Background:

The Thames is home to the UK’s largest port and busiest inland waterway; a gateway to the world. The Port of London Authority (PLA) is responsible for protecting and improving 95 miles of tidal Thames, keeping river users safe and – as a Trust port – investing in the needs of customers, communities and river users, now and in the future.

Its Thames Vision 2050 foresees a clean river, supporting more sport, passengers and freight. A resilient Thames Estuary, adapting to climate change and richer in wildlife. And a more diverse Thames, providing jobs, learning and enjoyment to the whole community.

How will the PLA and its partners achieve Net Zero by 2040? How can the river help decarbonise urban logistics? A national and international icon, how do we make sure the Thames is accessible for everyone – a place people want to work, live and play? And how will we deliver a clean river, free of sewage, waste and other pollution?

Speaker:

Siân Foster is Director of Corporate Affairs at the Port of London Authority, where she is responsible for stakeholder engagement, internal and external communications, and using digital channels, external relationships and media to connect people with the Thames Vision and the work of the PLA.

From 2018-2023, she was Director of Corporate Affairs at the Money and Pensions Service, where she built Talk Money Week into an annual consumer campaign which reached 18 million people, raising awareness of financial wellbeing.

Prior to this, Siân spent most of her career in the aviation sector including thirteen years at Virgin Atlantic Airways, where she was VP of External Affairs and Sustainability, and the Civil Aviation Authority, where she advised on crisis communications and stakeholder engagement strategies.