ESA appoints Veolia’s Gavin Graveson as chairman

ESA appoints Veolia’s Gavin Graveson as chairman
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The Environmental Services Association (ESA) has named Gavin Graveson, Executive Vice President for Veolia UK and Ireland, as its new chairman.

Graveson will take on the role for the next two years, following outgoing chairman Phil Piddington. 

His duties will include continuing to work with Defra and other stakeholders on the Resources and Waste Strategy, with the next round of consultations due in Spring 2021, and consulting with the Treasury to help boost the UK’s recycling infrastructure following the introduction of the Plastic Packaging Tax in April 2022. 

Other key areas of business will include managing industry challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and Brexit. 

“I would like to thank Phil for his commitment and achievements as well as the resilience shown by ESA members during the pandemic,” said Graveson. “The industry stands poised to play a vital role in decarbonising the UK, ahead of COP26 next year. The public are really engaged on the topic of carbon and climate change, and we should be proud of what we've done to cut emissions. 

“But we can also do more, and I’m excited by the work the recently created ESA Climate Change Working Group are doing, and will look to drive this agenda forward to build a better, more circular and sustainable future.”

Outgoing chairman Piddington commented: “It’s been a fascinating period to be Chair of the ESA and I think the organisation has been very successful at talking to Government, and other stakeholders like the EA and HSE, to share our collective experience and make sure the sector’s voice has been heard – which we can see largely reflected in the direction of travel for the Resources and Waste Strategy.

“I would like to thank the other board members, the ESA officer team and all the other members involved in the ESA’s working groups and to welcome Gavin as the organisation’s new chair. I wish him well and know he’ll tirelessly drive delivery of the ESA’s strategic priorities on behalf of all of us.”

Executive director Jacob Hayler added that the ESA looks forward to working with Graveson as members continue to prepare for ‘the biggest policy shake-up in a generation.’

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