Greener Henley presents: Flood Question Time: Rising Waters and Resilience – talk with Q&A

Please note that this event has been postponed due to low ticket sales.  We plan to hold the event later in the year when this issue is more at the forefront of people's minds, and will be providing more information on this soon.  

The river also features strongly in the "In Our Hands: Our Climate, Our River, Our Future" talk by Professor Christopher Merchant on Wed 11th June, hosted by Olympic rowing champion Greg Searle.  To sign up, please visit https://greenerhenley.org.uk/event/in-our-hands-our-climate-future-gbgw-2025/ 

Do sign up to our newsletter for updates at https://greenerhenley.org.uk/get-involved/newsletter/ or keep in touch on our socials Insta (@greenerhenley) / Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/GreenerHenley/)

Flood Question Time: Rising Waters and Resilience – talk with Q&A

Helping to Keep Henley Safer, Together

Doors open: 6:45pm | Main panel: 7:15 – 8:30pm | Drinks until 9pm

In 25 years’ time, 1 in 4 properties in England will be in areas at risk of flooding as the danger increases due to climate change(1). With extreme weather events on the rise, what does Henley’s flood future look like—and how can we respond in ways that keep our homes, businesses, and communities safe?

Join us for an engaging evening panel discussion featuring leading experts in flooding, emergency planning, and insurance – a critical part of our overall strategy for managing flood impacts and protecting what matters most, and an area that is likely to be ever more important.

This interactive evening will explore the practical steps we can all take to boost resilience and reduce risk – whether you’re a homeowner, business owner, policymaker or simply concerned about what the future holds.  Our panelists will examine how residents, businesses and organisations across our town can all work together to become safer in the face of flooding, with plenty of opportunity for audience questions.

As flooding becomes more frequent and intense, so too does the risk to water quality – heavy rainfall overwhelms drainage systems, flushing pollutants and even untreated sewage into our rivers.

Panelists include:

• Dr Jess Neumann – Associate Professor in Hydrology, expert in flood risk management and community preparedness
• Toby Garbett – Olympic rower and owner of local Henley business TG Gym and Wellness
• David Rochester – Head of Reserving, Flood Re; expert in climate risk & flood insurance
• Dr Pete Sudbury – Oxfordshire Flooding Taskforce, Oxfordshire County Council

The evening will be facilitated by broadcaster and journalist, Ginny Buckley.

What to Expect

• Expert insights: Cutting edge science to real-world experience
• Audience Q&A: Your chance to ask the panel your questions
• Community discussion: Drinks and networking before and after the panel

Why you should attend

Flooding affects more than just your doorstep – it impacts health, safety, local businesses, and our environment. This is your chance to get the facts, ask tough questions, and be part of the solution for a safer, more resilient Henley.

This event is for everyone—residents, businesses, councillors, and anyone concerned about Henley’s future. Let’s work together to make our town more resilient.

References:

1. https://www.theccc.org.uk/2025/04/30/the-country-is-not-prepared-for-climate-impacts-say-advisors/