People, Planet, Possibility
The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) has announced the finalists for its prestigious 2025 Spotlight Awards, which honour individuals making exceptional contributions aligned with the institution’s mission of ‘People, Planet, Possibility’.
Among the finalists are five professionals from Binnies and WSP recognised for their leadership, innovation and environmental impact. WSP and Binnies are in joint venture and will attend this year’s Flood & Coast Conference held in the Telford International Centre. The awards will be presented at the Flood & Coast Awards Dinner, held in partnership with the Environment Agency, during the upcoming conference.
With five finalists across three categories, Binnies and WSP continue to demonstrate a strong commitment to delivering sustainable outcomes through collaborative working.
People category
Mohammad Ammar of Binnies and Jack Southon of WSP UK & Ireland have been recognised for their inspiring leadership and commitment to inclusive, supportive workplaces.
“I was pleasantly surprised to be nominated,” said Ammar. “I feel truly humbled and proud that my efforts in line management, supporting early career professionals and delivering impactful projects have been recognised by the Binnies teams.”
He added: “A special thank you goes to the Binnies flood, coast and environment (FCE) team, as well as all other Binnies teams. I see this nomination as a reflection of our collective passion to enhance communities and protect the environment.”
Planet category
Emma Stevens, from Binnies, is a finalist in this category for her work in ecology and habitat restoration.
“I’m truly delighted to be nominated for the CIWEM Planet Award,” she said. “I’ve been fortunate to have a career that allows me to champion the environment – whether it’s removing a culvert, installing a fish pass or contributing to legacy projects such as Donna Nook and the Thames Water South East Strategic Reservoir Option (SESRO) scheme.
“What I find most fulfilling is supporting others—within Binnies, across client organisations, and through CIWEM—to grow and feel empowered to make their own positive impact.”
Possibility category
Patri Cuervo Uria and Alejandro Garcia of Binnies have been jointly recognised for their innovative work and collaborative spirit.
“The nomination comes from our work raising awareness of the Valencia flooding and emergency response, both the technical and the human side,” said Patri. “Watching over 100,000 young and unprepared volunteers respond to the flooding moved something very deep in me. It compelled me to speak about the mental health impact on those responding to emergencies.”
She added: “Thank you, Alejandro Garcia, for being such a special colleague and human being, and thank you Binnies for nominating us.”