The LCAG AGM 2026
The AGM was very well supported with some excellent speakers and brilliant networking. We had 42 people present (8 online). The value of in person events is that there is time to chat and share ideas. Many of you were inspired by hearing the work of three specific liveries as well as initial look at the cumulative information gleaned from our well recorded survey. We are very grateful to the Wax Chandlers’ Livery who kindly gave us the use of their Hall and the Goldsmiths’ Livery for the use of their Garden.
We welcome a newly elected Executive with three new members whom I will introduce to you in the next newsletter. They are John Pike (returning); Simon Lightman of the Educators and the Youth Natural Environment Board and Kane Benham of the Carmen. We thank those leaving who have been great contributors and stay good friends being Juna Margariti, Simon Gray and Heather Barrett Mold.
REPORT BY DR ANNE PUNTER ON THE RESULTS OF THE LCAG SURVEY
Dr Anne Punter reported to the meeting that there was an amazing 80% response rate to the LCAG 2026 survey. This had the objective of collecting data on member Livery Companies’ 4-year cumulative progress in strategically planning and achieving climate action mitigation steps.
The analysis of the findings shows the impressive extent of actions already completed and the strength of work in progress.
The findings are depicted in the slides and a full Report will be published later this year.
REPORT OF THE THREE LIVERY PRESENTATIONS
Following the conclusion of the formal part of the LCAG AGM, three presentations were given by the Worshipful Companies of Constructors, Fishmongers and Insurers.
Case study one, presented by Past Master Deborah Pullen and SPOC Mark Jenkinson (pictured) of the Constructors looked at ways sustainability could be better embedded into a construction industry that emitted annually over 50 million tonnes of CO2 through construction works and maintenance.
Education was identified as critical with the Company focussing on three areas; climate action scholarships in partnership with the Supply Chain Sustainability School, a Primary Engineer schools programme for 7 – 11 year old children and a 4-year course at York Minster for apprentices in stonemasonry. With the shortage of workers in the industry the Company also supports two initiatives; training ex-military personal and a project called “Giving Back” ,training ex-offenders both with a strong focus on sustainability.
Case study two was by the Fishmongers Company. We heard from the SPOC Adam Cresswell and one of their fisheries team Gavin O’Donnell. They focussed on two areas; their own Grade II* listed Livery Hall and the challenges in meeting the 2035 net zero target and, secondly, fishery policies. Their Hall is currently undergoing refurbishment works and one of the major challenges in meeting their 2035 target is being able to move from gas heating to green alternatives. In this the Company has benefitted from being adjacent to a UK Power Network substation which will enable the electrification of power and heating supplies to the Hall over the next 12 months. Their presentation then moved onto fisheries work. A review identified that new species were coming to the UK shores encouraged by rising sea temperatures. Some species such as tuna represented new commercial opportunities. The Company also encourages sustainable practices in their own catering using hand dived scallops rather than dredged. With wild salmon an endangered species, most of the salmon eaten at Fishmongers comes from land-based salmon farms meaning sea lice are not a problem. Separately a major commitment is made in collaboration with the Canal and River Trust to improve rivers by planting biodiverse habitats close to riverbanks.
The final case study was by Paolo Cuomo, a leader in sustainability in the insurance world and the Insurers Company, who see their sustainable role in not so much stopping oil and gas production but enabling these and other industries on their transition journeys. With this as an objective the Company asked itself how it might help achieve this and not be a barrier to companies advancing their sustainability initiatives. They came up with some simple solutions starting with a LinkedIn page. This drew likeminded insurers into a community. To promote further conversations and communities the Company then launched three initiatives. Lunch and Learn sessions for younger members and brokers to get together creating a network to discuss issues around the promotion of sustainability, more formal gatherings such as business seminars and finally grass roots groups to engage youngsters at Bayes Business School.
Historically insurance is based on past experience. The future we are about to enter has no historical basis. Floods, extreme weather events and high temperatures can now happen anywhere, anytime.
The slides presented after the AGM are viewable below:
MINUTES OF THE SECOND AGM
HELD ON 24TH JUNE 2026 AT 4.30PM AT WAX CHANDLERS HALL GRESHAM STREET LONDON
Attended by over 40 representatives of the Livery Company members, some joining online.
Apologies were received from over 20 members unable to attend, some caused by the excessive heat and travel disruptions.
A welcome was given to Wax Chandlers’ Hall by Master Elect of the Wax Chandlers’ Livery, Tony Ward.
- Alderman Alison Gowman chaired the meeting as nominated to do by the Executive.
- The Hon Treasurer, David Chitty, presented the accounts for the past year that had been previously circulated. These were agreed by the AGM
- The Chair gave a report on the past year’s activities. LCAG are well established on the City scene and our work and impact are well regarded. We have been regularly asked by the City Corporation to engage the Liveries or comment on projects. LCAG is the facilitator and the hard work, innovation and engagement is being done by the individual Livery company members. A big thank you to all that brilliant work.
We have gained a member to make our total numbers 108 – thanks to the Feltmakers. Overtures are continuing to bring in the final few.
Members have been busy writing and delivering their Climate Action Plans – we now have 38 published on our website with a couple more on the brink of approval by their respective Courts. We are still pressing Liveries to create a plan as it gives a focus and benchmark for this work. We are holding an extra online event about calculating your carbon footprint on 13th October.
We held a fabulous Conference in January and if you are looking at the news since you will see that so many of our topics are now headlining – food security, water shortages, and of course the heat explosion that we are in now – both its impact on our bodies and also on the world’s economy and operations.
We have held 5 online seminars that keep us up to date and we have two more planned on September 23 about Sustainable Finance and October 13 on Calculating our Carbon Footprint.
We are arranging two in person events on 16 July –to Citigen the City’s Combined Heat and Power Station in Smithfield and then on 15th September to do a walk around the City’s sustainable urban drainage projects with Tim Munday the City’s resilience officer.
Our WhatsApp group of SPOCs is informative and not everyone is on it so please let me know if you want to join. Prof Gordon Masterton is in charge. Please like or comment on our Linked in posts so that we can get the message out about what the Liveries are doing. Also send in news and views from your work. Our newsletters are regular and full of information – can I ask SPOCs to pass these on to their Livery or extract a good article to put in your own newsletter. They are just part of the resources we are creating.
Most recently, another large task was the survey we undertook to gauge your views. Dr Anne Punter will present a preview of these next and they will inform our look forward.
We have wanted your feedback to see what more we can do and we will be having a strategy meeting in the Autumn to plan our future. We are very open to your ideas.
Our vision is WORKING FOR A RESILIENT AND SUSTAINABLE CITY OF LONDON
How do we continue to do this?
Should LCAG be doing more or doing it differently? What is stopping Liveries from participating fully?
Should our meetings be in person in the future or remain online? What topics can we cover – are people concerned about the impact of climate change on the wider world or need to solve more local issues with their members and affiliates? Above all how can we build on the great foundations to do more and make more impact?
I hope you are willing to challenge LCAG and take up the baton when passed to you.
- Election of 12 members of the Executive.
Applications received : Kane Benham, Anthony Bickmore, Rob Casey, David Chitty, Helen Dobson Alison Gowman Simon Lightman, Averil MacDonald, Gordon Masterton, Stuart Mitchell, John Pike, Anne Punter.
These people were elected unanimously.
The Chair thanked the outgoing members who stepped back Heather Barrett-Mold, Simon Gray and Juna Margariti.
5 Any Other Business. None notified
6 Date of next AGM TBA