And, an announcement on the future of Resource & Waste UK, the 18-month-old partnership between the Institution and the Environmental Services Association (ESA), is due imminently.
Dr Church, who is presently an independent environmental consultant, replaces current CIWM chief executive Steve Lee – who steps down from the position this autumn after 13 years.
As the director of Environmental Quality at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) until April 2016, Dr Church spent four years steering government policy on a diverse portfolio including climate change, air quality and waste and resource efficiency.
While in the post he worked under a number of recycling ministers including Dan Rogerson and Rory Stewart.
DECC
In a civil service career spanning 21 years, Dr Church also worked as director for National Climate Change at the Department of Energy and Climate Change where he was responsible for overseeing the setting of the fourth UK carbon budget as well as implementing the second phase of the EU Emissions Trading System.
Commenting on the appointment, Professor Jim Baird, president of CIWM, said Dr Church’s “extensive” experience would ensure that the Institution is in the “strongest possible position” to shape and inform UK environmental policy.
‘Delighted’
Dr Church said: “I am delighted to be taking on the role of CIWM chief executive, and I look forward to building on Steve Lee’s success in positioning the Institution as an informed and influential professional body.
“CIWM Members, and the waste and resource management sector as a whole, need strong professional standards to help ensure the sector delivers in both its key roles; protection of human health and the environment and the sustainable economic development so important to us all.
“CIWM will also continue to provide a respected source of thinking and advice for all our UK governments based on the expertise of its members.”
Steve Lee
Mr Lee, who joined CIWM as chief executive in September 2003, gave notice that he would be stepping down from the position in January. It remains unclear what his future involvement in the waste sector will be.
Commenting on Dr Church’s appointment, Mr Lee said: “There was a very strong field of candidates for the role and I would like to warmly congratulate Dr Church; it is very clear that his experience across a wide range of complex environmental and regulatory agendas will benefit CIWM enormously.”
Dr Church will officially take up the post at the end of October following a brief handover period.
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