Extreme weather events are those weather events that are significantly different from the average or usual weather pattern. Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and more extreme as global temperatures rise. Recent events, such as successive severe storms, high temperatures and droughts experienced in 2022, have highlighted the challenges that the UK faces from these risks. In December 2023 the National Audit Office (NAO) released a report which explored how well-prepared, and therefore resilient, the country is for future extreme weather events.

The speakers from NAO will outline why resilience is an important area of focus, run through the findings and recommendations of their report on UK resilience: extreme weather, and highlight their programme of work on the environment and climate change.

This webinar has been organised by the EIA Community, following a Community event exploring extreme weather and EIAs and related to the recent event on designing infrastructure for climate resilience and extreme weather.

This free online event is open to everyone.

Our speakers

Sian Jones, Director, Cross-Government VfM, NAO

Sian joined the NAO in 2004, following a number of years leading large scale monitoring and evaluation projects in criminal justice environments. She started as a senior analyst, then was promoted to manager in 2008 and made director in 2017. During her time in the NAO she has worked across a range of clients and topics, including education, environment, farming and rural issues, science, and business, as well as with UN bodies including the refugee and drugs and crime agencies. She is currently responsible for the NAO’s value for money work at the centre of government, including Cabinet Office and HM Treasury. Sian is based in the north east and lives in the North Pennines.

Katy Losse, Head of Environment and Climate Change, NAO

Over the course of a 19 year career at the NAO, Katy has examined a wide range of government’s environmental projects and programmes, including on air quality, waste, and local government and net zero. She has a Master’s degree in Environmental Technology from Imperial College London, and qualified as an investment analyst. Katy is based in the NAO’s London office.