Dear CEnvPs,

What a year we have had! The recognition of the importance of the environment profession has taken a quantum leap within society and the need for competent and ethical environmental professionals grows.

We are now only in our fourth year, and the CEnvP Scheme continues to grow with over 200 Certified Environmental Practitioners across 8 Australian states and New Zealand. I believe the Scheme is now on the cusp of significant growth.This year we will focus on building the recognition of the CEnvP Scheme across government, industry and the profession. With EIANZ we are also developing a pathway program for young professionals to achieve certification status. This is an exciting initiative that is long overdue and which will establish the mentoring and learning that will accelerate the professional development of our young environmental professionals. Within CEnvP, we have been working on increasing the benefits of being certified. One recent tangible benefit is the online subscription to the Environmental Management News for CEnvPs. We will be seeking to develop other appropriate benefits for our CEnvPs during 2008.

We must acknowledge the work of our first CEnvP Scheme Administrator, Wendy Stegman, who stepped down in February. Wendy has been a tower of strength and her work in helping to set up and run the CEnvP Scheme for the past four years has been instrumental to the success of the program. Luckily, Wendy will remain on the team, continuing on in the capacity of Registrar. I would also like to welcome Melissa Grant, who has taken up the Program Administrator role. Melissa will be able to bring significant experience and enthusiasm to the program.On behalf of the Certified Environmental Practitioner Board, I would like to extend a welcome to all of our new CEnvPs. I would also like to extend a sincere thank you to all those individuals who have contributed their time and expertise to the continued growth of the Scheme, including the Board, the Program Administrator and Registrar, and the Assessment Panels.We look forward to making a difference in 2008!

Yours sincerely,

Nigel Murphy, CEnvP
Chairperson, Certified Environmental Practitioner Scheme

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT NEWS On-Line Subscription For CEnvPs

Published 3 times per week by WME, EMN focuses on news, trends, technology and regulatory change across a range of major industries, (including mining, manufacturing, food and beverage) government and councils, and the environmental services sector. For further information, please visit http://www.wme.com.au/ for an overview, or http://www.emn.net.au/ to go directly to the EMN homepage.

We hope you will enjoy this new initiative, and look forward to any feedback you may have on this, or any other aspect of the CEnvP program. To opt out of this service at any time, please contact CEnvP Program Manager at info@cenvp.org.

‘Environment is the Essence’

“Professional recognition will be vital going forward. Decision-makers in governments, business, and the community need to know who to trust on the environment.

Almost everyone has an opinion on the environment, but there are only 20,000 or so environmental practitioners in Australia and New Zealand. Of these, only 2,000 have signed a formal Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct as institute members, and just 200 are certified to practice. Certified Environmental Practitioners have earned the trust of their peers. Their skills and experience need to be more widely recognised as reflecting their high standing in the profession. The EIANZ is determined to play a leading role in preparing practitioners for the future by setting and raising professional standards, and by broadening the recognition of those standards beyond our own profession.

We must also build trust in environmental practitioners. The institute will work to raise the awareness of roles played by Certified Environmental Practitioners and those bound by a formal Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. We will also promote certification, including recognition in legislation as other professionals have been. Decision-makers and the community also need to understand the importance of asking practitioners about their standing before accepting their input and advice.

Last, we must improve communications by increasing the clarity and credibility of information about the environment. That is a two-way channel, with practitioners on the one hand and decision-makers and the community on the other needing to engage around their respective requirements.”

Excerpts from ‘Environment is the Essence ’, by Bill Haylock, EIANZ President, CEnvP, published in WME Magazine, Feb. 2008. View the full article.

CEnvP of the Year

In accepting his award Dr Lavery called for Australia’s next Government to make greater efforts in creating a sustainable future for the country. He acknowledged that great strides have been made over the last two decades, but believes there is still much to be done both within Australia and on the international stage.

After a successful start, the CEnvP Scheme is looking forward to the coming year’s awards. The 2008 awards will be conferred at the EIANZ gala dinner in October. An announcement will be sent out when applications open later in the year.

Board Profile - Mr Simon Beale

Simon has qualifications in science and forestry science from Otago University and Canterbury University and is currently a member of the Environmental Institute of Australia and New Zealand, the New Zealand Institute of Forestry, the New Zealand Ecological Society and the New Zealand Planning Institute.

Within MWH Simon is the technical discipline leader for terrestrial ecology and is also a senior planner. He has extensive work experience particularly in the energy and tourism sectors with much of his work dedicated to preparing terrestrial ecological assessments and coordinating the preparation of multidisciplinary environmental impact assessments for projects throughout the country.

Simon is a member of an advisory group to the Board of Directors of the New Zealand United World College providing technical input to various site feasibility studies.

For further information on all members of the CEnvP Board and staff, click here.

Staff Profile– Melissa Grant

With over 12 years experience in events management, marketing, office management and customer service, the CEnvP Scheme would like to welcome Melissa Grant to the team as the new Program Administrator. Melissa has spent the last 4 years in the IT industry, running the Melbourne office of a leading IT integrator, organizing corporate events and working with clients such as Crown Ltd, Melbourne University, Swinburne University, Australian Red Cross Blood Service, Holmesglen TAFE, Telstra, and Transurban. Prior to that she worked for many years in the engineering industry, with WMC, Lihir Gold, BHP, CSL, Fauldings, and various food, juice and wine producers, in a technical sales engineer capacity, which included writing and conducting training programs for regional distributors, submitting project tenders for upgrades, shutdowns and expansions as well as site audits. Melissa has a Bachelor of Arts from Monash University where she combined a love of English literature and a keen interest in science and ended up with a hybrid curriculum of Shakespeare, Poetry, Evolutionary Botany & Zoology and Advanced Developmental Psychology. She also organizes social events in her spare time and loves entertaining. Melissa is enjoying the challenges of her new role, working to increase the profile of the CEnvP Scheme in conjunction with EIANZ, and helping to continuously improve services to members.

CEnvP Profile– Andrew Roy

Andrew's recent project experience includes a review of the Victorian Catchment Management Authority Regional River Health Strategies for the Department of Sustainability and Environment, development of an asset-based risk assessment for the Port Phillip and Westernport Water Quality Improvement Plan for Melbourne Water and lead Natural Resources Auditor to review each of the 13 NSW CMA Catchment Action Plans for the Natural Resources Commission of NSW. Andrew has also undertaken a large number of the verifications of biosequestration / carbon sink projects under the NSW GGAS, and the Australian Governments Greenhouse Friendly Program.

Andrew has been a Certified Environmental Practitioner since 2006, and was motivated to gain certification due to the recognition the program gives skilled and ethical environmental practitioners to clients and the community. Since gaining certification, Andrew has been keen to promote the program within GHD, and to his colleagues due to the benefits its provides, as well as to strengthen the CEnvP profile.

CEnvP Profiles are featured in the CEnvP Directory and on the home page. They can be up to 300 words in length and cover your current position, career path and qualifications. They should also briefly address ‘Why you became a CEnvP’ or ‘What do you feel the CEnvP Scheme adds to the environment industry’. You are also welcome to submit a photo. Submit profiles to info@cenvp.org.

Certified Practitioners and Assessment Panels

Participation in this important part of the application process not only provides valuable networking and learning opportunities, but also qualifies for CPD units (Category 4 of the CPD Log guidelines: 1 point per hour of interview time, and up to a maximum of 25 points per 2 year period). This is also an excellent opportunity to contribute to the Scheme. For further information on Assessment Panels, contact Ian Ackland, treasurer@cenvp.org.

Congratulations to the New CEnvPs
Please note that as registration is still open, not all accepted applicants appear on this list. Please view the Directory for the most up to date list.