CISL-WSG Corporate Affairs Executive Leadership Programme

Plaza in a city with monument in the middle.

Johannesburg (May 2026) and Cambridge (June 2026)

Programme Overview

Corporate affairs and sustainability executives' role in contemporary African business is strategic and advisory to the C-suite. Executives connect business to government and society, navigating complex terrains daily.

In business hubs such as Johannesburg and Nairobi, their roles span communications, risk, strategy and government relations. However, they remain misunderstood, not prioritised or as a bolt-on when attempting to paint a great corporate picture.

The partnership between the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) and the Wits School of Governance aims to address this gap.

This customised programme for corporate affairs and sustainability professionals explores the evolving global context and its implications for business leadership in Africa. Delegates will engage with cutting-edge thinking on climate science, geopolitics, economics, artificial intelligence, regulation, and sustainability-driven business transformation. Through expert-led sessions, peer discussions, and leadership dialogues, participants will develop the strategic insight needed to navigate complexity and drive systemic change.

Key Themes to be explored include:

In Johannesburg:

  • The Landscape and Changing Role of Corporate Affairs
  • Organizational Business Strategy
  • Public Policy Risk Management
  • Stakeholder Relations and Public Diplomacy
  • Leadership and Ethics

In Cambridge:

  • Forces Shaping the World: Climate Science, Geopolitics and Geoeconomics
  • Technology and its Development Opportunities for Africa
  • Changing Context for Business and Investment
  • Individual Leadership in Navigating a Complex World
  • Social Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Competitive Sustainability

Programme Features

Customised two-week programme for corporate affairs professionals, in Johannesburg (May 2026) and Cambridge (June 2026)

Networking opportunities at the prestigious CISL Chief Sustainability Officers (CSOs) Forum in Cambridge

Experiential visits and activities in Cambridge (June 2026)

Individual coaching virtually (May to September 2026)

Faculty and Contributors

Co-Chairs, CAELP: Prof Richard Calland (CISL) and Prof Themba Maseko (Wits School of Governance)

Co-Programme Directors: Sibusiso Nkomo and Raesetsa Hopane

Faculty: Dr Thelela Ngcetane-Vika, Khanyi Mlambo, Associate Professor Christine Hobden, Susan Njoroge, Dr Ekeminiabasi Eyita-Okon, Pat Dwyer, Adjunct Professor Alex Van Den Heever, Adjunct Professor Thabani Mlilo

Previous guest speakers have included Prof Gerry Gilmore, Lindsay Hooper, Dr Andrew Styles, Professor Shruti Kapila, Dr Kennedy Mbeva, Ian Ellison, Ursula Woodburn, Jie Zhou

Apply here

Cost R130,000