Programmes Summary

Summary of recent open programmes and courses at ESA.

Busy business executives and entrepreneurs with targets to meet and deadlines to hit, understand the rarity of valuable, precious spaces for stepping back from the whirlwind of ‘doing business’ and spending considered, structured and necessary time for developing yourself and your focus.

ESA is purpose built for practical and meaningful immersive learning experiences. This means courses designed with sustainable business and sustainable leadership in mind. You will experience value-added outcomes for you and your organisation, delivered in an energising, reflective and inspirational setting that will stimulate all of your senses and expand your mind. ESA programmes and events promise to inspire, inform and challenge you, whilst delighting you with the beautiful Cretan countryside.

Contact us to enquire about any of our events or about designing your own ‘bespoke’ programme or hiring beautiful ESA in Crete for your own event.

Sustainability Activators and Changemakers Skills Development Workshop
Fri 13th September 2024 - Sun 15th September 2024

The ESA ‘Sustainability Activators’ skills workshop was launched in 2022 and is central to ESA’s research and consulting activities. Some of the original content has been updated and enhanced through feedback from attendees, however, the impactful interactive action-learning, peer group exchange, 2-day skills development format remains unchanged.

The workshop design draws on ESA’s membership of the EU Pact for Skills approach to investment in green skills development for upskilling and reskilling Europe’s workforce for driving the green transition towards net- zero by 2050. Also, underpinned by ESA’s 2023 consulting study with London based Chartered Management Institute (CMI) about green management and leadership competencies for the future of work, and ESA’s own 2024 study on Green Skills towards sustainable tourism and the need for workplace training.

The workshop is built around peer group exchange and practical application, with examples, for addressing real problems. Times are changing fast. The most experienced ‘activists’ are requiring new skills and ‘upskilling’ for leading the Green Transition. Both ‘aspirational’ Sustainability Activators and experienced Changemakers will leave with revitalised ideas and insights into the future of ‘Green Skills’ in the workplace.

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Sustainability Activators and Changemakers Skills Development Pilot
15th – 16th September 2022

At ESA Crete we have been leading practice and learning on sustainability for 10 years. To celebrate this achievement, we are launching a NEW PROGRAMME! We are inviting international sustainability enthusiasts to join us for FREE to experience our pilot programme and to help us refine our content and delivery.
This action learning, peer group exchange, 2-day skills development workshop has been designed for both ‘aspirational’ sustainability Activators and also accomplished, experienced Changemakers looking for new ideas, with a top up of resilience and nourishment.

To help us refine this pilot programme, we are inviting you to join us for FREE. All that we ask is that you give us your feedback about any final adjustments that you would like to see in the end product.

View the full agenda

News updates

ESA Sustainability Activator from Crete becomes a changemaker in The Congo

Vincent Hoogstad joins an experiential, in the field, learning programme at The Centre for Rehabilitation of Primates Lwiro
Post date: 3rd July 2024.

Green skills competencies development framework

ESA designs a green skills competencies development framework for Greece sustainable tourism objectives
Post date: 23rd May 2024.

The European Sustainability Academy joins the EU Pact For Skills – Green Skills

At ESA we are delighted to have been accepted by the European Commission as a member of the ‘The Pact for Skills’ partnership.
Post date: 14th March 2024.

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.

Host your event at ESA

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:

Leading sustainable enterprise

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.

Make sense of sustainability

Crete is the sustainable destination of the past and of the future.

Home of the Minoans, one of the earliest civilisations on earth, nestled between Europe, Africa and the Middle East, Crete is rich with mythology, gastronomy, music, art and agriculture. You can have your own authentic experience of a sustainable lifestyle and feel first-hand the strong connection between nature and community.

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