Save the date for The SiLC Annual Forum 2025 which will take place virtually on Thursday 27th March 9.30am – 1pm .
FULL PROGRAMME FOUND HERE :SiLC_Annual_Forum_Programme_2025_FINAL
Chaired by Louise Beale Chair of the SiLC PTP (SLR Consulting) This half day event will bring together industry professionals for an exciting programme of presentations and discussions.
This year’s Annual Forum programme has been developed to recognise the 25th anniversary of the formation of SiLC. The topics in the first session will focus on how we work as SiLCs including how we communicate risk, deal with sites in the media and an overview of the media perspective in relation to land condition.
The second session will look at current hot topics including updates on climate change risk assessment, materials reuse and an interactive panel discussion on how brownfield development can support growth with views on planning, the grey belt, circular land use and the SDGs to enable land condition professionals to promote competence and technical expertise within the industry. Finally the last session will look to the future for land condition practitioners covering topics including AI, big data and innovative PFAS remediation.
This will be an exciting and informative event, with a diverse range of speakers and presentations. We hope you will join us to mark a very special 25 years of SiLC.
Further details about the speakers and presentations scheduled will be announced in due course
Tickets are £72 for SiLC Members, £32.40 for Retired SiLC Members, and £111.60 for Non SiLCs. For Affiliate Schemes the rate is £70 per ticket, with Local Authority & Other Public Sectors, Jobseeking/Graduates and Students welcome to register free of charge. All prices include VAT.
To Register, click Here. All bookings must be paid in full by Thursday 20th March to be accepted.
PRESENTATIONS
25 Years of SiLC by Louise Beale (Integration Manager at SLR Consulting)
As SiLC celebrates its 25 year anniversary this year we reflect on its origins, why those reasons are still relevant today and recognise some of the people who have contributed to SiLC’s evolution over the years. We consider how it has evolved and where it can go next.
PDF to AGS: alchemy or AI-chemy? by Judith Nathanail (Director at Land Quality Management Ltd)
Factual ground investigation information is captured in borehole logs and laboratory certificates but then locked up in PDFs that get passed between multiple professionals during the lifecycle of land (re)development. Judith presents on how Innovate UK’s AI in Construction Programme funded LQM’s Buried Treasure project to use AI to extract AGS data from borehole log and laboratory certificate PDFs. A quick method to turn PDFs into AGS data will ensure the treasure trove of insights buried in the PDFs can inform ground models and support improved interpretation of land contamination risks
Land Development, Climate Change, and EWE: Industry Survey Insights & Updates by Andrew Fellows (Associate Technical Director at RSK )
RSK Geosciences are preparing a good practice guide for managing climate change geo-related impacts and liabilities in land development for CIRIA. Andrew will present the key findings of an industry survey that has helped informed this work, provide an update on the status of the guidance document to date, and some key learning points for the construction sector.
The Future of Subsurface by Holger Kessler (Senior Stakeholder Manager at AtkinsRéalis)
Holger will present key insights from The Future of the Subsurface Foresight Project. The subsurface has long shaped society, providing essential resources and infrastructure. As demands grow, pressures on underground space will intensify. Its role in achieving net zero, adapting to climate change, and supporting innovation is crucial, but congestion risks may challenge future land use and planning.
Communicating technical stuff in a way that doesn’t freak communities out by Tom Pashby (Senior Reporter at New Civil Engineer)
Public relations is a critical part of the job for technical professionals, whether or not it is formally listed in role descriptions. This presentation will provide a snapshot into how communications and public relations have changed, and what specialists in land condition can do to grasp the nettle
High Stakes Stakeholder Engagement! by Joe Jackson (Managing Director at Jackson Remediation)
Remediation can give rise to nuisance unless carefully controlled. Furthermore, the engagement with key stakeholders is critical and often perception is just as important as reality. In this session we offer some real-world examples of effective engagement, which have led to stakeholders being the projects’ greatest advocates.
Risk Based Management of the Emerging contaminants of ca 2050 by Paul Nathanail (Director at LQM)
SiLC marks its 25th birthday at a time when the value of underemployed land is being appreciated – once again. SOME brownfield land is affected by contamination. SOME brownfield land condition is better and some worse than the condition of the previous “green”field land. Paul will look back to look forward to see if the substance that could be emerging contaminants in 2050 can be foreseen and prevented from acquiring that emerging status.
Findings of a SiLC and CIRIA Soil CoP Stakeholder Workshop on the Future Policy and Regulation of Excavated Materials by Tom Henman (Director at RSK Geosciences and RSK Environment Ltd)
Tom’s presentation will cover the findings of a recent joint stakeholder workshop on the current issues and challenges limiting sustainable reuse of excavated materials in England and Wales. He will discuss the resulting ‘green paper’ and the options to consider developed, including planning-led approaches, applying the waste hierarchy making disposal a last resort, and changing the legal definition of waste.
SPEAKERS
Louise Beale- Webinar Chair (Integration Manager at SLR Consulting)
Louise has worked in environmental consultancy for 30 years advising clients on land quality issues associated with the ownership and development of brownfield land including material reuse. She has been Chair of the SILC PTP since Spring 2024 and a member of the PTP since 2019.
Andrew Fellows (Associate Technical Director at RSK )
Andrew specialises in land contamination and has been a SiLC since 2022. His specialist area is in quantitative risk assessment and in 2018 was accredited for all disciplines by SoBRA. In 2023 Andrew won the Environment Analyst ‘Technical Lead of the Year’ award for his commitment to sustainable solutions and training others.
Paul Nathanail (Director at Land Quality Management Ltd)
Paul is a director of specialist contaminated land consultancy LQM. He offers expert witness and intelligent client services, delivers live and online training courses and carries out DQRAs. He balances consultancy, research and knowledge transfer in the fields of sustainable contaminated land management, brownfield redevelopment and circular land use. Paul is the lead author of CIRIA’s guide on PFAS (C819), supervised research projects on microplastics, featured in a Maggie Philbin documentary on phthalates, and has burnt several non-stick pans.
Tom Pashby (Senior Reporter at New Civil Engineer)
Tom is a senior reporter at New Civil Engineer. They are also the founder of LGBTQIA+ campaign Include Mx. They previously worked as a digital journalist at IEMA (the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment) and spent 10 years in environmental politics. Tom has run for parliament twice (2017, 2019).
Judith Nathanail (Director at Land Quality Management Ltd)
Judith trained as an engineering geologist and has over 30 years consulting experience working on contaminated land. She is passionate about applying data science to solving geoenvironmental challenges. Recent projects include automating the prioritisation of potentially contaminated land for a local authority, creating a remediation greenhouse gas emissions calculator, using data to map renewable energy potential and an Innovate UK project using AI.
Holger Kessler (Senior Stakeholder Manager at AtkinsRéalis)
With 25 years of experience in geoscience, Holger has developed scientific, technical, and policy solutions at all scales, connecting stakeholders to drive progress. He has led major projects like the UK National Underground Asset Register and a Foresight project on subsurface resources. Now at AtkinsRéalis, he strengthens networks to enhance infrastructure, sustainability, and decision-making for a better future.
Joe Jackson (Managing Director at Jackson Remediation)
Joe has over 25 years of experience and a very strong technical understanding of contaminated land / environmental risk and associated development issues, underpinned by an acute commercial understanding and an entrepreneurial approach to project delivery. Joe established Jackson Remediation in 2021 and has managed its growth to being one of the UK’s leading remediation contractors.
Dr. Tom Henman (Director at RSK )
Tom has over 25 years’ experience in the assessment and management of land affected by contamination. His diverse and innovative project work has been recognised in several UK Brownfield Awards including major brownfield infrastructure and advice to Government on stakeholder engagement and risk communication. He has been actively involved with AGS, EIC, CIRIA and CL:AIRE and has worked with universities on collaborative research projects.
Panel speakers:
Carrie Rose ( Technical Director at Arcadis and Panel Chair)
Carrie is a Technical Director and Head of Geoenvironmental at Arcadis. She has 20+ years of experience in the land condition sector and has a broad range of experience. She is a registered SiLC, SQP (NQMS), QP (DoWCoP), CEnv, CSci, CWEM and FCIWEM. She is also on the SiLC Professional Technical Panel.
Andrew Lawrance (Divisional Director at Mott Macdonald)
Andrew is a chartered chemist and scientist and has been a SiLC since 2006. With almost 30 years Mott MacDonald experience, he has moved into operational management roles, whilst maintaining contaminated land technical skills and a passion for urban regeneration projects. He has recently taken on a role leading Mott MacDonald’s UK flood defence business.
David Carr (Lead Scientific Officer Environmental and Community Protection at Dacorum Borough Council)
David has 21 years of Local Authority Environmental Health experience focussing on land contamination, environmental permitting and local air quality. Preceded by 6 years in environmental consultancy. He is currently a CIEH Environmental Protection Advisory Panel member and on the National Contaminated Land Officers Group Committee.
Paul Sheehan (Director Geo Southeast at Stantec)
Paul has 25 years of experience in contaminated land assessment and remediation as a regulator, consultant, and contractor in the UK and internationally. He specialises in Contaminated Land Regulations, planning, and nuisance. As former Chairman of The National Brownfield Forum, he helped promote sustainable land use, collaborating with regulators, industry, and policymakers.
SPONSORS
HEADLINE SPONSOR
VertaseFLI
VertaseFLI is a client focused remediation and enabling contractor. Technical excellence and innovation has always been at the core of our offering and we have been strong supporters of SiLC since its inception. Our strong technical understanding has allowed us to work on and deliver some of the most problematic remediation sites in the UK, utilising a wide range of remediation technologies.
www.vertasefli.co.uk
GOLD SPONSORS
BIOGENIE Remediation UK Ltd
BIOGENIE are a brownfield remediation and enabling works contractor specialising in cost-effective, risk-based remediation solutions. Their expertise lies in the on-site treatment of contaminated soil and groundwater, utilising advanced biological, chemical, and physical processes to maximise material reuse while minimising costs and programme
www.ortec-group.com
Jackson Remediation
Jackson Remediation is a specialist Remediation and Enabling contractor which focusses on value creation and quality delivery, drawing upon deep technical expertise and profound understanding of the construction process. By consistently striving to address contamination issues in the most robust yet cost effective manner, clients never need to choose between price and quality again.
www.jacksonremedition.co.uk
Arup
For over 75 years, Arup has been recognised for its vision, talent and tenacity. Dedicated to sustainable development, the firm is a collective of 18,500 designers, advisors and experts working across 140 countries. We use imagination, technology and rigour to shape a more sustainable world.
www.arup.com
SML Laboratories
SML Laboratories is your trusted partner for environmental, geotechnical, and asbestos analysis. Our senior management team boasts over 90 years of combined experience, specialising in the analysis soil, rock, water, gases, waste, and bulk materials.
www.sml-laboratories.co.uk
SILVER SPONSORS
RemTech
Remediation Technologies Ltd (RemTech) offers expert environmental remediation services, specializing in soil and groundwater contamination, spill response and restoration. We provide sustainable, cost-effective solutions for complex contamination issues. Our team delivers end-to-end services across the UK and Europe, ensuring efficient, impactful remediation services.
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