This online event is jointly hosted by Green Alliance and the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES). It is free to attend.

Building the workforce of the future will be a fundamental challenge, but it also presents substantial opportunities. The net zero transition will require the delivery of green skills across education and the workforce at a considerable pace, so prioritising the right pathways will be crucial for urgent and effective implementation.

Recent developments have expanded conversations about delivering green skills, offering an opportunity to make rapid and evidence-led progress. Green Alliance’s recent report: ‘Green shoots: growing the green workforce of the future’ provides a crucial insight into how the UK can meet its green skills challenge and why action is needed. The report highlights the strong desire of young people to be part of the solution, the barriers they face, and the need for more accessible pathways into green jobs.

This online panel discussion brings together perspectives from professional bodies, NGOs, and research, looking at priorities for green skills, key challenges, and how to deliver the workforce of the future in practice. 

The event will begin with a presentation on the Green Alliance report by its primary author, Faustine Wheeler. Afterwards, speakers from the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, Society for the Environment, and the Institution of Environmental Sciences will give short presentations on recent developments around green skills, setting up a panel discussion and an opportunity for questions from the audience.

Agenda

• Welcome & introduction
• Presentation on Green Alliance report: Green Shoots
  • Faustine Wheeler, primary author of the report and former Policy Advisor at Green Alliance
• Further presentations
  • Josh Oxby, Energy Advisor at the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST)
  • Ethny Childs, Communities & Partnerships Lead, Institution of Environmental Sciences
  • Ciaran Donaghy, Policy and Campaigns Manager, Chartered Institute of Environmental Health
  • Sarah Ridgeon, Policy and Communities of Practice Officer, Society for the Environment
• Panel discussion and Q&A
• Closing remarks

Our Speakers

Faustine Wheeler, Primary Author, 'Green Shoots: growing the green workforce of the future'

Faustine is a former policy adviser in the economy theme at Green Alliance, and lead author of the Green Shoots report.

In previous roles, she worked as a youth coach and is passionate about using outdoors sports as a means of engaging communities with environmental issues.

Josh Oxby, Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology

Josh is the Energy Advisor for the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) supporting the select committees of both Houses. He ensures that the best available energy research evidence and information is brought to bear on legislative processes and scrutiny of Government.

He has extensive international experience as a former IEA people-centred analyst and continues to consult as their global occupations and skills expert following his contributions to the World Energy Outlook 2023 and World Energy Employment Outlook 2023.

Ethny Childs, Institution of Environmental Sciences

Ethny Childs is Communities & Partnerships Lead at the IES, and co-author of 'Transforming the planet: Our vision for the future of environmental science'.

Ethny is responsible for supporting the IES Communities and building relationships with partners and stakeholders in the sector. Ethny is a Trustee for Charityworks, sits on the SiLC Board and holds positions on the Steering Groups for the Professional Bodies Climate Action Charter, the Equator Programme and the Weston Communicating Climate Programme.

Ciaran Donaghy, Chartered Institute of Environmental Health

Ciaran Donaghy leads the Policy and Campaigns Team at CIEH, spearheading efforts to raise the profile of environmental health.

Looking to reveal how a career in environmental health is rewarding and essential, CIEH aim to demonstrate how environmental health professionals are a core part of an existing and future green workforce.

Sarah Ridgeon, Society for the Environment

Sarah is Policy and Communities of Practice Officer at Society for the Environment (SocEnv), an umbrella body responsible for championing and registering environmental professionals. Her role involves leading SocEnv’s climate, special interest group and policy centred projects, including coordinating the collaborative Environmental Policy Forum (EPF).