After twenty eight years in the chemical and waste management industries I joined to the Environment Agency as Regional Director in 2003. I served in two regions, the Midlands and the North West, and retired in late 2010. In summer 2009 we hosted an international Lakes Conference at Windermere which sparked my lasting enthusiasm and interest in all things ‘Lake’. At the end of that conference, John Pinder and I announced the setting up of UKILN, and I served as Chair and Treasurer until 2017 when I moved to the new role of President.