Join us for our next webinar unveiling the IAQM’s new awards programme, designed to recognise exceptional contributions across the air quality profession. This session will provide a clear overview of the new awards – their background, categories, eligibility criteria, and their nomination processes – everything you need to know to nominate a colleague, project, or team that’s advancing practice, innovation, and impact in our field. Whether you’re an early-career practitioner, an established professional, or are representing an organisation in the sector, learn how these awards can highlight achievement, inspire others, and support professional recognition.

We’re delighted to feature a special career insight presentation from Professor Helen ApSimon, whose work has been a powerful inspiration behind one of the awards. Helen will share her personal career journey, the motivations and challenges that have guided her work, and practical lessons for anyone seeking to make a meaningful contribution to air quality science and policy. Her talk will bring the awards to life by illustrating the real-world impact and career pathways the IAQM seeks to celebrate.

The webinar will also include time for questions. Whether you’re planning to nominate, encourage colleagues, or simply learn more about the evolving landscape of professional recognition in air quality, this webinar is a must-attend.

This webinar is free and open to all. 

Our speakers

Chris Rush 

Chris has been Chair of the IAQM Committee since 2023. He is a Consultant and Head of Air Quality at Hoare Lea. His diverse portfolio of experience includes air quality assessments on a range of projects from initial site feasibility, through planning and development to construction and operation. Along with work at the planning stage, including Environmental Impact Assessments, he has recently been involved in the testing and assessment of indoor air quality (IAQ) and furthering understanding of how building design contributes to IAQ in the detailed design stages and operation. He has previously been closely involved with the IAQM Early Career Group Committee and organising a number of well-attended discussion meetings in Manchester. He is a Chartered Environmentalist and has an MSc in Air Pollution Management and Control.

Helen ApSimon

Helen ApSimon, CBE, is Professor of Air Pollution Studies at Imperial College London. Her research in air pollution developed from modelling studies of nuclear accidents, and diversified into international issues such as acid rain, and air pollution problems in Eastern Europe.

She has worked extensively for Task Forces under the UN ECE Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution, undertaking modelling and assessment of cost-effective strategies to reduce acidification, eutrophication, excess tropospheric ozone, and fine particulate concentrations.

This has led to the Integrated Assessment Unit in the Centre for Environmental Policy, investigating future scenarios for emissions of atmospheric pollutants, atmospheric dispersion and mapping of atmospheric concentrations and deposition, impacts on human health and ecosystems; and costs and benefits of potential air pollution mitigation.

Current work for Defra is focused on analysis of scenarios for air pollution across the UK up to 2050, taking account of synergies with climate policies and achieving net zero: this is to support development of national air pollution control strategies post Brexit.

Header image credit: (c) Valentin – Adobe Stock