Hear four speakers passionately discuss the implications of our changing world on a key area. Climate Change and water are intertwined, from flooding and drought, to increased demand and varying quality.
We’re looking at the 10 key changes you need to know: what we are already experiencing, alongside what to expect in the coming years, and the positive ways scientists and engineers are building resilience..
We’ll examine the science behind attribution; what is the evidence that individual extreme flooding events – both inland and coastal – were affected by Climate Change?
How can we become more resilient in a changing world to extreme weather events and how does the artistic community work with scientists to communicate their work?
We are proud to co-host this event in partnership with Blue Heart to exemplify the project’s mission on a larger scale. Blue Heart is funded by Defra as part of the £200 million Flood and Coastal Innovation Programmes which is managed by the Environment Agency.
Speakers
Caroline Douglass
Executive Director for Flood and Coastal Risk Management
Environment Agency
At the Environment Agency, Caroline sets the direction for flood and coastal risk management in England, manages key stakeholder relationships, gives expert advice to government and helps develop and implement flood and coastal erosion risk management policies.
She joined the Agency in 2013 and has a varied background in both policy and operational roles. Her previous roles in EA include:
- Director Incident Management and Resilience
- Area Director for Hertfordshire and North London
Before joining EA, Caroline worked with the State Government in Victoria, Australia. This involved a range of senior land, catchment and natural resource management positions. These included:
- Executive Director, Land and Fire Strategy
- Director Public Land Use and Development
Caroline also held a range of emergency management roles. This included leading and supporting bushfire and emergency response.
Jan Selby
Professor of International Politics and Climate Change
University of Leeds
Jan previously worked at the universities of Lancaster (2000-02), Aberystwyth (2002-04), Sussex (2005-20) and Sheffield (2020-23).
His research focuses on the political causes of, and responses to, climate and other environmental changes, water politics though he has also worked periodically on themes in International Relations theory; conflict, peacebuilding and development; and Middle East politics. His latest books is Divided Environments: An International Political
Ritula Shah (chair)
Journalist and Broadcaster
Ritula Shah is a journalist and broadcaster who spent more than three decades producing and presenting news programmes at the BBC. She was the main presenter of the World Tonight, Radio 4’s evening news programme until April 2023. Ritula currently presents ‘Calm Classics’ on ClassicFM.
She is a Fellow of the London Centre for the Humanities and a judge for the British Academy’s Prize for Cultural Understanding.
Phiala Mehring
Dr. Phiala Mehring has dedicated the last 16 years to championing flood-affected communities, using her personal experience of living at risk of flooding to drive impactful change. Following a series of severe flood events between 2007 and 2009, she co-founded the Loddon Valley Residents Association (LVRA) to unite her community and collaborate with flood risk authorities. Through regular meetings with key stakeholders, including the Environment Agency, Thames Water, and Wokingham Borough Council, LVRA became a respected advocate for local flood resilience and sustainable solutions.
Dr. Mehring’s work with LVRA sparked her passion for integrative, nature-based approaches to flood risk management. Recognizing the importance of achieving multiple benefits through catchment-based strategies, she partnered with the Loddon Catchment Partnership and established the Loddon Basin Flood Action Group. Her leadership has consistently focused on balancing ecological conservation with practical flood risk reduction, ensuring communities benefit from holistic, long-term solutions.
Dr. Mehring is a Trustee for the National Flood Forum and an independent member of the Thames Regional Flood and Coastal Committee. Armed with a Ph.D. titled “Get Your Water Out of My Lounge,” she brings academic rigor to her advocacy, bridging the gap between technical authorities and community perspectives. Dr. Mehring’s commitment to empowering flood-affected communities and shaping innovative flood risk strategies has established her as a trusted and influential voice in the sector.
James Wallace
Chief Executive
River Action
James is a naturalist, archaeologist and social entrepreneur and has established enterprises ranging from renewable energy, regenerative agriculture and green finance to ecotourism, nature restoration and deep sea exploration. Prior to helping Charles Watson develop River Action into a national charity, James was CEO and Co-founder of Beaver Trust where he led the coalition to protect and live alongside native beavers.
James campaigns to rescue Britain’s rivers using systemic, local solutions, working collaboratively in the freshwater emergency. He convenes national stakeholders, bringing together government, industry, NGO and community leaders to secure abundant, clean water and restore wildlife habitats, while holding polluters and regulators to account in the courts of public opinion and law.