The Sustainability Leadership Programme gives you the skills, confidence and connections for your organisation, community and planet to thrive now and into the future.
Sustainability challenges are high-stakes and complex and require a special set of skills, including the ability to think systemically and to collaborate and influence across a diverse range of stakeholders and interests. The Sustainability Leadership Programme (SLP) not only gives you the tools to meet your challenges, it also provides an ongoing network of peers you can lean on for advice and support.
Australasia’s most comprehensive sustainability leadership programme is designed and delivered by Catapult in partnership with the Sustainable Business Council (SBC). The SBC is a member organisation made up of organisations committed to making significant progress on environmental, social, and economic sustainability issues. SBC members account for over 40% of New Zealand’s GDP. Your organisation does not need to be a member of the SBC for you to participate in the Sustainability Leadership Programme.
Key Benefits
Advance a real sustainability challenge facing your organisation
Collaborate with and influence key stakeholders
Develop a sustainability strategy
Build connections with other sustainability change agents
Gain the capabilities, confidence and courage to drive progress on sustainability
Who is SLP for?
SLP is for people in a position to influence their organisation’s progress on environmental, social and/or economic sustainability. The programme is suitable for entry, mid and senior-level professionals. What’s important is having a real sustainability challenge facing your organisation that you’ll focus on during the programme. Past participants have held responsibilities relating to sustainability, the environment, climate, health and safety, ESG, people and culture, strategy, operations, marketing and communications.
SLP is a leadership programme. You will learn the skills surveys show are vital to shift the dial on sustainability in Aotearoa: future thinking, systems thinking, the ability to diagnose complex sustainability challenges, collaborative leadership, influencing and storytelling. It is not about learning technical skills which differ depending on context and are covered adequately elsewhere (such as sustainability reporting and measuring carbon emissions).
2025 Programme Dates
Online Workshops Tuesdays 10:00am – 12:00pm
May 13 and 27, June 10 and 24, and July 15
Two-Day Workshop in Auckland CBD: 29-30 July
29 July: 8:30am registration; 9:00am – 7:00pm including networking event and refreshments
30 July: 8:15am for 8.30am – 5:00pm
Early bird discount ends 28 February 2025
– Registrations close 28 March 2025 –
Programme Overview
Identify a Sustainability Challenge: Identify a real social, environmental, or economic challenge facing your organisation and the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) it relates to (e.g. climate change and SDG 13 climate action). You’ll need this to complete the registration form. This sustainability challenge will be your focus for applying the skills and frameworks in the programme. Many people find their challenge evolves as they journey through SLP. Here is our guide to identifying a sustainability challenge.
Format: The programme is a combination of pre-work, small group work in ‘LeaderLabs’ between workshops, 5 x 2-hour highly interactive online Zoom workshops, a two-day workshop in Auckland (July 29-30), and 2×2-hour online Zoom workshops.
Pre-Work: We carefully curate pre-work to prepare you for each session. We practice a flipped classroom method in which you are exposed to theories and frameworks before each workshop and begin to apply them to your situation. Pre-work is helpfully divided into essential and optional extra readings, videos, and podcasts. We recommend allowing around one to two hours of preparation for each workshop.
LeaderLabs: You will be part of a small peer learning group called a ‘LeaderLab’. We form groups of around four people based on the commonality of their sustainability challenge while also aiming for diversity of perspectives. There are six LeaderLab meetings throughout the programme (one before workshop 1, meetings between workshops, and one meeting after the two-day workshop).
Online Sessions: 5 x 2-hour online Zoom workshops on Tuesdays 10:00 am – 12:00 pm: May 13 and 27, June 10 and 24, and July 15. The online workshops use the latest learning methods for engagement. Your programme facilitator will bring theories and frameworks to life and often apply them to the example of climate change, as this is a sustainability challenge impacting all of us. The online workshops use breakout groups. The breakout groups help you network with other sustainability change agents, apply workshop content to your unique situation, and practice facilitating. You will be in a different breakout group for each wortkshop.
Two-Day Workshop: The two-day workshop is a peak experience of the programme. People love the rich and enduring connections made as well as the experiential and inspiring learning environment.
Time Commitment: The total time commitment is about six days:
- Pre-work for the five online workshops: 5 – 10 hours in total
- Online workshops: 10 hours in total
- Pre-work for the two-day workshop: 2-3 hours
- Two-day in-person workshop
- LeaderLab group work: 6 hours
Getting Started
- Secure organisational support.
- Identify a real sustainability challenge and the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) it relates to.
- Register online by February 28 to get an early bird discount or by March 28 latest.
- LeaderScope 360-degree feedback (optional) in April/early May.
- LeaderLab (small groups) meet online in early May before Workshop 1 (May 13).
- Complete pre-work for the first workshop (May 13).
Online Workshops:
Sensemaking
- What is sustainability leadership? (May 13)
Examine the evolution of definitions of sustainability, challenge common myths about leadership, and learn foundational sustainability leadership frameworks. - Futures & System Thinking (May 27)
Explore global megatrends that impact sustainability, Aotearoa and your organisation. Apply systems leadership to map the key players around your sustainability challenge. - Leadership Backbone, Styles and Resilience (June 10)
Discover your leadership purpose, values and vision. Learn about your leadership style and how to adapt yourself to lead on sustainability. Build your resilience and wellbeing strategies to stay the course. - Diagnosing sustainability challenges (June 24)
Learn an eight-step method from Harvard Kennedy School to diagnose complex sustainability challenges. We apply the eight steps to climate change. - Collaborating (July 15)
Sustainability challenges are too complex for any one organisation to solve. Learn how to convene and facilitate stakeholders to work together on sustainability challenges. Co-create a shared purpose and vision for your sustainability challenge that inspires and guides transformative action.
Two-Day Workshop:
Embedding
Two-day workshop July 29-30 in Auckland CBD
- Create a Sustainability Strategy
Identify focus areas for your business’s sustainability strategy. - Lead Systems Change
Apply systems leadership to identify the systems forces keeping your challenge in place, and identify leverage points for change. Learn how to lead the human side of change. - Guest Speakers
Gain insights from SBC member sustainability professionals. - Networking Event
Engage with fellow participants and guest speakers over drinks and nibbles. - Strategic Influencing
Learn how to influence stakeholders and decision-makers by applying the science of persuasion. - Embedding Sustainability
Learn how to ‘give the work back’ by embedding sustainability approaches into operations, culture, and key business functions. - Sustainability Storytelling
Learn how to craft engaging stories to build trust in you as a sustainability leader, motivate action, and lead people into a sustainable future. - Extending Your Development
Learn strategies for scaling up your career in sustainability.
Ongoing Support
- SLP Alumni
Graduates are invited to join an exclusive LinkedIn SLP Alumni Group. This is a forum to post sustainability news, advertise roles, ask for help, and arrange meet ups in your area. - Advanced Sustainability Resources
Graduates are given access to an ever-growing library of sustainability leadership resources.
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Percent of graduates endorse the programme
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Percent of participants formed valuable connections with other sustainability leaders
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Percent of participants planned a new approach to their sustainability project
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Percent of participants are more equipped to advance the sustainability agenda of their organisation
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Percent of participants are more able to diagnose sustainability challenges
Register for a free online taster
Join us for a free online taster on 5 February 2024 (10 – 11am), where you will hear from graduates and have a chance to try out some practical tools to help you on a sustainability challenge you’re facing.
Watch the 2024 online taster session
Read Case Studies About SLP’s Impact
Michelle Ortega, Sustainability Engagement Lead, Fonterra
Mitesh Mudaliar, Quality and Environmental Manager, Horizon Energy Group
Lisa Boltman, Head of Organisational Development, Airways
Allie Morris, Environmental Planning Lead, Westland Mineral Sands NZ
Becks Goffin, Principal Advisor, Auckland Council
Watch videos of SLP participants talking about why they did SLP and the key benefits so far.
Becks Goffin, Principal Advisor Education and Community Climate Action, Auckland Council
Courtney Fraser, Group Sustainability Manager, Steel and Tube
Lucy Mckenzie, Head of Sustainability, AUT University:
Hilary West-Reeve, Co-owner & Chief Sustainability Officer, Phoenix Metalman Recycling
Katy Glenie, Sustainability Manager, Contact Energy
Megan Gallagher, Sustainability Advisor, Sustainable Business Council
Robert Siveter, Corporate Responsibility Manager, Suncorp
Benjamin Walch, Sustainability Specialist, Abley
'Fast-paced concentrated boost of learning. It’s had a significant positive impact on how I work and what I have been able to achieve.'
Alison Howard
Head of Sustainability, Meridian Energy
'The material, delivered, with excellence by Catapult. Kept me constantly thinking, reflecting, and engaged.'
Leon Jarden
Countdown
'Given me greater self-awareness to my sustainability leadership and tools I can apply straight away and will use well after the programme.'
Sam Bridgman, Sustainability Specialist
NZ Post
‘I now know I don't need to hold all the answers. Collaborating and influencing are key to driving the sustainability agenda forward.’
Miranda Struthers, Accessible Energy Advocate
Electricity Retailers’ Association
'Provides a solid foundation and tools for sustainability leaders to progress themselves and sustainability within their business.’
Anthony Thompson, Sustainability Manager
SkyCity Entertainment Group Ltd
'Given me the tools, confidence and clarity to lead our company towards our net zero carbon goals for the built environment.’
Fiona Short, Group Lead of Sustainability
Warren and Mahoney Architects
'A must for any leader serious about improving organisational sustainability.’
Cobus Kilian, Health, Safety and Environment Manager
Livestock Improvement Corporation
‘Lots of resources and tools and skilful guidance on how to use them. An effective way of gaining clarity, motivation and skills to deal with sustainability challenges.’
Kath Danaher, Learning and Teaching Specialist
Otago Polytechnic
Take your leadership further
We have some great options to extend your Sustainability Leadership Programme further.
Additional Coaching Option
Leaderscope 360-Degree Feedback Option
Programme Cost
Early bird discount fee for registrations received by 28 February 2025:
SBC Members: $3,950 (ex GST)
Non-SBC Members: $4,150 (ex GST)
Registrations received after 28 February:
SBC Members: $4,590 (ex GST)
Non-SBC Members: $4,850 (ex GST)
Optional LeaderScope 360°feedback: $950 (ex GST)
Optional One-on-One Coaching: three sessions $1,500 (ex GST)
2025 Programme Dates
Online Zoom Workshops: Tuesdays 10:00am – 12:00pm
May 13 and 27, June 10 and 24, and July 15
Two-Day Workshop in Auckland CBD: 29-30 July
29 July: 8:30am registration; 9:00am – 7:00pm including networking event and refreshments
30 July: 8:15am for 8:30am – 5:00pm
Some Participating Organisations
Below are some organisations who have participated in the Sustainability Leadership Programme
