Professional bodies

Being a member of a professional body can be very beneficial in keeping up to date with your area of special interest having left academia. Your prospective or current employer can also see that you are keen and enthusiastic about a given area of the environmental and sustainability sector.

The following are list of useful professional bodies who are engaged in sustainability:

Chartered Institute of Environmental Health – the professional, awarding and campaigning body at the forefront of environmental and public health and safety.

Chartered Institution of Waste Management - the professional body which represents over 7,000 waste professionals working in the sustainable resources and wastes management sectors- predominantly in the UK but also overseas. CIWM sets the professional standards for individuals working in the industry and has various grades of membership determined by education, qualification and experience.

Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management - is the professional body that represents and supports ecologists and environmental managers in the UK, Ireland and abroad.

Institution of Environmental Sciences - a charitable organisation which promotes and raises public awareness of environmental science by supporting professional scientists and academics working in this crucial arena. The IES awards the Chartered Scientist and Chartered Environmentalist to members, enabling them to demonstrate the capability and experience in the sector.

Society for the Environment - an independent, not for profit organisation incorporated by Royal Charter and responsible for awarding the title Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) to professional individuals through its 24 licensed member bodies. 

The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers – exists to support the Science, Art and Practice of building services engineering, by providing members and the public with first class information and education services and promoting the spirit of fellowship which guides our work. CIBSE is the standard setter and authority on building services engineering. It publishes Guidance and Codes which are internationally recognised as authoritative, and sets the criteria for best practice in the profession.

The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management - working for the public benefit for a clean, green and sustainable world, CIWEM (The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management) is the only independent, chartered professional body and registered charity with an integrated approach to environmental, social and cultural issues.

The Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment - the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) is the professional membership body for promoting best practice standards in environmental management, auditing and assessment for all industry sectors.