About Course
Duration: 5 Days (40 Hours)
Level: Executive / Board Level
Delivery Mode: Classroom, Virtual or Hybrid
International Standards Alignment: ISSB (IFRS S1 & S2), European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), OECD Corporate Governance Principles, World Economic Forum Stakeholder Capitalism Metrics, UK Corporate Governance Code, and European Banking Authority (EBA) ESG Risk Guidelines.
Course Overview
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations have become central to board oversight, corporate strategy, investment decisions, risk management, and long-term value creation. Regulators, investors, customers, employees, and other stakeholders increasingly expect organizations to demonstrate responsible business practices, transparent sustainability reporting, climate resilience, and ethical governance.
This executive programme equips Board Members and Senior Executives with the strategic knowledge and practical tools required to oversee ESG performance, integrate sustainability into corporate strategy, manage ESG risks, comply with emerging global reporting requirements, and create sustainable long-term value.
The programme focuses on board-level governance, sustainability leadership, ESG risk oversight, climate governance, stakeholder engagement, responsible investment, and sustainability reporting through practical workshops, case studies, simulations, and a capstone board sustainability project.
Training Outcomes
Upon completion of the programme, participants will be able to:
1. Understand the strategic importance of ESG and sustainability governance.
2. Strengthen board oversight of ESG risks and opportunities.
3. Integrate sustainability into organizational strategy and decision-making.
4. Establish effective ESG governance frameworks.
5. Oversee climate-related financial risks and opportunities.
6. Improve ESG reporting and disclosure practices.
7. Strengthen stakeholder engagement and sustainability accountability.
8. Evaluate ESG performance metrics and sustainability KPIs.
9. Enhance organizational resilience and sustainable value creation.
10. Lead ESG transformation initiatives aligned with global standards.
Target Audience
• Board Chairpersons
• Non-Executive Directors
• Executive Directors
• Chief Executive Officers (CEOs)
• Chief Sustainability Officers (CSOs)
• Chief Risk Officers (CROs)
• Chief Financial Officers (CFOs)
• Audit and Risk Committee Members
• Governance Committee Members
• Corporate Secretaries
• ESG and Sustainability Managers
• Regulators and Supervisory Authorities
• Financial Institution Executives
• Public Sector Leaders
• State-Owned Enterprise Directors
Course Units and Sub-Units
Unit 1: Foundations of ESG and Sustainability Governance
Sub-Units
• Evolution of ESG and Sustainability
• Global ESG Landscape
• Business Case for Sustainability
• Stakeholder Capitalism
• ESG Governance Principles
• Board Responsibilities for ESG Oversight
• International ESG Frameworks
• Sustainability and Corporate Purpose
Unit 2: ESG Governance and Board Leadership
Sub-Units
• ESG Governance Structures
• Board ESG Responsibilities
• ESG Committees and Oversight Models
• Governance Policies and Frameworks
• Director Accountability
• Board ESG Competencies
• Ethical Leadership and Corporate Values
• ESG Governance Best Practices
Unit 3: Integrating ESG into Corporate Strategy
Sub-Units
• Strategic Sustainability Planning
• ESG Materiality Assessment
• Sustainable Value Creation
• ESG and Competitive Advantage
• Sustainability Business Models
• ESG Integration into Strategic Planning
• Sustainable Innovation
• Long-Term Strategic Resilience
Unit 4: Environmental Sustainability and Climate Governance
Sub-Units
• Climate Change Fundamentals
• Climate Risk Assessment
• Climate Governance Frameworks
• Carbon Management Strategies
• Net-Zero Transition Planning
• Energy Transition Risks
• Biodiversity and Natural Capital
• Climate Adaptation and Resilience
Unit 5: Social Responsibility and Human Capital Governance
Sub-Units
• Human Capital Management
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)
• Employee Wellbeing and Engagement
• Human Rights Due Diligence
• Labour Standards and Practices
• Community Investment Strategies
• Supply Chain Responsibility
• Social Impact Measurement
Unit 6: ESG Risk Management and Resilience
Sub-Units
• ESG Risk Identification
• Enterprise ESG Risk Management
• Climate Financial Risks
• Reputational Risk Management
• ESG Risk Metrics
• Sustainability Stress Testing
• Emerging ESG Risks
• Board Risk Oversight Responsibilities
Unit 7: ESG Reporting, Disclosure and Assurance
Sub-Units
• ISSB Sustainability Standards
• CSRD and ESRS Requirements
• GRI Reporting Framework
• SASB Standards
• TCFD Reporting Requirements
• Sustainability KPIs and Metrics
• ESG Assurance Practices
• Board Oversight of Sustainability Reporting
Unit 8: Sustainable Finance and Responsible Investment
Sub-Units
• Sustainable Finance Principles
• ESG Investment Strategies
• Green Bonds and Sustainable Financing
• Impact Investing
• ESG Due Diligence
• Sustainable Capital Allocation
• Investor Expectations
• Sustainable Financial Performance
Unit 9: Stakeholder Engagement and ESG Communication
Sub-Units
• Stakeholder Mapping
• Stakeholder Engagement Frameworks
• Sustainability Communication Strategies
• ESG Reputation Management
• Shareholder Activism
• Investor Relations and ESG
• Crisis Communication
• Transparency and Trust Building
Unit 10: Future of ESG and Sustainable Leadership
Sub-Units
• Emerging ESG Trends
• ESG Technology and Data Analytics
• Artificial Intelligence and Sustainability
• Circular Economy Models
• Sustainable Innovation
• ESG Regulatory Developments
• Leadership for Sustainability
• Building Future-Ready Organizations
Day Time Session Methodology
Day 1 08:30 – 10:30 Unit 1: Foundations of ESG and Sustainability Governance Interactive Lecture
10:45 – 12:30 Unit 2: ESG Governance and Board Leadership Executive Workshop
13:30 – 15:00 ESG Governance Maturity Assessment Group Work
15:15 – 17:00 Case Study: Unilever, Microsoft and Ørsted Sustainability Transformation Case Study Analysis
Day 2 08:30 – 10:30 Unit 3: Integrating ESG into Corporate Strategy Strategic Workshop
10:45 – 12:30 Materiality Assessment Exercise Practical Exercise
13:30 – 15:00 Unit 4: Environmental Sustainability and Climate Governance Expert Session
15:15 – 17:00 Climate Risk Scenario Analysis Simulation
Day 3 08:30 – 10:30 Unit 5: Social Responsibility and Human Capital Governance Interactive Workshop
10:45 – 12:30 Human Capital and DEI Assessment Group Exercise
13:30 – 15:00 Unit 6: ESG Risk Management and Resilience Executive Session
15:15 – 17:00 ESG Risk Mapping and Stress Testing Simulation
Day 4 08:30 – 10:30 Unit 7: ESG Reporting, Disclosure and Assurance Practical Workshop
10:45 – 12:30 Sustainability Reporting Review Exercise Group Work
13:30 – 15:00 Unit 8: Sustainable Finance and Responsible Investment Interactive Lecture
15:15 – 17:00 ESG Investment Committee Simulation Simulation
Day 5 08:30 – 10:30 Unit 9: Stakeholder Engagement and ESG Communication Leadership Workshop
10:45 – 12:30 Unit 10: Future of ESG and Sustainable Leadership Executive Discussion
13:30 – 15:30 Capstone Project: Board ESG Governance and Sustainability Strategy Team Exercise
15:30 – 16:30 Team Presentations and Sustainability Review Panel Presentation
16:30 – 17:00 Programme Evaluation and Certification Closing Session
Activity Objective
ESG Governance Assessment Evaluate board ESG readiness
Materiality Assessment Workshop Identify key ESG priorities
Climate Risk Mapping
Assess climate-related exposures
ESG Risk Register Development Strengthen risk oversight
Sustainability Reporting Review Improve disclosure quality
ESG Strategy Development Align ESG with business objectives
International Case Studies
Case Study Learning Focus
Unilever Sustainable Living Plan ESG strategy integration
Microsoft Sustainability Journey Carbon reduction and governance
Ørsted Green Transformation Energy transition leadership
BlackRock ESG Stewardship Investor expectations
Nestlé ESG Governance Sustainable value creation
Patagonia Sustainability Model Stakeholder capitalism
BP Energy Transition Strategy Climate governance
Volkswagen ESG Crisis Governance and reputation management
Simulation Exercises
Simulation Competencies Developed
Board ESG Committee Meeting ESG governance oversight
Climate Risk Scenario Analysis Strategic resilience planning
ESG Investment Committee Simulation Sustainable finance decision-making
Sustainability Disclosure Review Reporting oversight
Stakeholder Engagement Exercise Communication and trust building
ESG Crisis Response Simulation Reputational risk management
Capstone Project
Board ESG Governance and Sustainability Transformation Simulation
Participants act as Board Directors and Senior Executives of a multinational organization facing:
• Increasing regulatory ESG requirements
• Climate-related operational risks
• Investor demands for sustainability disclosures
• Supply chain sustainability challenges
• Reputation and stakeholder concerns
• Pressure to achieve net-zero commitments
Capstone Deliverables
Teams will:
1. Conduct an ESG materiality assessment.
2. Identify ESG risks and opportunities.
3. Develop an ESG governance framework.
4. Create a sustainability strategy and roadmap.
5. Design ESG performance metrics & dashboards.
6. Develop sustainability reporting recommendations.
7. Present board-approved ESG transformation plans to a Sustainability Governance Panel.
Assessment Framework
Assessment Component Weighting
Pre-Programme ESG Knowledge Assessment 10%
Participation and Engagement 10%
ESG Governance Analysis Assignment 15%
Materiality Assessment Exercise 15%
ESG Risk Management Case Study 15%
Simulation Performance 15%
Capstone Project and Presentation 20%
Types of Assessments to Expect
Individual Assessments
• ESG Governance Knowledge Assessment
• Sustainability Reporting Analysis
• Climate Risk Evaluation
• ESG Risk Assessment
• Stakeholder Engagement Review
Group Assessments
• ESG Materiality Assessment
• ESG Strategy Development
• Climate Risk Mapping
• Sustainability Reporting Review
• Capstone Sustainability Project
Practical Assessments
• ESG Governance Simulation
• Climate Scenario Analysis
• ESG Reporting Review Exercise
• Sustainable Finance Decision-Making Simulation
• Stakeholder Communication Exercise
• Board Sustainability Oversight Exercise
Certification Requirements
Requirement Standard
Attendance Minimum 80%
Participation in Simulations Mandatory
Completion of Group Exercises Mandatory
Capstone Project Submission Mandatory
Minimum Pass Mark 60%
Certification Award
Executive Certificate in ESG Sustainability for Board Members and Senior Executives
CPD Credits: 40 Hours
International Alignment: ISSB (IFRS S1 & S2), CSRD, ESRS, GRI, SASB, TCFD, OECD Corporate Governance Principles, NACD (USA), UK Corporate Governance Code, EBA ESG Guidelines, UN SDGs, and World Economic Forum Sustainability Governance Principles.