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Presented by Debbie Leach, Chief Executive, Thames21

About this Webinar

The relationship between people and rivers has developed and changed across the millennia – what does it look like today? As the impacts of Climate Change become increasingly clear in our river systems, what are the key challenges facing the Thames catchment and how do we better engage communities in these? Since becoming an independent charity in 2004, Thames21 has engaged and empowered communities across London and beyond to participate in actively championing the River Thames and its tributaries. Today, that relationship is becoming increasingly sophisticated.

About the Speaker

Following a varied fifteen year career in the voluntary sector in 2005 Debbie joined environment charity Thames21 as CEO to deliver a vision of healthy rivers at the heart of community life – through volunteering programmes including the award-winning Thames River Watch, education and training schemes, behaviour-change initiatives and a growing river improvement portfolio including evidencing the challenges affecting rivers from pollution to flood risk and tackling them through nature-based solutions such as river restoration and wetland creation.

Debbie chairs the Catchment Partnerships in London Group and is a member of the Enovert Community Trust, the Mayor’s Water Advisory Group and the Thames Rivers Restoration Trust.