Two-day event to examine emerging challenges in environmental health and trading standards

A major two‑day conference will bring together leading voices from across environmental health and trading standards to examine the future of public protection.

The Year Ahead Conference, jointly held by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) and the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI), will convene practitioners, policymakers and sector experts for a packed programme aimed at strengthening professional practice and highlighting the issues most likely to impact the professions in the year ahead.

The theme of day one is ‘Transformation and Change’ and kicks off with a session on delivering sustainable public services led by Simon Allsop, Managing Consultant at the Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy.

There will then be a panel discussion looking at the potential impacts of the English Devolution and Communities Empowerment Bill on local government chaired by Joanna Seymour, Head of EH Workforce at CIEH.

Other sessions on day one include a focus on regulation in 2026 with speakers including Katie Pettifer, Chief Executive at the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and David Perry, Legal Director at the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), as well as a look at how digital innovations can be harnessed to enhance public services and protection.

Day two’s theme is ‘Championing Public Protection’ and it gets underway with a session on public health and prevention with speakers including William Roberts, Chief Executive at the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) and Marie Brousseau-Navarro, Deputy Commissioner and Director for Health at the Office of the Future Generations Commissioner.

Next up housing will be the focus as speakers Chloe Fletcher, Head of Policy and External Affairs at the Chartered Institute of Housing, Alison Farrar, Project Lead at Operation Jigsaw and Ian Workman, Chief National Officer at Homes England look at subjects including the impact of the Renters Rights Act and the 10-year Social and Affordable Homes Programme (SAHP).

Workforce challenges and how both professions can attract, develop and retain talent will then be discussed with speakers from CIEH, CTSI, the Local Government Association (LGA), the Association of Chief Trading Standards Officers (ACTSO) and the Association of Chief Environmental Health Officers (ACEHO) exploring the topic.

The conference will wrap up with a look at case studies of local authority transformation in action, with representatives from Torfaen County Borough Council, Northamptonshire County Council and Wakefield Council.

Fran McCloskey, Chief Executive Officer at CIEH who chairs day one of the conference, said:

“Environmental health and trading standards are core to protecting the public and strengthening both communities and businesses. As we look to 2026 and beyond, the challenges are complex, but our professions bring exceptional expertise and unwavering commitment.

“The Year Ahead Conference is a landmark gathering of senior leaders, designed to focus on the future, share insight and learnings and vitalise leadership across the profession.

“We are proud to partner once again with CTSI and we encourage colleagues from both sectors to join us to participate in a strategically focused programme that will inspire and equip you to lead with confidence in the year ahead."

John Herriman, Chief Executive Officer at CTSI who chairs day two of the conference, said:

“Strong public protection enables strong communities, something we are all passionate about supporting as trading standards and environmental health professionals.

“The Year Ahead Conference, which we are very proud to be working in partnership with CIEH on again, will see experts and thought leaders frame the challenges and the opportunities at a time of unprecedented change and challenge for all of us.

“It has never been more important to come together to have these discussions, and those attending will come away equipped with ways to successfully navigate the year ahead."

The event takes place on Thursday, 5 and Friday 6 February – see the full programme and book a place here: https://www.cieh.org/events/2026/february/year-ahead-conference-the-future-of-public-protection/