The 2024 Future Leaders Cohort and their sustainability journey so far

The cohort are currently half way through the programme, working together to understand how they can embrace sustainability leadership to drive change.

Now in its eleventh year, our Future Leaders programme continues to go from strength to strength. The five month course equips tomorrow’s leaders with the skills, network and inspiration to drive transformative change within the built environment. This year’s cohort have already got off to a raring start, spending three days in January exploring sustainable ideas and personal leadership around the city of Bristol. The group engaged with local speakers and projects such as WeCanMake and Sparks Bristol, discovering what’s possible as we create a sustainable built environment together.

One Future Leader, Mike Kovacs, Senior Sustainability Consultant, Arup, has already reflected:

The programme has kicked off with methods and personal challenges that are substantially different from my day-to-day experience, or past innovation and personal development programmes I’ve been on; and there have been pioneering speakers and exemplary project site visits that are inspiring and refreshing to glean insights from. I think it’s been a great environment in which to build up future leaders who think and respond very differently to the built environment challenges we face.

The programme is continued by this week’s residential retreat. This crucial part of the programme takes the cohort out of their day to day setting, allowing them to connect with nature and their leadership journey in a new environment. The programme will then culimate in May with a finale showcase to celebrate the journey each of the Future Leaders has embarked on.

Alongside these in-person experiences, there are a number of online check-ins featuring inspirational speakers and moments for collaboration as well as opportunities for 1:1 personal leadership coaching. Overall, they are encouraged to develop their leadership skills in the context of the climate crisis. Using skills such as business development and storytelling to drive forward the changes we need to radically transform our built environment.

Following the programme’s culmination in May, the journey for the cohort continues as they join the Future Leadership Forum network with almost 300 alumni members. This sets them up with all the tools they need to create the connections and network they need to grapple with the key issues facing our sector and to develop the solutions needed to tackle them.

Our 2024 Future Leaders:

Ainsley DiproseVerte Ltd
Alistair StewartHeidelberg Materials UK
Anita O’HareMace
Cameron McGeochMultiplex
Emily CaoColliers
Emily-Rose GarnettUKGBC 
Emma HoustonTroup Bywaters + Anders
Helen FosterBRE
Iona Deacon JLL
Josephine BenthallFiera Real Estate
Leah McCabeverco 
Lottie MacnairUseful Simple Trust
Matt Bonneygcp Chartered Architects
Matteo MercuriTroup Bywaters + Anders
Melpomeni RaptiLLOYDS BANK COMMERCIAL BANKING
Mike KovacsArup
Natalie DuttonDavid Morley Architects
Nathan CooperThe Crown Estate
Nicola ElliotAtkinsRéalis
Petro MichaelasVerte Ltd
Phil TowleThe Furniture Practice
Roseanna HartCast group
Tom WiggUKGBC

You can learn more about our leadership programmes here, particularly our Recalibrate programme for C-Suite individuals wanting to go on a transformative sustainability journey which is currently accepting last applicants for 2024.

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