I was President of the Landscape Institute from 2012-14, focussing on 2 key aims: firstly to promote the role of Landscape Architects as a lead profession in the design of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS), and secondly, the general role of landscape architecture within both the urban and rural environment, to promote change towards a more holistic and sustainable approach.

This set the scene for much that I have done since, particularly through inter-disciplinary working at the policy level, and my ongoing role of speaking/teaching about SuDS, integrated design and inter-disciplinary co-operation. I was invited to be a Champion for Construction Industry Council, after leading a multi-profession open letter to David Cameron (then Prime Minister) about the (mis)handling of the Somerset floods, which became national news. I was a Co-author of The SuDS Manual, and lead author for the SuDS Construction Guidance, both for CIRIA. I am currently part of two smalll teams: firstly for Water UK, teaching Water Company staff about SuDS (consequent to policy changes re SuDS adoption); and secondly for Defra, to write the analysis, rationale, and wording of new government policy on SuDS (to be launched in April), my remit being the Amenity value of SuDS (currently confidential).