Sustainability Practitioner Programme in South Africa
South Africa
New dates: 17-21 May 2026
About the programme
This seminar is designed for all middle to senior managers in organisations from the private or public sector to equip them with a high-level understanding of sustainability. Sustainability rests on a simple premise - the interconnectedness of all things. It requires us to push the boundaries and reframe our thinking about what sustainability means. Sustainability is no longer simply a bolt-on to a ‘business-as-usual’ approach. It is something that must become deeply embedded in the day-to-day operations of an organisation.
The programme provides participants with access to the latest data on the global challenges facing us, tools and frameworks for action, and bold business responses from around the world. Participants explore the strategic implications for their own business and effective approaches to engage all levels of the organisation.
How the programme is delivered
Participants will be exposed to cutting-edge thinking and practice from the CISL Faculty and Guest Contributors. The participants will deepen their thinking with peers and will leave feeling empowered to convey the business logic of placing sustainability at the core of organisational strategy.
Each delegate will be allocated to a Reflection Group for the duration of the workshop. This group is facilitated by a member of Faculty and is a pause moment and a place where focused reflection on the ideas that emerge in the workshop can take place.
Key Themes
The residential seminar takes place over three and a half days and will focus on the following key outcomes:
Evaluate the Emerging Social and Environmental Context for Business
Develop a deeper understanding of the global drivers of change and the importance of navigating complexity and uncertainty through systems thinking.
Alignment of Sustainability and Organisational Strategy
How is purpose, sustainability, and ESG integrated into the core strategy of organisations? What does this mean for operations and various departments, or business units in organisations? What are our options for collaboration and innovation?
Understand the Importance of Engaging Stakeholders, Communicating and Reporting
What are the reporting requirements? We will look at the management of information flow and engaging with internal and external stakeholders.
Reflect on the Leadership required
What is the leadership required? We will reflect on the values, thinking and practices that must be developed to be an effective leader and change agent.
Questions we will consider are:
What does it mean for you personally and the work you do? What is your sphere of influence and how do you use this to affect change in your organisation? How do you communicate the change required?
You will develop a practical action plan with the actions you are going to take after the programme.
Faculty and Contributors
The programme is facilitated by a core faculty of influential thinkers who have demonstrated leadership and practice in the field of Sustainability.
Previous faculty and contributors include:
Elspeth Donovan, Fellow of CISL
Susan Njoroge, CISL Senior Associate and Managing Director of Responsible Business Consulting
Khumo Shongwe, CISL Senior Associate
Khanyi Mlambo, Managing Director of KM ESG Consulting
Dr. Gary Kendall, Systems Thinker, CISL Senior Associate and Head of Climate Strategy Implementation at NatWest
Nicola Robins, CISL Senior Associate, and co-founder of Incite
Jonathan Hanks, CISL Senior Associate and co-founder of Incite
Programme fees and application
Programme fees cover seminar materials, accommodation, and all meals during the seminar. Fees do not include travel costs.
The fee for the residential Sustainability Practitioner Programme is ZAR41,400 + 15% VAT per person for delegates from South Africa and $2,300 per person for delegates from the rest of Africa. The fee for all other international delegates is £2,350 per person.
Venue
Delegates will stay at Devon Valley Hotel, which is tucked in a tranquil corner of the Cape Winelands, North West of Stellenbosch. It offers spectacular views across vineyards and olive groves towards the Helderberg Mountain in the distance.
Delegates are responsible for their travel arrangements to and from the venue.