Jonathan has 20 years of experience working within Flood & Climate Resilience Management for the Environment Agency and Leeds City Council. He has managed teams, projects and programmes within the Yorkshire Area that reduce flood risk to people, property and infrastructure, managing community and partner facing teams helping the public, partners and businesses to be prepared for and recover from flooding.
Jonathan has experience of major flood events from localised flash flooding in the Calder Valley to tidal surge events in December 2013 and the devastating widespread flooding during 2007 and 2015, working with colleagues across the country as part of the incident response arrangements. He has also pioneered the establishment of apprenticeship schemes, social enterprises and innovation programmes, such as the West Yorkshire Flood Innovation Programme and the Aire Resilience Company.
He is now the Executive Manager – Flood & Climate Resilience at Leeds City Council the 2nd largest metropolitan district in the country and 3rd largest city. As a Lead Local Flood Authority his teams manage flood risk and the wider impacts of climate change across the city and Jonathan plays a leading role on strategic, regional and national partnerships and initiatives relating to climate change and flood risk in both research and delivery capacities. He plays an active role in both the Leeds and Yorkshire & Humber Climate Commissions and manages the West Yorkshire Flood Innovation Programme. Jonathan will represent Leeds City Council on the board of the Aire Resilience Company.