CIWM elects new chair

The Trustees of the leading professional body for the resource and waste management sector, CIWM, have elected Liz Parkes as Chair of General Council.

Parkes, who has been a trustee of CIWM since 2021 and of CIWM Enterprises before that, takes up the role with immediate effect following a board meeting held on 12 July 2022. She replaces Dan Cooke who has been Chair since 2019.

Parkes has spent the past 10 years leading the Environment Agency’s work on tackling the climate emergency, including helping the country be better prepared for climate impacts as well as delivering key regulatory policies to drive down carbon emissions. Prior to this, she headed up the Environment Agency’s work on waste and resource management, overseeing the implementation of more than a dozen EU Directives.

Parkes has also worked in local government on the provision of waste and recycling services and started her career with the Tidy Britain Group. In the 2022 New Year’s Honours, she was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to environmental protection and to addressing the climate emergency.

Together with CEO, Sarah Pouter and Presdient, Dr Anna Willetts her appointment to Chair of General Council sees women in three of CIWM’s most senior leadership roles, a first in the organisation’s history.

Speaking about her new appointment, Parkes said: “I’m delighted to have been elected as Chair of CIWM. I’m committed to serving our membership, strengthening our voice, and growing our impact. I want people to recognise the critical role that this sector already plays in ensuring the country’s resilience. And I want to exploit the opportunities from a much stronger alignment with the climate agenda in our drive to a world beyond waste.” 

Sarah Poulter, CEO of CIWM, commented: “Our Board of Trustees are vital to the official and effective running of our Institution. Liz has been instrumental in the delivery of CIWM’s EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) strategy and will continue to make sure this is pushed up the agenda, as well as taking forward the Board’s other key focus areas of Net Zero and ensuring the UK has the necessary skills to deliver a world beyond waste.”

CIWM also thanked Cooke for his commitment and dedication during his time as Chair. His leadership was key to the Institution’s representation of the sector and support of members during the global pandemic and his tenure also oversaw the launch of a transformational new strategy and the integration of WAMITAB into CIWM. Cooke will continue to serve on the General Council in his role as Senior Vice-President until June 2023 when he will be inaugurated as CIWM’s 107th President.