Martin Baxter's commendation video transcript

Martin Baxter FIEMA CEnv

PROFESSOR WARREN MANNING: We now come to our Honorary Award. These are awarded by the University in recognition of somebody who has made a significant contribution to their particular field. I now have great pleasure in inviting Professor Keith McLay, Provost Learning and Teaching, to give the commendation for the conferment of Honorary Doctor of the University to Martin Baxter. 

PROFESSOR KEITH MCLAY: Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, Deputy Lieutenant, The Deputy Mayor of Derby, honoured guests, graduands of 2023, and all our guests here today. It gives me great pleasure to present Martin Baxter for the award of Honorary Doctor of the University. 

Martin is Deputy Chief Executive of The Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA), a global membership body for sustainability professionals. He works across the UK and internationally with governments and businesses to support the transition to a low carbon, resource-efficient and sustainable economy. 

Martin was born and raised in Oldham. He studied Earth and Life Studies at the University of Derby in the late 1980s followed by a Master's in Environmental Assessment and Management at Oxford Brooks University. 

Since graduating, he has worked at the IEMA in a variety of positions including Research Officer, Operations Manager and Technical Director, working his way up to his current position of Deputy CEO in 2021. 

Martin has become a recognised expert on environmental management and a regular spokesperson on corporate sustainability. He frequently appears across a range of media including BBC News and BBC Radio 5 Live to talk about environmental and sustainability issues. He is a valued supporter of the University and was a keynote speaker at our recent Decarbonise event and Sustainability Summit in 2022. 

Martin has worked nationally and internationally to develop, negotiate and implement global and European standards. He is head of the UK delegation to the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) on environmental management, and he chairs the ISO environmental management systems committee composed of 99 countries. 

He has been instrumental in shifting the debate on from green skills from one focused on green jobs in the low carbon environmental goods and services sector to one which recognizes that all jobs need to be undertaken in a greener way. 

Martin has also worked at the highest levels of government to shape key aspects of the governance framework in the Environmental Act 2021, engaging with Secretaries of State, the Chancellor and Environment and Treasury ministers throughout to develop the legislation. 

In both 2022 and 2023 Martin was cited in the ENDs Power List as one of the 100 UK environmental professionals who have made the greatest impact in the past two years. 

Martin is a leader in the field of environmental management, a champion of sustainability and a proud graduate of the University of Derby. He joins us in celebration today with his wife, Emma, daughters, Amy and Jessica, and Amy's partner, Daizy. 

Chancellor, in recognition of his outstanding work in supporting the environmental sustainability agenda, we are delighted to award Martin Baxter the Honorary Degree of Doctor of the University.

MARTIN BAXTER: Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, Deputy Lieutenant, Deputy Mayor of Derby, honoured guests, graduands of 2023, all our guests today, including my rather rowdy family members. 

When I graduated from the University over 30 years ago I never imagined that I would be the recipient of such a prestigious award. Studying Earth and Life Studies here at Derby was the perfect foundation for my career in environmental sustainability, with content ranging from geology, ecology, physical and human geography. The department had fantastically talented and inspirational staff who helped me gain a wide perspective and understanding of the interdependencies of our natural environment, society and economy. This has been crucial in forming my work in national environmental policy and legislation and in developing international standards. 

Until relatively recently, sustainability was largely seen as the professional domain of people like me who studied environmental courses. But when we fast forward to today and the scale of the climate and wider sustainability challenges we face, which require a whole economy transformation, which will affect every business, not just here in the UK, but in every country in the world. Our future workforce, including the graduates of today from the College of Business, Law and Social Sciences, you know you are our future leaders and we will need you all to play a part as we harness green technology, ingenuity and entrepreneurial endeavour to translate the global ambition that's set out in the Paris Climate Change Agreement into practical action on the ground. 

Being interrogated in front of Parliamentary select committees, giving a live interview through an interpreter on the BBC Arabic channel, or literally being shouted at by Jeremy Kyle on live television in relation to hosepipe bans last year, is nothing compared to the pressure of public speaking in front of your family! However, this is an opportunity to say a heartfelt thank you for all the support and encouragement that they've given me throughout my career. Thank you.

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