Examples of Chartered Environmentalists...

In an Interview with the Institution, IES member and new CEnv, Emma Bennett describes her experience with the new "full process" and reflects on what it means to be chartered...

Since September 2004 the IES has had the ability, as one of the Constituent Bodies of the Society of Environment (SocEnv), to award the title of Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) to appropriately qualified individual members. Since that date, a quarter of our members have become chartered environmentalists through the streamlined ‘grandparenting’ scheme’, which has now come to a close. Adam Donnan talks to Emma Bennett, the first member of the IES to have gone through the new full process, to discover her thoughts of the procedure and CEnv status.

Chartered Environmental status is open to any Full Member of the Institution, and is the highest level of professional qualification available to environmental practitioners. Emma Bennett, the first Chartered Environmentalist to go through the new 'full process' portfolio and interview route, decided to take up the opportunity, believing that “the CEnv provides a valuable benchmark of a level of competence in environmental considerations”. Emma is an Environmental Strategy Co-ordinator for Southern Water. She has had a varied and fascinating career, with responsibilities for coastal management, water quality and community involvement in the public and private sectors; “I consider Chartered status to provide to prospective employers and clients a signal of the level of my competence as an environmental professional, I would like to contribute to influencing the manner in which the water industry implements sustainable development practices”.

CEnv establishes professional environmentalists on a par with other professions such as Chartered Engineers and Chartered Scientists. Other senior environmental professionals, such as the Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, Baroness Barbara Young, have noted that the Chartered Environmentalist qualification represents the highest standards of professional practice in sustainable environmental management. 

Application for Chartered Status is through a ‘three-stage process’, where applicants who meet the criteria must submit a written report and undertake a Professional Review Interview. In their application, candidates are requested to demonstrate that they have attained at least twelve “units” of learning derived from a combination of academic and professional experience. Each year of relevant formal learning accrues two units up to a maximum of eight units for each candidate. Relevant practical experience will accrue one unit for each year. Additionally, candidates are asked to demonstrate their achievements in Key Competences, which cover awareness of sustainable development and professional development. 

The interview is conducted by IES environmental professionals who already hold Chartered Environmentalist status, trained in the professional assessment process. Part of the interview involves reviewing the applicant’s career and written reports. Emma enjoyed this aspect: “It is not something I have done and I now have a better appreciation of my overall experience and competencies.” Applicants are also required to sign up and adhere to a rigorous code of ethics.

Emma imagines that future employers will expect CEnv as a standard grade, and whilst the award is growing in popularity, CEnv status will make the prospect of employing her more desirable. The status gives a proven edge to candidates applying for posts. Governments and governmental bodies in particular seek to appoint advisers and consultants with this qualification, due to its assurances about an individual’s competence. Anyone seeking to be an expert witness in the legal field on environmental matters would also do well to attain CEnv status. 

John Gummer, the former Environmental Secretary for the Conservative Party, was guest speaker at SocEnv’s first annual reception in July of this year. In his speech, Mr Gummer recognised the importance of the new Chartered Environmentalist Specification in helping move environmentalism away from the ‘sandal wearing’ image and promote the important work of environmental professionals across a wide sector of industry. There are now over 4,000 charted environmentalists registered with SocEnv, working in many different aspects of the environment including regulation, industry, academia and government. Although Emma did find the application procedure somewhat expensive, she does think it will be very useful for her career in the next few years. The Institution believes that the cost of the application is incredibly competitive and reflects the level of achievement and benefits successful candidates may gain.