Alice, Xiangyu and Akshatha join existing Steering Group members Sarah Hodson, Associate Director at Wardell Armstrong, Uchenna Onyeizu, State Project Coordinator for the IFAD-funded LIFE-ND project in Nigeria, and Brigette Reid, co-founder and CEO of Frontierra, to take forward the work of the Community.

Alice Doyle CEnv is a Sustainability Consultant, CEnv, Founder of Positive Impacts, and Sustainability Manager at Chichester College Group. She is a sustainability specialist with extensive experience in leading sustainability initiatives, carbon reduction strategies, and integrating environmental sustainability into operations, education, and strategic decision-making.

"I am interested in joining the Steering Group because I see it as an opportunity to collaborate with like-minded professionals and drive tangible outcomes in the fast moving field of climate action. My expertise in carbon footprinting, sustainable business practices, and environmental communication will allow me to contribute valuable insights."

Dr Xiangyu (Sian) Sheng,  is a leading expert in Environmental Science and Climate Change, with 30 years of experience spanning a diverse range of specialties. Her expertise includes sustainability, climate resilience, whole life-cycle carbon, air quality modelling and environmental impact assessments for major infrastructure projects and urban development. Dr. Sheng is a Fellow of the Royal Meteorological Society (FRMetS) and holds multiple professional accreditations, including Chartered Engineer (CEng), Chartered Physicist (CPhys), Chartered Scientist (CSci), and Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv). She is a Vice Chair of the Air Quality Task Force at the Environmental Industry Commission (EIC). She was a Vice Chair (2021-2024) of the Institute of Air Quality Management (IAQM).

"I am passionate to contribute by championing systemic approaches to addressing the interconnected crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. I currently also sit on the IAQM's Climate Change Subcommittee."

Akshatha Veerendra Msc, MIEnvSc, BREEAM AP, WELL AP, Fitwel; STEM Ambassador. Akshatha (Aks) is the Head of Sustainability at MZA drawing on two decades of experience in energy and environmental management. As a full member of the IES and a multi-accredited professional (BREEAM, WELL, Fitwel), she demonstrates a deep commitment to sustainable practices.

"My reasons for wanting to join the IES Climate Action Steering Group stems from my profound dedication to advancing climate action within the environmental sciences. I am seeking to apply my strategic planning skills and extensive knowledge of Net Zero carbon strategies to support the IES's mission. My experience in fostering diverse stakeholder engagement and building strong networks positions me to contribute significantly to the group's collaborative efforts in shaping sustainable practices and influencing policy."

This is the first Steering Group for the EIA Community: 

Eleni Antoniades is a Project Environmental Lead for aviation and infrastructure projects, with more than 20 years' experience in leading the Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management of strategically significant aviation and infrastructure projects, across the UK and internationally. Since 2016, Eleni has also specialised in the environmental assessment and sustainability of infrastructure projects in Antarctica. Eleni is Vice President of the Institution of Environmental Sciences, where she has helped shape the organisation's strategy since 2016 and established the EIA Community.

As Chair of the EIA Steering Group, Eleni will advocate for a science based approach to EIAs, identify existing and upcoming challenges for EIA professionals and put forward solutions.

Pete Collins is a full member of the IES and a Chartered Scientist. He is an EIA and environmental coordinator and has worked in environmental consultancy for over fifteen years. 

"My academic background is in ecology and environmental biogeochemistry. Most of my work has been in high speed and conventional rail, with forays into energy, roads, and commercial developments. I have also worked in the water industry and local government, usually analysing data. I am looking forward to helping the EIA community learn from each other and from those in other disciplines."

Mark Elton, Technical Director – EIA, has co-ordinated and managed EIA projects across all sectors including residential, mixed use, energy, water and transportation both in the UK and internationally, with close to 29 years of environmental consultancy experience.

"I am keen to share and encourage collaboration across the EIA community, particularly in areas related to digital EIA, data standardisation and innovation. At a time of planning reforms and pressure on developers and consultants to balance environmental protection and sustainability goals against need for growth and development – I look forward to supporting the EIA Community in providing a lead in sharing knowledge, encouraging discussion and responding to consultations."

Sarah Hodson is Associate Director at Wardell Armstrong. 

"I have a lot of experience in undertaking climate change EIAs in particular, and understand the nuances and inconsistences of the methodologies applied by different consultants, and the lack of consideration of future climate change impacts within other EIA disciplines. It would be rewarding to be able to lead on this within an organised workplan that would benefit EIA Community members with different technical backgrounds, as well as to support the Steering Group with enabling dissemination of information that can provide a helping hand for Community members to navigate the changes to EIA that are in the pipeline with the government's proposed Environmental Outcome Reports (EORs)." 

Jemma-Anne Lonsdale is Principal Consultant with Royal HaskoningDHV. 

"I have over 14 years working in the coastal and marine sector in both civil service and consultancy. I have worked across ports and shipping, offshore renewables and aggregate extraction industries undertaking environmental impact assessment and providing consent and licensing support. I applied to be a member of the EIA Community Steering Group because I am passionate about ensuring impact assessments are proportionate, pragmatic and carried out by competent experts. I am looking forward to working with the Group and community to help shape the future of EIA practice, and supporting the EIA community and ensuring that our members have the tools and knowledge they need to stay at the forefront of the field."

Alison Morrissy is an experienced EIA practitioner, full member of IES and Chartered Environmentalist. She has worked in a variety of sectors for infrastructure projects of varying scales and within a range of planning regimes. Her current area of focus is water resources infrastructure as a Technical Director at Binnies. 

"As a member of the EIA Community Steering Group, I am keen to see the delivery of engaging and progressive activities, drawing on the vast resource of IES members to collectively improve EIA practice, whilst protecting its integrity." 

Andrew, Dicken, Anita and Elaine join existing Steering Group members Jonathan Aktinson, Technical director at CL:AIRE, Conor Armstrong, Director at Avada Environmental Ltd, Lizzie Beers, Regional Director at WSP, Robin Lancefield, Independent Land Quality Specialist, Dan Maher, Senior Scientists and Geosyntec Consultants, and Dominic Young, Specialist Contaminated Land Officer at Renfrewshire Council. 

Andrew Doerr is an Associate Director in the Contaminated Land team at AtkinsRéalis. He has worked in the Environment sector for 23 years, in the UK and Australia. He has worked on over 150 contaminated land projects, providing strategic and technical advice to clients across many sectors, including nuclear, defence, oil & gas, chemical, property, pharmaceuticals, and transport.

"Having chaired similar groups previously, I am looking forward to contributing to the Land Condition Community Steering Group, listening to member’s current focus areas, anticipating upcoming challenges in the sector, and contributing pragmatic solutions that work for both our members and our clients."

Dicken Maclean has worked in the contaminated land consultancy sector for over 10 years, working on development and brownfield regeneration projects. He recently became a Chartered Environmentalist. 

"I am really looking forward to getting involved in the Land Condition Community Steering Group. I have regularly attended the Land Condition Symposium and found it to be insightful and well run. I am keen to increase the exposure of the group in any way I can and foster collaborations wherever possible."

Anita Metelko is an environmental scientist with significant experience working in Local Government with emphasis on land contamination risk management. As land contamination manager at Dudley Council, current areas of responsibility include managing a team of land contamination specialists in delivering statutory duties and regulation of land contamination in the Dudley Borough, delivering Dudley Councils Part 2A Inspection Strategy, ensuring that land contamination issues are addressed and managed under the planning regime, and contributing to the risk management of Council owned assets. Anita is a Chartered Environmentalist, a SiLC and SiLC assessor, and member of the National Contaminated Land Officers Group (NCLOG) Committee. 

Elaine White is an Associate Technical Director at Arcadis Consulting UK Ltd. and has been working in the industry for over 15 years, with a primary focus on investigation, remediation and management of legacy land condition issues at industrial and chemical sites. She has worked across diverse industries, multiple geological settings, and encountered numerous contaminants, including significant work in Chalk aquifers – an area that presents unique challenges in understanding contaminant behaviour.

"I firmly believe that there has never been a more exciting time to work in environmental sciences, however there are challenges we face today that demand changes to traditional ways of working.  I am looking forward to helping the Land Condition Community meet these challenges through the adoption of new technologies, innovative approaches, and by preparing the workforce of the future through early career support."