Speakers

Adam is Technical Director for Jacobs Digital Flood Products, including Flood Modeller which is relied on across the industry for assess flood risk. Adam has over 20 years experience in hydrology, hydraulics and flood risk management, including flood mapping, flood forecasting, infrastructure resilience and FCERM schemes, having had the opportunity to work on many of the largest flood alleviation schemes in the UK. As a strong advocate for digital innovation, Adam has led the development of numerous new systems and tools for Jacobs and its clients. He is enthusiastic about the future of digital advancements in the field. 

With 30 years experience in leading large-scale environmental assessments and consultation efforts for a range of energy, ports, mining and linear infrastructure clients, Brian became Managing Director for Stantec's overall business in the UK last year. He has led numerous environmental assessments and implemented associated permitting and environmental management plans across Canada and Asia. With operational roles in Indonesia and Singapore, he has worked extensively with government, the private sector, and stakeholders in both countries. An active supporter of the renewable energy industry, he has advanced the development of hydroelectric and wind energy projects in British Columbia and across Canada.

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. 

A passionate strategic business leader and Chartered Civil Engineer with 25 years’ experience in the water sector, known for leading asset management strategy and planning, substantial capital investment programmes and business transformation. Currently, as Chief Asset Officer at Portsmouth Water, she is responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive approach to asset management and capital delivery, ensuring optimal performance and value from the organisation's assets, while leading strategic planning, capital investment programmes, and operational risk management.

Doug Hill is the Flood and Climate Resilience Manager at Surrey County Council, where he has led the team responsible for the Council’s duties as Lead Local Flood Authority for the past ten years. With a focus on wider climate adaptation, Doug brings 24 years of experience in water resources and flood risk management. He began his career at the Environment Agency, working in hydrometry and flood risk management in the Thames area before joining Surrey County Council. Doug currently chairs the ADEPT (Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport) Flood and Water Management Group, which brings together local authorities and lead local flood authorities from across the county.

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.

Jamie has over 25 years of experience in the regulated industries, and within that time, he’s become broadly experienced in the water industry—from asset planning to design and build. Today, he’s responsible for our Water Cycle campaign, working with our leaders to support the accelerated growth of strategic resource options, coastal and flood risk services we provide for our water and infrastructure clients. With an eye for win-win situations, Jamie makes sure to approach collaboration and stakeholder management smartly and effectively. He finds methods that will keep both clients and communities happy, and he calls on his technical teams to innovate towards those goals.

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.

Richard is a Civil Engineer with 30 years’ experience across a range of projects across many sectors of the industry. In the last few years, Richard has been the Project Design Director for two water and flood resilience schemes in the Salteye Brook Diversion as part of the Port Salford enabling works scheme with Sisk that won the “ICE NW Medium Value Project of the Year Award 2023” and the Whinny Brook FRC, a 40,000m3 attenuation reservoir and public open space, as part of a residential scheme for Countryside & Persimmon that won the “CECA NW Environmental Excellence Award 2023”.

Growing up across Southern Africa in a utility family (electricity not water, sorry) Jamie took a deliberately different path becoming a Theologian, University Lecturer and Research Manager for an NGO. Following emigration to the UK Jamie found himself on a two month temporary contract with Anglian Water carrying out data capture. This initial contract turned into over 18 years (so far) with Anglian Water in which he has re-trained, specialising in programme management, design, strategy, operational capital delivery, Asset Health and more recently co-creation. Jamie is committed to using his varied experiences to realise Anglian Water’s ambitious goals for 2025 – 2030 across the Treated Water Distribution Network and through the Integrated Maintenance and Repair Alliance.

Philip Adshead is the Infrastructure Asset Manager at the Canal & River Trust. He is accountable for management of the Trust’s critical assets and leads a team responsible for the strategic asset management of the Trust’s 2000 miles of inland waterways with over 10,000 principal assets. Philip is a chartered engineer, member of the Institution of Civil Engineers, with over 25 years’ experience in construction, design, and asset management. Ensuring the Trust has the skills needed to manage infrastructure, including our 2970 bridges, is a key consideration for Philip and he will be able to share some thoughts on how the Trust does that during the discussion.

Philip is a chartered civil engineer specialising in water resources management and has 21 years' experience in the water sector in the UK and internationally. He leads Arup's water resources work in a variety of contexts, ranging from highly regulated sectors in the UK and Europe, to advising and nurturing regulatory regimes in the developing world. His experience enables him to help clients align with Integrated Water Resource Management principles and sustainable water management practices, including water stewardship.

Philip is also contributing to understanding the interfaces between city water resources and resilient supplies, particularly the impact of city water demand on river basins and aquifers. He began his career working on water resources studies and assessments for national projects in Uganda, and major World Bank-funded projects in the East Africa region, including the Nile Basin Water Resources Project, the Nile Basin Initiative and the Lake Victoria Environment Management Project.

In the UK, Philip has worked on a variety of water sector projects, including developing statutory water resources plans for many UK water companies, often assessing the impact of climate change on water resources availability and future demand. His areas of work also include strategic water business consulting, particularly on regulation, cost drivers and water resource system optimisation.

I am a Fellow of both the Institution of Civil Engineers and the Institution of Structural Engineers and a Chartered Director. Following 3 periods of 6 months on site with Sir Alfred McAlpine, I graduated in civil engineering in 1976 and then worked on the design and construction of service reservoirs and water treatment plants for 3 years. I worked in a structural engineering consultancy for 6 years and then co-founded Rodgers Leask Ltd, a civil, structural & geotechnical consultancy in 1984. I remain an active Director and Engineer. In 2023 I was asked to take over the Managing Director role of PowerCem Technologies (UK) Ltd and since then I have been steering the business towards new and innovative applications of this technology. My interests now are innovation, carbon reduction, health and safety and mentoring, focusing on the big picture rather than detailed design.

Ben has built teams and products in GIS, IT & Water industries for over 15 years. His passion for the environment gives him the drive and determination to constantly seek out new and better ways of solving the problems we face as a society. His unique blend of skills give him the ability to understand problems and find solutions that benefit all parties involved. Ben works closely with the Water team at Lucion Delta-Simons to navigate flood-risk, hydrology and drainage issues. Other industries that Ben supports regularly include planning, ecology, climate and geo-environmental. Ben serves as a Director and Council Member for the Association for Geographic Information supporting the day to day running of the Association, leading the awards and sustainability groups. Ben is a keen networker and enjoys connecting with peers and has mentored junior GIS professionals with their early careers and general support.

Jimmy is the Commercial Director at Cubex Industries Ltd, where he leads strategic growth initiatives for innovative concrete solutions. With a marketing degree and a decade of commercial leadership experience across multiple startup environments, Jimmy brings a fresh perspective to scaling sustainable infrastructure innovations. Since joining Cubex Industries in February 2025, Jimmy has focused on expanding awareness of the SeaHives project and identifying new deployment opportunities for this groundbreaking solution. Though new to the sustainable concrete sector, his background in commercializing innovative products has proven valuable in bridging the gap between technical solutions and market needs. Jimmy's involvement with Cubex Industries began in early 2024 through collaborations with CEO Charlie, where he recognized the transformative potential of the company's approach to concrete solutions for environmental challenges. At the Innovation Accelerator, Jimmy will present how SeaHives represents a significant advancement in addressing the dual challenges of flood defense and marine biodiversity enhancement. 

Dr Stuart McMichael is a Postdoctoral Researcher at Ulster University’s School of Engineering, with a background in clean technology and a PhD in engineering. He has published several research articles high-impact journals, as well as book chapters, in areas of water treatment, photo(electro)chemistry, hydrogen production and CO2 reduction. Dr McMichael is a member of the IET and serves on its local network committee. He is currently the research lead in the development of an innovative IoT device for bacterial water measurement, featuring automated CFU counts and a reduced time to result. His current work focuses on creating a user-friendly device that provides accurate results for detecting microbial contamination, bridging microbiology, automation, and digital water management. The objective is to develop a mini microbiology lab that enables anyone to test for bacterial contamination in water and obtain quantitative results without the need for a full laboratory.