Meet the Speakers

	Jane Cherrington Director - Climate, Local Partnerships LLP Connect on LinkedIn Jane has had a successful career as a waste and environmental management specialist with over 25 years of industry and public sector experience, bringing an extensive knowledge of waste strategy and environmental legislative change. Jane currently works for Local Partnerships providing technical and specialist support to the Welsh Government, DEFRA and Local Authorities on Policy reforms, infrastructure for hard to recycle materials and service change. Prior to joining Local Partnerships, Jane was previously the Head of Recycling Services for Cardiff Council, delivering a wide array of infrastructure and service change projects, as well as managing the frontline operations. Jane has considerable experience in shaping the strategic direction and policy of organisations, as well as delivering the infrastructure and processes to deliver change through project management. As a full member of CIWM, as well as a Cymru Council Member, she is committed to continuous learning for herself and others, sharing expertise but also building better relations and networks for fellow waste colleagues as we transform our industry from waste to resource management.
	Huw Irranca-Davies MS Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Welsh Government Huw Irranca-Davies was born and raised in Gowerton at the gateway to the Gower peninsula – the first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the UK. Gowerton at the time was a mixture of steel and heavy industry and agriculture, bridging the countryside and the urban and industrial, and this has shaped his life-long approach to politics and policy. Huw worked for many years in public and private sector leisure management and as a Senior Lecturer in Higher Education before entering politics. In February 2002 he was elected as the Labour MP for Ogmore in a parliamentary by-election, a seat which he held until 2016 when he chose to stand as the Assembly Member for Ogmore at the National Assembly for Wales. For Huw this was a conscious mark of confidence in the young and strengthening democratic institutions in Wales. He was duly elected to the Assembly (now Senedd Cymru) in 2016. In Westminster Huw served in several roles including as a Parliamentary Private Secretary to Ministers in DWP, Northern Ireland and DCMS; as a Government Whip; as the Under-Secretary of State for Wales; and as Environment Minister in Defra. From 2010 he served as Shadow Energy Minister, and then as Shadow Minister for Food, Farming and Rural Affairs. In May 2015, he was elected as the Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee, a position held until May 2016 when he was elected to the National Assembly of Wales – now Senedd Cymru. In the Fifth Senedd he initially served as the Chair of the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee before becoming the Minister for Social Services and Children, then at the request of the First Minister became Chair of the Regional Investment Wales Steering Group, the European Advisory Group and the PMC committee overseeing the spending of EU funding streams in Wales. Up to his appointment as Cabinet Secretary, Huw was Chair of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee and a member of the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee. Amongst other responsibilities, he was also Chair of the Strategic Forum for Regional Investment in Wales and the Special Purpose Committee on Senedd Reform. Huw was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs on 21 March 2024. Huw was appointed Deputy First Minister on 11 September 2024, in addition to retaining responsibility for Climate Change and Rural Affairs matters.
	Dr. Andy Rees OBE Head of Waste Strategy, Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy Division, Welsh Government Connect on LinkedIn Andy has 43 years experience of working in the environmental field, including spending the last 27 years in the area of waste strategy. Andy has been Head of Waste Strategy at the Welsh Government for the last 23 years and is responsible for waste and circular economy strategy policy. Andy was awarded an OBE by the Her Majesty the Queen for ‘services to the environment and recycling in Wales’ in the New Year Honours 2019. In May 2022 Andy was included in the inaugural ENDS “Power List” naming the 100 UK environmental professionals who have made the greatest impact in the last two years – as nominated by their colleagues, clients and competitors.
	Louise Bowe Head of Packaging Impacts, INCPEN (Industry Council for Packaging and the Environment) Connect on LinkedIn Louise joined INCPEN at the end of last year in a new role focusing on whole value chain packaging performance including efficient and effective systems, recycling performance, communications and behaviour change. During 30 years in the environmental sector in NGOs, local government and private sector, Louise has had a diverse career in nature conservation and biodiversity, water pollution, green travel and more than a decade in waste prevention, re-use and recycling. She has managed and led grassroots and national level delivery programmes including as CEO of the River Thame Conservation Trust and as WRAP's Head of Local Communications and Head of Citizen Campaigns for several years. Louise has supported local authorities in improving recycling performance and reducing food waste, as well as leading strategy and delivery on national recycling and waste prevention campaigns. She is a firm believer in using data, insights and evidence of impact for communications to change behaviour.
	Tim Walker President, Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) & Acting Chief Executive Officer, arc21 Connect on LinkedIn I am a keen environmentalist and passionate believer in highlighting our place in the natural world. I am currently the Chief Executive of the arc21 local authority partnership in Northern Ireland, a role I have held since 2019. Prior to that, I headed up waste management at Belfast City Council for two decades. I am a member of the DEFRA Advisory Committee on Packaging (UK). I have been a Trustee of Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) for several years and am currently the CIWM President. I sit on the Board of Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful and I am also a Visiting Research Fellow with Queen’s University Belfast looking at the Circular Economy. I have several professional and academic qualifications. I was thrilled to feature in the top 100 key players in Environment Ireland's Yearbook 2021, 2022 and 2023, and was recognised by ENDS Magazine as one of the Power 100 environmental professionals in 2022 and 2023. I was also listed amongst Resource.Co’s Top 100 professionals for 2023.
	Dr Nadine Leder Lecturer in Logistics & Operations Management, Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University Connect on LinkedIn Dr Nadine Leder is a lecturer in Logistics and Operations Management at Cardiff Business School. Her research expertise is in Circular Economy, with a focus on Circular Operations, Circular Business Models and Circular Supply Chains. Nadine has contributed to various research projects, including the Interreg FACET project, which explored the implementation of circular solutions in the Tourism and Hospitality sectors across coastal regions in France, The Netherlands, Belgium and England. Her current research focuses on reducing single-use plastic packaging, specifically through the use of reusable cups and aggregated bags. She is further investigating the scalability of the business model associated with repair cafes, and is looking into the required skill-set and capabilities when designing regenerative and net-zero supply chains. Through her research, Nadine aims to deliver public value by generating social and economic well-being. Prior to joining academia, she gained valuable industry experience working in the logistics department of a machinery and plant engineering organisation in Shanghai.
	Sophie Crossette Director - Climate, Local Partnerships LLP Connect on LinkedIn Sophie, a Director in Local Partnerships Zero Waste Team, supports Local Authorities and Governments in the transition to a circular economy, where resource efficiency is optimised through practical solutions. She draws on her ten years' experience of supporting the public and private waste sector as an environmental consultant, with specialisms in waste infrastructure, regulatory requirements, operational management and compliance. Alongside this, she has expertise in modelling the impacts of existing and proposed policy changes, including ETS, to support clients in preparing for change.
	Andrew Gore Director - Climate, Local Partnerships LLP Connect on LinkedIn Andy is currently a Director within the Climate team at Local Partnerships supporting Welsh Government programmes and local authorities in developing their waste and recycling services to minimise waste, facilitate a circular economy and meet net zero targets. Andy draws upon 20 years of experience working in Local Government and was previously head of waste services for South Gloucestershire Council and its 25-year PFI waste management contract. He has successfully delivered waste infrastructure projects and implemented large-scale service changes and was one of the first local authorities to set up a successful flexible plastic collection trial within the UK. Andy has also had responsibilities for street cleansing services and a closed landfill site.
	Dr. Alan Netherwood Consultant, Netherwood Sustainable Futures & Honorary Research Fellow, Cardiff University, School of Geography & Planning Connect on LinkedIn Dr. Alan Netherwood is a climate change specialist, providing expert input at UK, Wales, regional and local levels over the last 17 years through his consultancy Netherwood Sustainable Futures. Alan is also an Honorary Research Fellow in Cardiff University specialising in climate change governance and is widely published on this issue. Much of Alan’s work focuses on climate leadership – he has been working with Welsh Local Government Association to support local authority leaders, managers and elected members on decarbonisation and climate risk . Alan is the author of the Climate Change Risk Assessment 3 for Wales and worked with the UK Climate Change Committee on the UK Assessment in 2022. He has undertaken climate risk assessment for Pembrokeshire PSB and Cwm Taf Morgannwg PSB and is currently supporting Powys PSB on their CCRA. Recent work has advised PHW and Ynys Mon Council on strategic approaches to climate change. Current work is supporting CADW, Royal Commission on the Ancient & Historical Monuments of Wales, National Trust and others on the next Historic Environment Adaptation Plan and undertaking a CCRA of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Trail for Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. Alan brings experience of working on climate risk from a wide range of clients over the last 17 years including work with Bluestone National Park Resort, Ministry of Defence, NRW and RNLI amongst others.
	Nathan Cookson Head of Learning & Development, CIWM Connect on LinkedIn Nathan is the Head of Learning and Development at CIWM, leading the design and development of the organisation's learning portfolio, including regulated and non-regulated provision. With over 20 years' experience in vocational and technical education, Nathan specialises in skills development, qualifications and apprenticeships, competency schemes and digital learning content design. His expertise spans professional and awarding organisations in both UK and international markets.
	Nicola Jones Manager, Steel Packaging Recycling, TATA Steel Connect on LinkedIn With a career spanning over two decades, Nicola Jones embarked on her journey in manufacturing as an apprentice in 1999. The initial two years of her career were dedicated to mastering a round-robin programme contributing to the process of tinplate manufacture, Her expertise extends across the Packaging sector, and she is passionate about environmental responsibility, championing the recycling of materials throughout her career. In a traditionally male-dominated field, Nicola finds fulfilment in collaborating with her colleagues, contributing to the dynamic landscape of waste management and manufacturing.
	Jane Hall Director, Green Edge Applications Limited/ CIWM Welsh Centre Councillor Connect on LinkedIn Jane Hall, is a Chartered Environmentalist and Chartered Waste Manager with over 20 years’ industrial, environmental and waste management experience. She has worked with both commercial organisations and regulators in a senior capacity, as a result, she employs this specialist skill-base to help companies manage resources efficiently and comply with environmental regulations.
	David Gigg RCP Sourcing Manager, Shotton Mill Connect on LinkedIn David has over a decade of experience in the UK paper industry and works at Shotton Mill in Deeside. Specialising in material sourcing, he plays a key role in securing volumes for the Mill's operations.
	Ben Maizey Key Account Manager, Dauson Environmental Group/ CIWM Welsh Centre Chair Connect on LinkedIn With over 18 years of experience in both the public and private sectors of the resource industry, Ben currently works as a Key Account Manager for Cardiff-based Dauson Environmental Group and is current chair of CIWM Cymru Wales Centre. Recognising the need for accessible information and updates within the recycling industry, Ben founded "Recycle Link Wales," a free industry tool aimed at providing information and updates on Wales' recycling landscape. Ben can be followed and engaged with at @RecycleWales.