Sustainability Leadership Academy

Transforming Leadership for Global Challenges

What is SLA? 

The Institute for Study and Development Worldwide (IFSD) has launched the Sustainability Leadership Academy (SLA) as a transformative initiative to cultivate critical thinking, strategic foresight, and adaptive decision-making skills. It empowers leaders to drive sustainable solutions and create a positive global impact. SLA provides a deep immersive learning experience to help leaders navigate the complexity and drive impactful, sustainable change in the context of multiple global challenges.

SLA empowers its participants to tackle global challenges, from climate change and technological transformation to social inequality and geopolitical shifts, and to transform that understanding into opportunities for meaningful and sustainable action.

SLA creates opportunities for an immersive and intensive leadership development. It will equip senior executives and decision-makers with conceptual and practical tools as well as cutting-edge insights to respond to global challenges impacting their businesses and organisations.

SLA goes beyond traditional leadership paradigms. It provides a unique, context-responsive learning experience that integrates sustainability, resilience, and social inclusion into business practices. Engaging critically with emerging policy and agendas such as Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), SLA allows leaders to stay ahead of the curve in integrating sustainability into organisations

Source: IFSD content team

Why SLA? 

In today’s interconnected and rapidly changing world, leaders face unprecedented challenges, from the escalating impacts of climate change and environmental degradation to entrenched poverty and social inequality. These crises are intensified by the swift rise of transformative technologies, such as artificial intelligence, and the shifting tides of geopolitical dynamics.
Doing business in such a chaotic environment requires integrating sustainability principles at the core of organisational operations. Success requires bold, effective decisions and strategic actions from leaders —actions essential for advancing global policy ambitions, such as the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Climate Agreement. However, traditional leadership paradigms are ill-equipped to handle the complexity and urgency of these issues, leaving critical opportunities for timely action unmet.

SLA Objectives
SLA empowers participants to:
  • Understand global and regional disruptions and their implications for business and sustainable outcomes.
  • Lead organisational transformation through strategic sustainability planning.
  • Apply ESG frameworks in more meaningful ways to develop a long-term Sustainability Vision.
  • Strengthen leadership capacity to foster innovation, resilience, and inclusive growth.
  • Build a cross-sector, transnational network with international peers.
How can SLA help you? 
If you are a business leader or a sustainability professional working in any sector, SLA can help you to:
  • Navigate complex and rapidly unfolding challenges: From AI to climate change, from political instability to social inequality, SLA is designed to encourage critical and multi-dimensional approaches to problem-solving for adaptive and transformative solutions.
  • Address Critical Needs: , particularly in the Asia-Pacific and Global South, who seek to enhance their knowledge, refresh their strategic thinking, and expand their networks in the face of rapid global change.
  • Drive Actionable Outcomes: More than a training course, SLA is a strategic platform for leadership transformation. Participants gain practical skills and strategies to drive organisational success while contributing to societal and environmental well-being.
  • Formulate Contextualised Strategies: Our programs blend global best practices with context-specific insights, ensuring learning is applicable to the diverse realities of leaders in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.
  • Build a Collaborative Community across Borders: SLA fosters a vibrant network of current and emerging leaders, enabling ongoing collaboration, knowledge sharing, and collective problem-solving to amplify individual and collective impact.
  • Leverage Expertise and Partnerships: IFSD partners with leading academic institutions and experts to deliver high-quality, impactful programs. Our delivery approach combines rigorous academic content with practical, real-world applications.
  • Mobilise the resources needed for action: SLA equips leaders with the knowledge, tools, and networks to access and leverage financial, human, and institutional resources essential for driving real-world change.

The immersive in-person program offers practical insights, hands-on experiences, and a community of like-minded leaders working towards a more sustainable future. Hearing from expert academics, business professionals and community leaders, participants will be empowered to become leaders in sustainable business for their organisations by integrating principles of sustainability and working towards impactful change, strategic direction and business innovation.

Key program features 
  • Immersive Learning: Intensive, in-person workshops provide a dynamic and engaging learning environment.
  • Relevant Curriculum: Programs address key leadership challenges, including:
    • Adapting to technological transformations (e.g., AI and automation)

    • Balancing profitability with climate resilience and sustainability

    • Navigating geopolitical uncertainties

    • Enhancing organisational agility and innovation
  • Interactive Pedagogy: Learning methods include:
    • Interactive seminars and workshops 
    • Case studies (with a focus on regional relevance) 
    • Site visits to showcase best practices 
    • Experiential learning activities  
  • Emphasis on Practical Application: Participants develop actionable strategies and solutions that they can implement within their organisations.
  • Facilitate Partnerships for Innovation: SLA provides a platform to interact with diverse stakeholders across sectors to co-create solutions to emerging challenges.
  • Comprehensive Support: SLA provides logistical support to ensure a seamless learning experience.

Target audience
SLA is tailored for current and emerging leaders with some years of professional experience, including  a leadership role at private, public and civil society sectors. Participants join a week-long in-person training in Sydney and surrounding areas in Australia, co-designed and delivered by academic experts, sustainability professionals, and industry leaders. The program also offers additional  pre and post engagements tailored to the needs of participants.

Join a global community of change leaders
SLA nurtures a community of practice that continues beyond the classroom, offering mentorship, collaborative problem-solving, and shared innovation across sectors and regions. By fostering South-South and South-North connections, SLA creates a network of empowered professionals championing sustainable development.

When will the immersive learning program happen?
Stay tuned for the launch of our first program. We are tentatively considering the first five-day event in the last week of August in 2025. Meanwhile, if you are interested to know more about SLA or want to discuss possible collaboration, please write us at: info@ifsd.com.au