The past month has brought a series of proud moments for the IES family, with several members and staff receiving major accolades for their contributions to the environmental sector.

Environmental Professional of the Year – two years running for IES Fellows

IES Fellow Robbie Epsom was named Environmental Professional of the Year by the Society for the Environment (SocEnv), with IES and IAQM Member, Dr Xiangyu Sheng, also shortlisted as one of the 11 finalists. In his acceptance speech, Robbie reflected on the challenges and purpose of a career in sustainability: "Choosing a career that challenges the global status quo is tough; it's tiring and emotionally draining - for most of us this is more than just a job! This award is a vital reminder to recognise our efforts, thank each other, and celebrate our wins." 

Robbie’s award marks the second consecutive year an IES Fellow has received this top honour, following Adrian Mill’s win in 2024.

Adam Donnan awarded Honorary Fellowship

At the same ceremony, IES CEO Adam Donnan was awarded an Honorary Fellowship of SocEnv in recognition of his long-standing leadership in sustainability and his contributions to the profession. He said "It’s also deeply humbling to see my name alongside such a distinguished list of previous recipients, many of whom I regard as heroes of the environment sector, and people whose careers and values I’ve long tried to emulate."

IES well-represented in ENDS Power List 2025

In February, several IES members and staff were listed in the ENDS Report's Power List 2025 of the 100 most influential environmental professionals.

• Oliver Grievson, Vice-Chair of the Foundation for Water Research (FWR) and IES Fellow, was recognised as one of the most influential consultants in the country, described as “one of the UK’s foremost specialists in regulatory monitoring within the water industry.”
• Adam Donnan was featured in the Influencer category, acknowledging his “two decades shaping the sector.”
• Ellie Savage, IES Policy Officer, was highlighted in the Unsung Heroes category. She was described as “a rising star in environmental policy implementation,” and praised for her work with the Environmental Policy Implementation Community (EPIC), through which she is “rapidly emerging as one of the most unique and important champions for effective implementation in environmental policy.”

These recognitions are a testament to the expertise, passion, and leadership found across the IES family and the growing impact our members and staff continue to make in shaping a more sustainable future.