Speakers

We are currently confirming the speaker line up for the NCE Flood Resilience conference. 

If you are interested in joining the speaker panel, please contact:

Lydia Katsipi
Portfolio Manager
Lydia.Katsipi@emap.com

2025 NCE Flood Resilience Speakers

technical director - flood products
Jacobs

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. 

deputy editor
New Civil Engineer
managing director UK&I
Stantec

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.

head of environmental innovation
Isle Utilites

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. 

chief asset officer
Portsmouth 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.

flood and climate resilience manager
Surrey Council

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.

chair
Norfolk Strategic Flood Alliance

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.

SuDS advisor
Welsh Government
national community resilience manager
Environment Agency

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.

flood & water service manager
Sheffield City Council

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.

project groundwater project leader
Buckinghamshire County Council

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.

head of asset management
London St Pancras Highspeed
global head of product management for urban climate resilience
Wavin

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.

lead flood and water manager
Haringey Council

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.

hydrogeologist
Yorkshire Water

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.

environmental resilience and adaptation manager
Cornwall Council
technical director
Pell Frischmann Consultants

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”.

water management director
Norfolk Strategic Flood Alliance
team leader flood and coastal risk management
Cardiff Council
Specialist Design & Application Engineer
ACO
business development manager – coastal erosion solutions
Geobrugg

Live lab speakers

All delegates will be able to build their own agenda across our Live Labs event sessions, with audiences coming together from both our NCE Floods and NCE Water conferences. 

Delegates will be able to mix and match topics across the session and join likeminded individuals for discussion groups on a range of topics. 

Explore our topic facilitators below

senior programme director
Environment Agency
senior flood risk management officer
Hull City Council
principal flood risk manager
West Sussex County Council
head of planned works and asset health
Anglian Water
SuDS officer
Enfield Council
waste serviceability & technical manager
Thames Water
head of drainage
Transport for London
infrastructure asset manager
Canal and River Trust
senior asset engineer (structures)
Network Rail
water management director
Norfolk Strategic Flood Alliance
incident response advisor
Environment Agency