Becky Toal CEnv wins 2022 Environmental Professional of the Year
Annual awards ceremony marks a celebration of the achievements of the environmental professional community – including announcing the winners of the 2022 SocEnv Awards.
The ceremony also saw Founder of Ecotricity Dale Vince OBE recognised for his outstanding services to the environment.
More than 7,500 environmental professionals meet the required standards to highlight their environmental and sustainability expertise as a Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv), Registered Environmental Practitioner (REnvP) or Registered Environmental Technician (REnvTech), but some warrant further recognition for going above and beyond and are commended via the SocEnv Awards. The winners of the 2022 Awards were announced earlier today (8 June) via a free virtual event.
The Environmental Professional of the Year award is designed to highlight those who have truly excelled in the last year, going above and beyond to make a difference in the cause of environmental protection.
After much deliberation within the judging panel, the 2022 Environmental Professional of the Year award was awarded as follows:
2022 Environmental Professional of the Year Winner
Becky Toal CEnv
Managing Director, Crowberry Consulting Ltd
Registered via the Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment (IEMA)
In judging Becky to be the winner of this prestigious award, the judging panel noted her clear knowledge and leadership, excellent communication skills, and infectious passion for protecting the environment. Setting up and leading her own business Crowberry Consulting Ltd since 2006, in this time she has supported swathes of UK and EU based businesses to become more sustainable by implementing ISO environmental management systems, delivering innovative training courses, and giving back to a profession that has given her so much, by coaching and mentoring early career professionals. A career highlight was achieved in 2021, as Becky was appointed – in partnership with Arup – as Lead Sustainability Consultant of both G7 and COP26, with her work duly recognised as the events were awarded the ISO 20121 standard. All of this and more shows Becky as someone truly going above and beyond to protect the environment – and a worthy winner of the 2022 Environmental Professional of the Year award.
The Registrant Newcomer of the Year award also showcases outstanding environmental work but is specifically available to those who have achieved their registration on or after the 1st January 2021; shining a light on those who have really hit the ground running since becoming a REnvP, REnvTech or CEnv.
This award category was also hotly contested, with some exceptional nominations received. The winner for this award was awarded as follows:
2022 Registrant Newcomer of the Year Winner
Paul Field CEnv
Environmental & Compliance (ESG) Manager, Janus International Europe Ltd
Registered via the Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment (IEMA)
As with Becky, the judging panel were hugely impressed with Paul’s nomination. In particular, they commended his determination, broad experience and strong commitment to learning and the upholding of professional standards. The judging panel remarked on his ‘full circle’ journey from working in fossil fuel extraction – firstly as a coal miner and then within the automobile sector – to becoming a Chartered Environmentalist and excelling in his role as Environmental & Compliance (ESG) Manager at Janus International Europe Ltd – a global company working in sustainable self-storage solutions. Particularly standout was the clear impact of Paul’s work since the start of 2021, guiding Janus towards its goal to be Net Zero by 2040 – implementing environmental management systems and developing a sustainability roadmap. As a result of his many achievements, Paul is without doubt a well-deserving winner of the 2022 Registrant Newcomer of the Year award.
The results event also saw another leading figure in the environmental profession awarded as a Honorary Fellow of the Society for the Environment (HonFSE), recognised for their service to the environment. They are as follows:
Newly Awarded Honorary Fellow of the Society for the Environment
Dale Vince OBE HonFSE
Founder, Ecotricity
Adding to the celebration, the event also saw last year’s HonFSE recipient Professor Ian Barker HonFSE CEnv deliver a topical lecture on the vital role environmental professionals play in protecting our planet, and delegates heard from several leading Chartered Environmentalists on what this year’s World Environment Day theme ‘Only One Earth’ means to them.
Dr Emma Wilcox CEnv, SocEnv Chief Executive, comments: “Huge congratulations to all those honoured during this year’s awards and lecture event. We know the amazing work carried out by more than 7,500 registered environmental professionals around the world, but every year it’s special to bestow those going above and beyond with further special recognition. I’m already looking forward to next year’s event and showcasing the continued achievements of the environmental professional community.”