Training

2-day programme: Sustainability leadership for business

Dates: 6-7 November 2025

The programme is delivered by leading experts on sustainability at the University of Surrey, as well as guest industry speakers and UNITAR keynote addresses.
Participants will receive the prestigious UNITAR executive certificate of completion, which effectively includes participants into CIFAL Surrey and UNITAR Alumni cohort.

Learning sessions that move from theory to case studies to meet participants where they are.
Encourages deep stakeholder engagement work and writing out your leadership action plan.

Peer-to-peer learning and networking opportunities:

CIFAL Surrey alumni cohort:

Develop professional stakeholder relationships with the University of Surrey’s support systems, offering support, capacity development, and research and innovation opportunities.

Day one - Setting the scene: Understanding current trends and why they matter
Welcome address and United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) keynote presentation Module 1: The world in 2025: Understanding local and global challenges and trends for business Module 2: Navigating evolving sustainability disclosure requirements for business Module 3: Managing stakeholders for impact: mapping, salience, and prioritization Peer reflection group and evening panel discussion

Day one - Setting the scene: Understanding current trends and why they matter

Welcome address and United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) keynote presentation
Module 1: The world in 2025: Understanding local and global challenges and trends for business
Module 2: Navigating evolving sustainability disclosure requirements for business
Module 3: Managing stakeholders for impact: mapping, salience, and prioritization
Peer reflection group and evening panel discussion

Day two - Developing business response: designing an actionable leadership plan
Module 4: Embedding sustainability into business strategy: measuring and managing holistically Module 5: Doing business in an ecologically real world: the emergence of ecocentric and regenerative business Module 6: Articulating and activating organisational purpose Module 7: Developing an actionable leadership plan Closing circle: CIFAL Surrey and UNITAR call for action

Director of CIFAL Surrey; Co-Director of the Institute for Sustainability

Professor of International Business and Strategy, University of Surrey Business School; CIFAL Senior Advisor

Senior Lecturer in Finance and Corporate Governance, University of Surrey Business School; CIFAL Senior Advisor

Lecturer in Business Ethics and Sustainability, and CIFAL Training Director, Institute for Sustainability

Associate Lecturer in Corporate Sustainability; Senior Advisor Corporate Sustainability and Strategic Partnerships CIFAL Surrey

Researcher in Sustainability Science and Surrey Future Fellow, Institute for Sustainability; CIFAL Senior Advisor

Founder, The Purpose Business; CIFAL Senior Advisor for Purpose-Driven Leadership

Head of Engagement at Surrey Research Park; CIFAL Senior Advisor

Limited places available; please email us to register your interest.

Dates: 6-7 November 2025
Location: University of Surrey, UK
Price: To be confirmed
Early-bird booking and group options available: get in touch to discuss your requirements - cifal@surrey.ac.uk.

Book onto our two-hour discovery session on 11 September to meet our trainers and ask any questions ahead of reserving your place on this training programme.