Convening business leaders to transform economies, systems and sectors

As part of our corporate leaders’ group (CLG) Africa work we currently convene two forums in South Africa and Kenya.

Corporate Affairs Leadership Forum (CALF) South Africa

Together with the University of the Witwatersrand's School of Governance we co-convene 19 senior executives in corporate affairs and sustainability monthly in Johannesburg. CALF is a thought leadership platform to exchange and drive private sector transformation for South Africa’s sustainable development.

The executives come from Absa, Anglo American Platinum, Coca Cola Beverages Africa, Gordon Institute of Business Science, Heineken, Massmart, MTN, Nedbank, Old Mutual, PepsiCo, Rand Merchant Bank, South32, Standard Bank Group, Tiger Brands, Vodacom and Volkswagen SA

Sustainability Leadership Forum (SLF) East Africa

Together with Safaricom, we co-convene 15 senior corporate sustainability leaders in Nairobi. SLF East Africa is a thought leadership forum to promote partnership and innovation in policy to meet East Africa’s sustainable development goals.

The executives come from Absa Group, Bamburi Cement, Britam, CCBA Group, Dow Chemicals Kenya, East African Breweries, Google, IPS Kenya, KCB Bank Group, Kengen, Kenya Airways, Nairobi Stocke Exchange, Old Mutual, Standard Chartered, Strathmore Business School, Total Energies and Unilever

Building leadership through executive education

CISL’s executive education builds on Cambridge’s leading-edge capabilities, our unparalleled experience in education for sustainability and our commitment to help organisations in every sector improve their performance towards a sustainable future. Through an interactive learning model we help businesses thrive by addressing pressing social, economic and environmental challenges and focusing on successful leadership of change designed to help business reconcile profitability with sustainability.

For senior executives

The Prince of Wales's Business & Sustainability Programme (BSP) helps senior executives understand the complex global trends and implications that are shaping the future of business and to develop business strategies to respond to these challenges in a commercially relevant way. CISL’s flagship programme has over 2,500 alumni from more than 1,000 organisations and provides an opportunity for executives to convene around key sustainability issues, identify solutions and advocate change.

The course boasts an impressive faculty including Will Day (Chair of the Sainsbury’s Foundation Advisory Board and Sustainability Advisor to PwC UK) and international sustainability professional Malcolm Gray. Bringing both a global and a local perspective to the programme are CISL Senior Associates Mashudu Ramano (CEO of Mitochondria Energy Company) and Bongiwe Mbunge (Partner, Mazars).

Read more from Hussein Sefian, Head of Strategy and Strategic Investments at BNP Paribas Global Markets, who recently attended BSP in Cape Town to gain a broader perspective on emerging markets’ challenges.

For sustainability managers

The Sustainability Practitioner Programme is designed for middle to senior managers in organisations from the private or public sector to equip them with a high-level understanding of role of sustainability in future proofing their organisations. Sustainability rests on a simple premise - the inter-connectedness of all things. It requires re-generative thinking. It is something that must become deeply embedded in the day-to-day operations of an organization to guide it for a different future, particularly in a developing world context.

On completion of the programme, participants will receive a certificate of completion and be able to do the following:

• Evaluate the impact of current global, economic, social and environmental pressures on their organisations.
• Assess the importance of navigating complexity and system-thinking.
• Recommend how to align sustainability with the core organisational strategy
• Assess the opportunities for innovation and collaboration with key stakeholders in their context
• Reflect on the values, thinking and practices that need to be developed to be an effective change agent
• Construct a practical action plan (within their sphere of influence) to drive internal change

Customised programmes

These programmes involve working closely with the sustainability team in the organisation to understand the key aims and objectives of the intervention they would like us to deliver. The CISL team then uses a process of horizon scanning, interviews and assessment of client’s objectives to determine the appropriate content, structure and process to deliver the required outcomes.

The programmes usually consist of a series of half-day workshops, two- to three-day workshops, or one-week engagements with different leadership levels and/or business units in the organisation. This includes facilitated face-to-face learning, thought leadership, online modules and remote tutoring. 

Get in touch to discuss your requirements, and find out more about our education programmes.

Advisory group

The Africa Programme is supported by an advisory group that includes:

Dr. Nomfundo Ngwenya, Executive Director representing South Africa, Eswatini, and Lesotho, African Development Bank

Theo Sibiya, Partner & Managing Director, Africa, Kearney

Dr. Mao Amis, CEO, African Centre for a Green Economy

Akhona Xotyeni, Sustainable Cities Programmes Officer, Embassy of Denmark in South Africa

Prof. Carlos Lopes, Professor Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance, Visiting Professor at Sciences Po, Associate Fellow Chatham House, University of Cape Town

Dr. Melanie Muller, Senior Associate: Africa & Middle East, SWP - German Institute for International & Security Affairs

Wandile Siblobo, Chief Economist, Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa

Nompilo Morafo, Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer, MTN Group

Prof. Imraan Valodia, Pro Vice Chancellor: Climate, Sustainability & Inequality, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg

Victoria Puxley, Founder, Puxley ESG

Ylva Lindberg, Executive Vice President, Strategy & Communication, Norfund

Meet our staff in South Africa.