IEMA at 25 years: Change, adapt, sustain

Since IEMA was formed 25 years ago, the environment and sustainability professions have been transformed, moving from the fringes of the global economy, right to the centre.

Our membership has been instrumental in setting the standard for environment and sustainability professionals, ensuring we evolve and adapt to challenges from local to global level.

Over the coming weeks, we will feature content created with a range of longest standing (and some more recent) IEMA members discussing key moments for the environment and sustainability professions over the last 25 years.

Exploring how our professions have changed, what we've done to adapt and what we must do to sustain our influence into the future.

IEMA impact over 25 years

Established with the objective of promoting the goal of sustainable development, IEMA's Deputy CEO has been with the organisation since the start.

Here he recalls some of the key impacts that IEMA have made over the past 25 years and urges members to continue their efforts to be at the vanguard of the sustainability profession, setting the standard and driving the changes that are needed across the global economy.

IEMA impact over 25 years

When IEMA was formed 25-years-ago, Dr Rufus Howard FIEMA was just starting out on his journey to becoming an IEMA Fellow and our Policy Lead in Impact Assessment and Sustainable Finance .. by studying Biodiversity Conservation.

Looking ahead, Rufus said: "We need the engineers, the lawyers, all professionals need to understand that sustainability is everyone's role.

"That doesn't need we won't need those specialists, because there will always be complex areas where you really need to use the expert."

Watch Rufus's video HERE

Twenty-five years ago, Helen Woolston FIEMA was heading up the environment team at a trade association .. now known as Make UK.

Now she is an experienced IEMA Fellow, working as a trainer, assessor & mentor. Find out what she thinks about:

How the sector has changed over 25 years?
How the sustainability profession has evolved?
How she has benefitted from being an IEMA member?

Watch Helen's video HERE

Owen Anderson, Head of Sustainability at OVO, explains how the profession has moved from niche topic to the mainstream influence.

When he started out in his career, Owen said: "I used the be the bin guy in the corner of the room talking about recycling ... now you get to engage at the highest level is these organisations."

Watch Owen's video HERE

Our history

In September 1999, IEMA was formed by the merging of three organisations – the Institute of Environmental Assessment (formed mainly of corporate members), the Environmental Auditors Registration Association (EARA, formed of individual professionals working in Environmental Assessment), and the Institute of Environmental Management.

In 2014, IEMA merged with the Global Association of Corporate Sustainability Officers, incorporating corporate sustainability into the environmental agenda. Since then, we have expanded our work to encompass everything in both environmental management and sustainability.