IEMA's Head of Corporate Partnerships, Jo Watson reflects on a recent IEMA Corporate Partners event in London and key takeaways.
IEMA's Head of Corporate Partnerships, Jo Watson reflects on a recent IEMA Corporate Partners event in London and key takeaways.
As Head of Corporate Partnerships at IEMA, I have the privilege of working with organisations that are truly shaping the future of sustainability. One of the most rewarding aspects of my role is bringing these incredible professionals together, creating opportunities for collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and collective action.
On the evening of 20th January 2025, the IEMA Corporate Partnerships Team did exactly that. High above London in The Shard, IEMA Corporate Partners and Mitie clients gathered for an evening of networking, discussion, and inspiration. Hosted by David Dowson, IEMA Fellow and Mitie Environmental Consulting Lead, and supported by the brilliant team at Mitie, the event was a chance to strengthen relationships and look ahead to what 2025 holds for our profession.
A New Chapter for IEMA: Welcome to ISEP
A key highlight of the evening was hearing from Martin Baxter, IEMA Deputy CEO, who shared reflections on our journey over the past year and outlined our bold vision for the future. One of the biggest announcements of the night was evolving our name from IEMA to The Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals (ISEP).
While this rebrand will be a gradual process, it represents more than just a name change, reflecting who we are as a professional community and the growing recognition of sustainability as a fundamental pillar in business and industry. Seeing the enthusiasm in the room for this change reinforced that we are moving in the right direction.
Opening Words from Our Host, David Dowson
David Dowson MSc FIEMA CEnv set the tone for the evening, warmly welcoming attendees and highlighting the importance of collaboration. Mitie, as an IEMA Corporate Partner, has been a leader in driving sustainable business practices, and their support in hosting this event was invaluable.
“Events like these are a celebration of our past achievements and future successes,” said Dowson. “At Mitie, we are committed to leading by example in decarbonisation and are proud to support our partners to do the same. It’s through forums like this that we can share these ideas, inspire action, and strengthen our collective impact.”
His words resonated deeply, reminding us all why these in-person moments matter.
A Room Filled with Passion and Expertise
One of the most exciting aspects of the evening was the sheer diversity of attendees. We welcomed sustainability professionals from across multiple industries both public and private sector—all united by a common goal of driving positive change.
The networking buzz was incredible. Conversations flowed, new relationships were formed, and existing ones were strengthened. Hearing from delegates about what they gained from the evening was truly rewarding:
These testimonials reinforce why we create these spaces for connection—it’s not just about networking, but about building a collective force for change.
Why These Moments Matter
While we all embrace digital ways of working, nothing quite compares to the energy of face-to-face conversations. Events like this are a reminder of the strength of our community—the expertise, the shared challenges, and most importantly, the solutions we can find together.
The move from IEMA to ISEP aims to bring a sense a clarity to our purpose and strategic direction for our members, corporate partners and anyone wanting to deliver sustainable change environmentally, economically and socially.
I look forward to more moments like this—where ideas are exchanged, partnerships are formed, and sustainability professionals leave feeling empowered.
Thank you to everyone who attended, to Mitie for hosting, to the IEMA Corporate Partnerships Team ( Alan Darby Claire Keen Ciaran Gracey Carley Robinson ) and to all our partners who continue to drive real impact. I can’t wait to see where 2025 takes us!
To find out more about how our Corporate Partnerships program can support your organisation’s sustainability goals and connect you with a network of like-minded professionals, visit our website IEMA Corporate Partnerships or contact Jo Watson directly on: [email protected].
Jo has been with IEMA since 2021 and leads the Corporate Partnerships Team, as a member of the Senior Leadership Team she also drives the strategy and oversees the delivery of impactful results aligned with IEMA’s wider organisational objectives. In her role, also directly manages a number of relationships with key partners across IEMA’s diverse corporate partner portfolio. Jo is passionate about fostering meaningful partnerships with organisations from a wide range of sectors. She is dedicated to supporting IEMA’s corporate partners in building green skills capabilities, empowering them to achieve their strategic goals through tailored training, learning, and upskilling initiatives across all job families. With a BSc Honours Degree in Earth Science and as an Associate Member of IEMA (AIEMA), Jo blends her academic background with extensive professional expertise to ensure every partnership contributes effectively to advancing sustainability and environmental goals.