flood risk assessments, local and national policy.

Caitlin is leading Isle’s 'Innovation For Flood Resilience initiative' for various flooding projects involved with the DEFRA funded Flood and Coastal Resilience Innovation Program (FCRIP). Caitlin has previously led Isle’s Technology Approval Groups (TAG) in Europe and South Africa and established the industrial TAG in South Africa whilst exploring the market potential for Isle in the region. Prior to Isle Caitlin undertook various commercial and operational roles at Thames Water. 

Henry has lived in Norfolk all his life. A qualified chartered surveyor and Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, he has worked as a land agent for over 30 years and decided to launch his own company, Cator + Co, in spring 2007.

Henry is President of the Association of Drainage Authorities, the membership organisation for drainage, water level and flood risk management authorities throughout the UK.

He is also Chairman of Trustees for Norwich Cathedral Trust having successfully led the campaign to raise £12.3M for the building of the new Refectory and Hostry buildings at Norwich Cathedral. Henry was awarded an OBE in Her Majesty the Queen’s 2008 Birthday Honours list for his services to the community in Norfolk and is a Lay Canon at Norwich Cathedral. Henry is a Deputy Lieutenant for the county and is the current High Steward of Great Yarmouth. He was previously High Sheriff of Norfolk for 2012-13.

Jacqui is a manager in the Environment Agency’s national Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy division. Jacqui leads on delivering effective approaches to empower those at risk to participate in flood management actions. This includes developing new ways of collaborating with or communicating to communities. She also leads on developing new training to enable flood risk professionals to engage and work in partnership to achieve flood and coastal resilience. Jacqui has previously worked in research and development, and operational flood forecasting. She has delivered projects on risk communication, flood risk economics, behavioural insights and PFR, and the mental health impacts of flooding. Prior to joining the Environment Agency, Jacqui worked in academia, researching environmental change in chalk rivers, where she also started her work on science communication. She holds a PhD in floodplain geomorphology and palaeoecology.

James Mead is Flood & Water Manager at Sheffield City Council heading up the Lead Local Flood Authority as the city reimages itself as a City of Rivers for the 21st century. Client for Sheffield’s £90m Flood Protection Programme and lead for the Connected by Water Partnership, promoting sustainable drainage, such as the awarding winning Grey to Green scheme, and nature-based solutions at the forefront of sustainable and resilient flood risk reduction.

He has over 20 years’ experience in Flood Risk Management partnership flood risk projects, including Sheffield’s £21m Lower Don Valley Scheme with its unique Business Improvement District, Rotherham MBC’s “Rotherham Renaissance” Flood Scheme and the £30m, award winning, Redcar Coastal Management and Seafront Regeneration Scheme delivered in Partnership with Redcar & Cleveland Council. He has contributed to UK guidance on Partnership Funding, Flood Risk and Planning and the Economic Growth benefits of flood risk investment.

With almost 25 years of experience, Jed has worked extensively in flood risk, rivers, and the environmental field. He has led numerous projects, from designing and building water supplies in the tropical rainforest; to installing navigation facilities; to building formal flood defences. In addition, Jed has also played a hands-on role in coordinating responses to major floods and served as an on-call firefighter for several years. Jed is currently leading Project Groundwater - an innovation project aiming to transform how groundwater flooding is understood and managed.

Martin studied Environmental Engineering at Nottingham University and has since carved out a career in product management focused on stormwater management solutions.

Martin is committed to helping Wavin tackles some of the world’s biggest challenges around: water supply, sanitation, climate-resilient cities and building performance, creating positive change in the world.

Wavin is part of Orbia, a community of companies bound together by a shared purpose: to advance life around the world.

Pankit is a qualified Highways, Transportation and Flood & Water Engineer with over 24 years’ of experience in design, delivery and project management. His skills include SuDS Assessments, Natural Flood Management, Flood Alleviation, Public Realm Projects, Development Management Control Planning, Highways Assessment, Design and Maintenance. Pankit has worked for both local government and private sector on wide range of successful and award winning projects from conception to construction through the application of Project Management Practice both in UK and abroad.

Paul Speight is a hydrogeologist at Yorkshire Water with 21 years’ experience, promoting and maintaining groundwater resources in Yorkshire. Working with teams and stakeholders across the water, environment, agricultural, and academic sectors, Paul’s main focus is on groundwater quality and protection of the public water supply, although other aspects of the role include resource resilience and flooding issues.

Through Engagement with stakeholders Paul has been able to apply his knowledge and experience in geology and hydrogeology to raise the profile of groundwater issues and deliver favourable outcomes.Hydrogeology roles at Yorkshire Water, and previously in the Environment Agency have provided opportunities to engage with complex issues affecting the groundwater environment, including impacts of catchment land use on aquifers, and how the groundwater and surface water environments interact. Paul is a passionate advocate for cross-organisational working, as the sector transitions from a water treatment philosophy in favour of nature-based solutions, whilst contending with legacy issues and asset related problems. Working at Yorkshire Water he enjoys providing technical input and experience to the protection of groundwater resources and the public water supply.

When he’s not at Yorkshire Water, Paul spends his time mountain biking and fixing up an 18th century farmhouse.

Shirel Stedman is a Non-Executive Director. She is also, a fellow chartered member of the Institution of Civil Engineers (FICE) and the Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM). Shirel brings over 30 years’ experience as a civil engineer who has spent most of her career working in flood resilience, climate change and water issues across the public and private sector.