About Us

The local community were invited in to the launch of the ESA

The European Sustainability Academy is the realisation of the vision of Sharon Jackson, inspired by her experiences of running sustainable business leadership programmes in areas of breathtaking natural beauty such as Tasmania, Australia and Chamonix in the French Alps.

ESA provides training and development programmes for business managers, owners and organisational leaders to learn about sustainable business and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). It is also a superb venue for corporate retreats – especially those with a view to bringing a sustainable perspective to their agenda.

The ESA teaching philosophy is one of 'applied sustainability'. That involves bringing the best academic research to inform practical business action. With a strong emphasis on action learning, all ESA management and leadership programmes are designed to be highly stimulating for participants.

Whilst there are a number of centres for CSR and sustainable business in the world, very few are truly sustainable in every way. We happily seek to collaborate with those that are on the same journey in our mission to develop the best teaching and research around sustainable business.

Crete was chosen as the location for ESA because of its ancient history of philosophical and ethical debate. The hilltop village of Drapanos is wonderfully suited because it is a rural sustainable community set in a beautiful environment.

News updates

‘BBC 100 Women’ in 2025

ESA Associate awarded prestigious ‘BBC 100 Women’ status in 2025
Post date: 10th March 2025.

Decarbonisation in Hotels and Hospitality in Greece

Sharon Jackson was invited to speak at the Energy in Buildings conference in Heraklion
Post date: 28th February 2025.

Micro-Credentials for Green Skills in Tourism

Sharon Jackson at Tallinn University ‘Symposium on Qualifications'
Post date: 22nd February 2025.

What we do

Since 2012, ESA has delivered international, high calibre, leadership and management education, and consulting services, with a focus on the knowledge, skills and behaviours that are necessary to futureproof organisations and preserve the planet, through the practical application of sustainable business models.

The transition to a global green economy needs new; management skills, thinking, innovation and creativity which are rarely provided by mainstream business teaching. ESA founder Sharon Jackson has been consulting, teaching, lecturing and researching on sustainable leadership and management globally since 2000 and believes that busy executives can focus on the principles of business sustainability in a more meaningful and practical way when energised by a rich ecological backdrop.

Hire ESA for your Event

Powered only by Cretan sunshine, ESA is a beautiful building rooted in the earth amongst ancient rocks and olive trees, surrounded by nature. Its construction is a leading example of sustainability in practice. ESA is an experiential and creative place where people feel enlivened, uplifted and creative. Great living and great learning happen at ESA. A perfect setting for:

Skills for sustainable business

Our passion is contributing towards co-created sustainable enterprise for positive impact on communities and the natural environment on a global scale. Leadership and entrepreneur issues of adaptation, resilience, authenticity, sustainable-self, values connected sense-making and the continued emancipation of women (WISE) to take up more leadership roles in the world are at the core of the ESA sustainability experience.

EU Co-Funded Projects

ESA has been a consortium partner and Project Leader in Lifelong learning and Erasmus+ projects since 2013. We have collaborated with partners from Austria, Croatia, France, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland. We always participate in EU Co-Funded Projects which focus on new approaches for skills.