Professor John Stoner BSc, PhD, CWEM, FIFM, OBE
Honorary Research Professor
PhD Chemical Oceanography, University of Liverpool
Contact
Email: john@crehstoner.demon.co.uk
Phone: 07967 095266
Biography
Having obtained a PhD degree in Chemical Oceanography at the University of Liverpool, John Stoner has worked for forty years on environmental issues, initially specialising in freshwater and marine pollution, conservation and fisheries issues. During his career in the Water Industry, during which he rose to the position of Deputy Chief Scientist with the Welsh Water Authority, John carried out (among his many other R&D projects) pioneering work on Acid Rain and its effects on river systems.
In 1989 John became the first General Manager of the National Rivers Authority in Wales, and in 1995 General Manager, Wales, of the then newly formed Environment Agency. During this period, John directed the work of the organisations responsible for regulating, managing and researching the environment in Wales. He also chaired many National (England and Wales) committees including Statutory Water Quality Objectives, Classification of Rivers and Coastal Waters and Catchment Management Planning and was awarded an OBE for services to the environment in Wales in 1997.
Following his retirement from the Environment Agency in 1999, John has worked part-time at the Centre for Research into the Environment and Health (CREH) at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, where he has been involved in a large number of projects advising Government and its agencies on a wide range of environment and human health policy and management issues.
In addition to his university work, John is involved in numerous projects aimed at improving the habitats and water quality of rivers, lakes and wetlands in Wales and promoting awareness, enjoyment, understanding of and involvement with the natural environment to communities and the general public. John became a key figure in the Rivers Trust Movement in Wales, was co-founder of the Pembrokeshire Rivers Trust in 2002, and facilitated the formation five new trusts in Wales during 2006/7: Conwy & Clwyd, Teifi, Carmarthenshire, South East Wales and the Welsh Dee. He was the winner of the 2006 Association of Rivers Trust Award for the outstanding contribution to the Rivers Trust movement by a volunteer.
He is currently Policy Advisor to Afonydd Cymru, the umbrella body for the Welsh Rivers Trusts, which seeks to secure funding and resources, facilitate partnership working and influence relevant government policy. His continual focus on river water quality, habitats, ecology and fisheries has influenced and secured major capital investments in Wales for habitat restoration, barrier easements and liming technology, the success of which has been achieved by involving local communities and contractors in delivering and maintaining these environmental improvements.
John is a member of the Flood Risk Management Wales Committee, representing conservation interests. This new committee replaced the Welsh Government’s former Flood Defence Committee and its name reflects the change of emphasis to working with local communities and interests to manage flood risk in the context of the challenges posed by climate change. He also represents FRMWC interests on the Environment Agency Wales’ Fisheries, Ecology and Recreation Advisory Committee.
John is a member of the Western Wales River Basin Water Framework Directive Liaison Panel, representing Rivers Trusts, fishery and Environmental NGOs interests in the development and implementation of the plans required by this important new legislation. He is also a member of Welsh Government’s Water Framework Directive Stakeholder Group, which is an expert group drawn from all sectors of society that advises Welsh Government on the implementation of the WFD in Wales.
Over the last decade, he has developed an interest and expertise in public health issues around poverty, deprivation and addiction, and worked part-time for three years at the Rhoserchan Rehabilitation Centre near Aberystwyth. He is currently involved in the Higher Power Project (http://www.chester.ac.uk/higherpowerproject), a partnership project with the University of Chester researching into the links between addiction, spirituality and recovery.