ESG for Public Leaders
From Policy Initiatives to Successful Implementation
A Transformative 5-Day Workshop
In-Person in Zagreb, CROATIA, 7 – 11 December 2026, Le Premier Boutique Hotel
26 – 30 October 2026 online (Zoom) – five afternoons
Workshop Lead: Dr Gordana Kierans
Background
Based on our experience training public leaders from Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Iraq, UAE, Kenya, Ghana, and Nigeria, we have witnessed the unique challenges the public sector faces in sustainability transformation. I am proud to launch ESG for Public Sector Leaders: From Policy Initiatives to Successful Implementation. This 5-day workshop bridges the gap between policy and action.
ESG for Public Sector Leaders – Course Description
Public institutions are no longer observers of ESG – they are its architects! As governments, central banks, and regulators shape the frameworks that guide markets and societies, ESG has become a critical lens for policy design, risk management, and long-term economic resilience.
This 5-day programme equips Public Sector leaders with the strategic understanding and practical tools required to integrate ESG into Public policy, regulation, and institutional decision-making. It goes beyond corporate ESG approaches, focusing on the unique role of Public Institutions as contemporary system designers and enablers of transition. As the training title declares, the syllabus will equip you with the strategies to move from “From Policy Initiatives to Successful Implementation”.
Why this course?
This programme moves beyond basic ESG awareness and focuses on real institutional implementation. It positions ESG not as a reporting obligation, but as a strategic governance and policy framework that shapes decision-making at the highest level.
Participants will learn how to apply systems thinking in complex public policy environments, enabling them to understand interdependencies, anticipate unintended consequences, and identify effective leverage points. The programme also integrates energy transition and circular economy principles, ensuring that sustainability is embedded into infrastructure, resource management, and long-term economic planning.
By the end of the programme, participants will be equipped to design actionable ESG roadmaps tailored specifically to public institutions—grounded in policy relevance, regulatory realities, and strategic impact.
Who Should Attend?
This programme is designed for professionals working across the public sector landscape, particularly those operating within ministries, government agencies, central banks, financial regulators, public investment institutions, sovereign funds, and regulatory or legislative bodies.
It is especially relevant for decision-makers and senior professionals involved in sustainability, economic policy, infrastructure development, finance, and regulatory design. Anyone engaged in shaping policy, managing public resources, or influencing institutional strategy will benefit from the frameworks and tools provided.
A Detailed 5-Day Delivery Structure:
Day 1 – ESG in the Public Sector: From Concept to Mandate
The first day reframes ESG as a core governance and policy instrument. Participants explore how ESG has evolved from a voluntary corporate concept into a regulatory and strategic necessity, driven by global agendas such as the SDGs, EU Taxonomy, and national development visions.
The session highlights the expanding role of public institutions – not only as regulators, but also as enablers, investors, and stabilisers within the economy. ESG is positioned as a critical tool for managing systemic risks, including climate, financial, and social challenges, while shaping capital flows and geopolitical positioning. The day concludes with a focus on translating ESG into institutional mandates and policy integration.
Day 2 – Systems Thinking and Materiality in Policy Design
The second day introduces ESG as a complex system rather than a linear checklist. Participants engage with systems thinking concepts such as feedback loops, delays, and unintended consequences, and are introduced to Donella Meadows’ leverage points as a framework for intervention.
Through stakeholder mapping and value flow analysis, participants begin to understand how policies interact across sectors and time horizons. A key focus is placed on defining materiality within the public sector context, where national priorities, institutional mandates, and competing trade-offs must be carefully balanced.
Day 3 – Environmental Dimension: Energy, Resources, and Circular Economy
Day three connects ESG to physical systems, i.e., energy, infrastructure, and material flows. Participants explore the energy trilemma of security, affordability, and sustainability, alongside the risks of infrastructure lock-in and delayed transition.
The circular economy is introduced as a strategic response to resource dependency and environmental pressure, moving beyond waste management into system redesign. Public institutions are positioned as key actors in enabling circularity through policy, investment, and infrastructure planning, with a clear focus on resilience and decarbonisation.
Day 4 – Social and Governance Dimensions: From Risk to Legitimacy
The fourth day shifts focus to the social and governance dimensions of ESG, emphasising the importance of trust, accountability, and institutional legitimacy.
Participants examine the concept of a just transition, including its implications for employment, inequality, and regional stability. The session also addresses public perception, resistance to change, and the risks associated with ESG failure. Governance is explored not only as a compliance function, but as a foundation for effective decision-making and stakeholder alignment. A practical stakeholder management simulation allows participants to apply these concepts in a dynamic setting.
Day 5 – ESG Implementation: Regulation, Reporting, and Impact
The final day focuses on translating strategy into action. Participants explore regulatory tools such as standards, taxation, incentives, and public procurement as powerful levers for ESG implementation.
The session challenges the common pitfall of “reporting without impact” by distinguishing between KPIs and real outcomes. Participants learn how to define priority areas, select appropriate policy tools, and design measurement approaches that reflect actual change. The programme concludes with final presentations, where participants apply the full framework to develop and communicate their own ESG implementation strategies.
Translating strategy into action, participants will develop ESG roadmaps, explore policy instruments, and design KPIs to measure real-world impact in their Public Institutions.
Learning Outcomes
Participants will leave this ESG for Public Sector Leaders training programme after gaining insightful leadership strategies unique to the Public Sector. More importantly, they will gain the ability to analyse their own systems and identify meaningful intervention points. These learning outcomes are assured in a highly-interactive classroom setting with similarly challenged Public Sector leaders learning together in historic capital city of Zagreb, Croatia nicknamed the “Little Vienna” due to its Austro-Hungarian architecture and cultural history.
Set in Zagreb during the festive December season, the programme offers more than a learning experience – it provides an atmosphere. The city’s historic charm, illuminated streets, and renowned Christmas markets create an exceptional backdrop for reflection, exchange, and inspiration. Easily accessible from across Europe and beyond, Zagreb also offers an inviting setting for accompanying partners or family members. Optional evening tours will be arranged, allowing participants and their guests to experience the city’s unique blend of culture, warmth, and seasonal spirit.
Allow Croatia’s capital to draw you into its distinctive Christmas atmosphere – where professional development meets a memorable winter experience.
In conclusion, I personally invite you to join other Public Sector participants. I assure you that you will learn that the knowledge and strategies presented in this ESG for Public Sector Leaders programme are not only strategic and operationally grounded but will equip participants with the strategies to accomplish systemic change From Policy Initiatives to Successful Implementation.
Are you ready to join us? Then, register today!