Severn Trent has established a panel consisting of six independent experts has been formed by to assist the water company in delivering its Get River Positive pledges, with the aim of making the region's rivers the healthiest they can be.
The panel will oversee Severn Trent’s progress against Get River Positive, a series of five commitments, launched in March 2022, to lead the charge in transforming river health across the region.
Liv Garfield, Severn Trent CEO, said:
“At Severn Trent we're moving faster and quicker, in some cases 20 years ahead, of sector targets to improve the quality of our region’s rivers. We’ve already made some really significant progress against all five of our Get River Positive commitments, and our newly formed Independent Advisory Panel members, with all the fantastic experience and insight that they bring, are the next step in our commitment to making a positive impact on the communities and the environment where we live and work.
“The panel will play a crucial role in helping oversee our progress against each commitment and ensure we maximise potential for our performance across this campaign, so we’re absolutely delighted to welcome them onboard.”
The Get River Positive Independent Advisory Panel, consists of*:
- Dr Julia Casperd - Lecturer in Lecturer in Wildlife Conservation, Zoology & Environmental Land Management, Harper Adams University and chair of the Harper Adams University Environmental Sustainability Land and Soil Farm Group;
- Matt Easter – CEO, Trent Rivers Trust
- Sarah Faulkner - Regional Policy Manager, National Farmers Union
- Ashley Jones – Water Safety & Drowning Prevention Manager, Swim England
- Joe Pimblett – CEO, Severn Rivers Trust
- Paul Wilkinson – CEO, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust
Independent Advisory Panel chair, Dr Julia Casperd, said:
“I’m passionate about protecting our natural environment and the vital ecosystem services that they provide. I am keen to use my experience and skills to support Severn Trent in its commitment to make the region’s rivers the healthiest they can be, whilst also enhancing their biodiversity and mitigating climate change.
“The panel’s priorities are to bring insights from the many areas that depend on rivers, as well as providing the right amount of scrutiny and accountability to Severn Trent’s five Get River Positive pledges.”
Representing Severn Trent will also be Gemma Eagle, Senior Assistant Company Secretary; Gail Pickles, River Protection Lead; and Paul Evans, Community & Education Lead.
As part of its Get River Positive Commitments, the company has committed that its operations will not be the reason for any stretch of river in the region being classified as unhealthy by 2030. Based on data from the Environment Agency, the water sector said that 84% of reasons for rivers in the Severn Trent region not achieving good ecological status are due to other sectors.
In addition to commitments to go further and faster than sector targets, the company has also pledged to remain open and transparent about its performance and plans, which includes collaborating with independent groups to ensure it provides the river quality information people want and need to see and making sure information is easily accessible.
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