The UKELA Wales working party is hosting this thought-provoking panel discussion on the Welsh Government's recent white paper on ‘Environmental principles, governance and biodiversity targets’. With the Government consultation underway, this event offers a timely platform for legal professionals, students, and interested individuals to engage in a lively exchange of ideas and share insights on the proposals.

Meet our chair and speakers

• Chair:  Professor Ben Pontin - Head of Law at Cardiff University
  Ben's specialism is environmental law, with supporting interests in constitutional law and tort. His approach to both research and teaching in these fields mixes  'doctrinal' and 'socio-legal' perspectives, with a particular emphasis on the historical context of current developments. Ben is director of the student-led pro bono clinic called the Environmental Law Foundation Cardiff Clinic, and co-director of the Centre for Environmental Justice. He is reviews editor of the Journal of Environmental Law (Oxford University Press) and managing editor of Environmental Law and Management (Lawtext Publishing). He invites research degree supervision in any area of environmental law.
  
  
• Ruth Chambers
  Ruth has been working with Green Alliance since 2017 to provide strategic leadership to the environment sector on major legislation through the Greener UK coalition and a dedicated legislation and governance unit. She is also honorary professor of practice at the UCL Centre for law and the environment, an adviser to River Action UK and the lay member on COMEAP, the expert committee that advises the government on the effects of air pollutants on health. Ruth was awarded an OBE in the 2022 Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to the environment.

• Dr Viviane Gravey
  Viviane is a Senior Lecturer in European Politics at Queens University Belfast, focusing on environmental policy and governance. She co-chairs the Brexit & Environment network, bringing together academics from across the UK to study influence of Brexit on the environment. As devolution and Northern Ireland lead for Brexit & Environment, she has worked closely with environmental groups and has given evidence to parliaments across the UK. She is part of the Office for Environmental Protection College of Experts and the UK Trade and Sustainable Development Domestic Advisory Group.
  
  
• Dr Ludivine Petetin
  Ludivine is a Reader in Law at the School of Law and Politics of Cardiff University. Her expertise lies in the areas of agri-food-environmental issues and international trade from multilevel and multidisciplinary perspectives. In 2022, she co-authored ‘Brexit and Agriculture’ (Routledge) and is a co-editor of the edited collection entitled ‘The Governance of Agriculture in Post-Brexit UK’ (Routledge). She regularly engages with governments, legislatures and stakeholders (including civil society organisations) across the UK and beyond on these matters.
  
  
• Annie Smith
  Annie is Head of Nature Policy and Casework at the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in Wales (RSPB Cymru). She is Co-Chair for the Wales Environment Link Biodiversity Working Group, working closely with government and the wider environmental network in advocating for a Nature Positive Bill in Wales.

Tickets

• General tickets -  £5
• Limited number of free tickets for students.

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