Certificate in Corporate
Sustainability Management
Ready to lead the change? Enroll in our Certificate in Corporate Sustainability Management and gain practical skills to help you transform your career and your organisation.
Start date: 10 February 2025
Why Choose This Course?
The Certificate in Corporate Sustainability Management meticulously designed to equip professionals with the knowledge and skills required to lead in the rapidly evolving field of sustainability and ESG principles. The programme comprises eight online modules, blending self-paced learning with live Zoom sessions, to address the growing demand in the Adria region for ESG and sustainability expertise across industries. It equips professionals with the knowledge and actionable insights needed to implement and sustain impactful initiatives within their organisations, ensuring the practical application of ESG principles beyond the foundational course.
The course fosters a deep understanding of sustainability strategies, ethical governance, and impactful ESG practices, making it accessible and relevant to mid-career professionals, entrepreneurs, and CSR leaders.
By completing this Programme, participants will be able to:
- Understand the foundational principles and historical evolution of sustainability and ESG.
- Analyse the environmental, social, and governance challenges facing modern businesses.
- Develop strategies to implement ESG principles into governance frameworks, operations, and corporate communication.
- Evaluate regulatory requirements at global, regional, and local levels to ensure ESG compliance.
- Apply key reporting and benchmarking frameworks to manage ESG data and meet investor requirements.
- Communicate ESG initiatives authentically, avoiding pitfalls like greenwashing and fostering stakeholder trust.
- Integrate sustainability practices into organisational processes, procedures, and value chains to drive impactful change.
Who will Benefit from this Programme?
This programme is intentionally designed to be non-industry-specific, providing a comprehensive introduction to sustainability and ESG principles that can be applied across sectors. Whether you are looking to build foundational knowledge or enhance the practical application of sustainability practices, this course offers value to a diverse range of professionals, including:
- Mid-Career Professionals: Those seeking to enhance their understanding of ESG principles to integrate sustainability into their roles.
- Sustainability and CSR Professionals: Specialists aiming to enhance their expertise, build valuable networks, and develop innovative strategies for driving impactful sustainability initiatives.
- Entrepreneurs and Start-Up Founders: Visionaries looking to build sustainable businesses and embed ESG values from the ground up.
- Communication and HR Professionals: Key individuals responsible for conveying sustainability initiatives internally and externally, fostering employee engagement, and aligning recruitment and retention strategies with ESG values.
This program is perfect for professionals eager to master ESG fundamentals and apply sustainability practices in real-world business settings. Whether you’re looking to elevate your career, drive change in your organisation, or just stay ahead in a fast-evolving field—this course is for you!
Key Features
Online and Self-Paced
Learn at your own pace with:
- Engaging presentations
- Video tutorials
- Weekly live Zoom sessions for interactive learning and real-time engagement
- Experienced mentors providing guidance, feedback and support throughout the programme
Certificate of Completion
Demonstrate your commitment to professional development in sustainability by earning a Certificate of Completion at the end of the programme.
Sustineri Partners is a MEMBER of the CPD Certification Service.
Expert-Led Content and Networking Opportunities
Gain valuable insights and real-world perspectives from international and regional subject-matter experts and industry leaders.
Meet your peers and colleagues from the whole Adria region. Share and gain knowledge, experience, visions and ideas.
Practical Application of Knowledge
Engage with real-world examples and case studies, fostering a practical and meaningful grasp of the concepts that you can confidently apply in your professional work.
Understand specifics of our region and best ways to apply international standards and best practices.
Course Overview
Module 1: Introduction to Sustainability and ESG
Introduction to Sustainability and ESG provides participants with a comprehensive overview of the foundational concepts of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors within the broader context of sustainability. This module delves into the historical evolution of ESG, key sustainability principles and the critical role ESG plays in shaping modern business strategies. Participants will gain the knowledge needed to understand the relevance of ESG in driving long-term value and responsible growth.
Module 2: Environmental Stewardship
The Environmental Stewardship module delves into the principles and practices businesses can adopt to showcase environmental responsibility and contribute to sustainable development. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of critical environmental challenges, including climate governance, resource scarcity, carbon management and biodiversity preservation. The module emphasises the transformative role of green innovation and technologies in minimising environmental impact and promoting sustainable growth. By the end of the module, participants will be equipped to integrate environmental factors into their business strategies, fostering resilience, enhancing operational efficiency, and creating long-term value.
Module 3: The Social Impacts of Business
The Social Impacts of Business module equips participants with the knowledge and tools to address the social dimensions of sustainability, essential for fostering inclusivity and building a resilient business model. Key topics include safeguarding human and labour rights, promoting diversity, inclusion and equality, assessing community impact, and understanding the concept of social licence to operate. Participants will also explore effective stakeholder engagement strategies to build trust and ensure long-term business success.
By the end of this module, participants will have a clear understanding of how addressing social impacts enhances business resilience, strengthens stakeholder relationships and contributes to business growth.
Module 4: Governance and Ethics
The Governance and Ethics module equips participants with the principles and practices of good governance and ethical conduct in business, essential for building trust and accountability. Key topics include integrating ESG into governance structures, understanding the roles and responsibilities of boards, upholding shareholder rights, and implementing transparent practices to mitigate risks. Participants will also explore ethical considerations related to bribery and corruption, as well as strategies for enhancing corporate security.
By the end of this module, participants will have a clear understanding of how robust governance frameworks and ethical practices drive sustainable business success and foster stakeholder trust.
Module 5: ESG Regulations
The ESG Regulations module provides participants with a comprehensive understanding of ESG regulations at global, regional and domestic levels. Participants will explore the regulatory landscapes of various jurisdictions and gain insight into the key regulatory bodies shaping ESG standards.
Focusing on corporate strategy and compliance in a rapidly evolving regulatory environment, this module equips learners with knowledge of the different types of ESG regulations, their enforceability, and the complexities companies face in achieving compliance.
By the end of the module, participants will be familiar with key ESG regulations and will be able to identify and navigate various corporate ESG obligations effectively.
Module 6: Measurement, Reporting and Benchmarking
The Measurement, Reporting, and Benchmarking module provides participants with a comprehensive understanding of the essential frameworks, practices and standards that underpin effective sustainability and ESG measurement, reporting and benchmarking.
This module focuses on ESG data management, emerging trends and evolving investor requirements, equipping learners to navigate the complexities of ESG reporting, align with global taxonomies and meet the demands of sustainable investing.
By the end of the module, participants will have a solid grasp of key reporting frameworks, foundational principles of ESG data management and transparency requirements critical to sustainable investment and corporate accountability.
Module 7: Importance of Authentic ESG Communication
The Importance of Authentic ESG Communication module equips participants with the knowledge and tools to communicate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) efforts transparently and authentically. Participants will learn to identify and avoid common pitfalls such as greenwashing and greenhushing while exploring best practices for integrating ESG communication into corporate strategy.
By the end of the module, participants will understand how to effectively convey their organisation’s ESG initiatives, fostering trust, credibility and alignment with stakeholder expectations.
Module 8: Implementation in Business Practice
The Implementation in Business Practice module focuses on translating sustainability principles into actionable business practices. Participants will learn how to develop effective strategies and implementation plans, integrate sustainability into core business processes and procedures, and drive organisational change through effective change management techniques. The module also emphasises the importance of extending sustainability efforts across the value chain to create a comprehensive and impactful approach. By the end of the module, participants will have the tools to implement sustainability initiatives that align with organisational goals and generate long-term value.
Implementing Partners

Knowledge Partners





Certificate in Corporate
Sustainability Management
- Access to all modules
- Downloadable resources
- Certificate of Completion
(VAT included):
1500 €
Meet Our Key Contributors
Vedran Peršić

Biljana Braithwaite is the CEO and Founding Partner at Sustineri Partners, an ESG consultancy company that provides strategic advice to businesses and organisations on incorporating sustainability standards into their decisions, practices, and partnerships. Sustineri Partners is the founder and organizer of the ESG Adria Summit (formerly called Western Balkans ESG Summit), an annual regional event dedicated to sustainable development and dialogue on the greater responsibility of the business sector in relation to environmental, social, and governance standards (ESG) in practice. ESG Adria Summit, as one of Sustineri Partner’s key projects, aims to drive sustainable development in the Western Balkans and Adria region.
Through her initiatives and work at Sustineri Partners, Ms. Braithwaite promotes gender diversity in corporate leadership and empowers countries, institutions, companies, and organisations to prioritise sustainability in their operations.
Ms. Braithwaite is Chair of Women on Boards Adria (WOBA), a regional umbrella association dedicated to promoting gender equality in the Adria region. WOBA operates as a non-profit organisation and is inspired by the EU Directive that requires listed companies in the EU to have 40 percent of non-director positions filled by women by 2026. The WOBA initiative is a joint effort of Sustineri Partners and other partners, who believe that gender diversity on boards leads to better decision-making and improved business performance.
Biljana Braithwaite is also the Western Balkans Programme Director at The AIRE Centre. She has over twenty years of experience advising governments, businesses and international organizations on social justice and human rights issues in the region. Her expertise includes human rights law, anti-corruption, good governance, and other key social policies. Biljana possesses deep knowledge of the region, extensive networks, and practical experience in implementing reforms. A lawyer by training with degrees from Belgrade University and Lund University’s Raoul Wallenberg Institute, Biljana began her career at the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights and has been associated with the AIRE Centre since 1998. She serves as a board member for the AIRE Centre USA and the International Bridges to Justice.

Aleksandra (Sasha) Njagulj
Founding Partner at Sustineri Partners
Aleksandra (Sasha) Njagulj is an ESG and sustainable investment expert with over two decades of experience in the sustainable built environment. Sasha is the Managing Director, Global Head of Sustainability, Real Estate at DWS Group, where she moved having spearheaded CBRE Investment Management’s Sustainability Vision and strategic ESG integration in investment management in her position as the Global Head of ESG for the firm. She is a Founding Partner at Sustineri Partners.
She is a qualified architect with a Master’s degree in Architectural Design from the University of Belgrade and a Master’s degree in Sustainability Leadership from the University of Cambridge.
Sasha is well-recognised for her commitment to sustainability, serving as a chair for several industry committees, and has received several awards, including the 2020 GRESB/BREEAM Individual Leadership Award and the global Future Proof Real Estate Woman Award.

Andrea Shemberg
Chair & Senior Advisor at GBI
Andrea Shemberg is a common law and international human rights lawyer with more than 20 years of experience in business and human rights. From 2007 to 2011, Andrea served as Legal Advisor to the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Business and Human Rights, John Ruggie (SRSG). She led the SRSG’s work on international investment related to international investment treaties and contracts. She was part of the SRSG’s team that developed the UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights.
Andrea began her career as a management-side employment and labour law lawyer with a commercial law firm in the United States before completing her MSc in Human Rights at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Andrea also served as Legal Advisor to the Economic Relations team at Amnesty International UK and established the first Economic Relations team at the International Commission of Jurists in Geneva. She founded and led the Investment & Human Rights Project at the London School of Economics from 2013-16.
Andrea currently serves as Chair of the Global Business Initiative on Human Rights, a business-led membership organisation of 23 multinational companies working to implement international responsible business standards. She also teaches business and human rights at law and business schools and consults privately, carrying out research and policy work for companies, civil society organisations and international institutions.

Rikard Scoufias
Rikard Scoufias has over 25 years of international Board and c-Suite experience leading ventures with complex ESG in regulated and emerging markets in Europe, Asia, the Americas and Africa.
He is the Chairman of Greece’s National Hydrocarbons & Energy Resources Corp. Also, he supports organisations in infrastructure, mining, finance, and the non-profit sectors as an Advisory Board member and Senior Advisor. Previously, as a member of the Group Executive Committee and Country CEO of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline, he led a €2.4BN infrastructure investment to build a new European energy supply corridor from the Caspian. Before that, he was Head of Government & Corporate Affairs at BP Plc, and also served as a Executive Director at a global ESG, a board member at Chatham House, and was one of the founding members of the European Union’s climate change panel.
He is a pragmatic and mission-driven strategist. His thought leadership contributions on the net zero energy transition, ESG, and how investors can protect shareholder value by new and innovative ways to strengthen “social and political licence” have been featured in prestigious international forums, including COP28 in Dubai, COP29 in Baku, WEF Davos, the Economist and the Financial Times.

Robert Spano is a distinguished lawyer and legal scholar. He is a partner in the international law firm of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher practicing out of the firm’s London and Paris offices. He is the Global Co-Chair of the firm’s Artificial Intelligence practice group, as well as practicing in the field of EU litigation and regulatory compliance in the tech and digital rights sectors. He moreover acts as counsel and arbitrator in investor-state arbitration matters and is an expert in public international law, ESG and in the field of business and human rights. With his former role as President of the European Court of Human Rights, Robert brings valuable insights and extensive experience in cross-border and multinational disputes.
He has been involved in numerous ground-breaking cases relating to digital rights, national security, and freedom of expression. Alongside his legal practice, Robert is a Visiting Professor of Law at the University of Oxford and a Professor of Law at the University of Iceland. He is a highly respected figure, recognised as an Honorary Bencher of the Middle Temple and a member of various influential advisory boards, including being recently elected to the Board of the Register of Damage for Ukraine.

Vedran Peršić
Vedran Peršić is an expert in public relations, marketing, and public affairs, with over two decades of experience. After graduating from the BBC School of Broadcast Journalism, he reported on political, economic and social issues from Bosnia and Herzegovina and the world for five years. Vedran’s career includes roles with ASA Prevent Group, the International Commission on Missing Persons, the Office of the High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the UN mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He founded a consultancy specializing in strategic communication and reputation management and previously helped launch Bloomberg Adria across five countries. As Director of Marketing and Communications at Sberbank BH, he coordinated ESG-related activities. A recognized trainer in public speaking and crisis communication, he lectures at business schools and has received awards for his contributions to PR in South-Eastern Europe.

Nevena is a lawyer with fifteen years of experience in policy development, project management, research and strategic litigation.
With a background in human rights, she has worked on the engagement of diverse stakeholders in the uptake of responsible business standards with the leading role in establishing a business and human rights footprint in Serbia. As a consultant, she worked on numerous projects collaborating with international organisations, including UNDP, GIZ, Council of Europe, EU Delegation, USAID. Nevena focuses on introducing and implementing EU standards in the Western Balkans, particularly human rights, due diligence, risk assessments, and reporting.
She holds a Master’s degree in European Law from the University of Belgrade and International Business Law from Queen’s University in Belfast.

Vedad Suljić
Vedad Suljić is a consultant specialising in ESG, sustainable finance and sustainable energy. With over 15 years of experience across the Western Balkans, Vedad has led high-impact projects on energy efficiency, environmental protection and circular economy models. As Managing Director of CETEOR, he advises governments, financial institutions, corporations and international organisations, including the World Bank, UNDP, GIZ, OECD, EU Commission and EBRD.
He holds a Master of Environmental Economics from the Faculty of Economics Ljubljana and the School of Economics and Business Sarajevo, as well as a Technical Science Specialist diploma from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Sarajevo. He has developed feasibility studies, sustainable finance frameworks and ESG strategies, emphasising compliance with EU regulations such as Taxonomy and CSRD. Recognised for his practical approach, Vedad has trained corporate and public sector professionals in integrating ESG principles and reporting standards.
Fluent in English and German, Vedad frequently speaks at regional and international conferences, sharing insights into financing green transitions and decarbonisation strategies. His recent work includes advancing energy communities, market development of ESG bonds and assessing sustainable finance readiness in the Western Balkans.

Hazel has over 20 years of experience in global supply chains and currently leads FMCG and retail work at twentyfifty, advising clients such as Carlsberg, Mondelez, Unilever, and Hershey. An expert in human rights and sustainable business, Hazel specialises in areas like embedding human rights into corporate governance, strategy, living wage, income, and gender. She co-founded the Indirect Spend Alliance, focusing on human rights issues in sectors like road freight and distribution and serves on the Advisory Board of the UK UN Global Compact.
Before joining twentyfifty, Hazel was Head of Foods Sustainability at Marks & Spencer, overseeing responsible sourcing, human rights, and sustainability programs. She led the development of the award-winning Supply Chain Sustainability Framework, working with over 600 suppliers to implement human rights, environmental, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Earlier in her career, Hazel worked at Sedex, helping grow the organisation from a start-up into a major entity. Her first role after university was as a buyer for Sainsbury’s, where she gained valuable commercial experience that has been essential in embedding human rights into business decision-making.
Hazel holds a Bachelor of Commerce with French from the University of Birmingham and a diploma in Development Studies from Birkbeck College. She is also a Head Tutor for the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership’s course on sustainable supply chains.

Nancy Mancilla is the founder of North America’s leading provider of sustainability/ESG disclosure services, ISOS Group, which is now a division of Environ Energy. As a CDP, GRI and SASB licensed partner, ISOS Group has contributed to the rise of the sustainability profession by training and advising experts since 2008. Hundreds of sustainability/ESG reports have been published or verified by the firm – resulting in increased scores among various ratings and rankings groups, such as Bloomberg, ISS, MSCI and Sustainalytics.
Her work earned her a position in the 2016 Leadership California cohort, the 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Southern California Sustainable Business Council, and finalist status in the 2014 San Diego Business Journal’s Women Who Mean Business Award. She has represented the United States in several State Department-funded fellowships, including the Eisenhower Fellows Program in China. She has also taught master’s courses at Arizona State University’s School of Sustainability, the New School in New York, and Alliant International University. Other advisory positions have included 3bl Media’s Ratings & Rankings Committee Chair, the Kim Center for Social Balance, and Alumni Board positions at the Clinton School of Public Service and Cultural Vistas.

Dr Radman Šelmić is Advisor to the President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia for green and circular economy and digital transformation. He is mostly focused on designing and implementing projects aimed at improving ecosystems in the domain of green transformation, circular economy and cooperation with international institutions and Universities. Radman holds a PhD in political economy from Goldsmiths, University of London, and a significant part of his academic work was focused on green topics, in particular green finance.
Prior to his position in the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, he was working as a Research Fellow at the Centre for Responsible Business, at the Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham. At that time he was in charge of the Responsible Finance section of the Centre and his interests were mostly focused the asymmetric effects of financial crises, in particular how they affect underprivileged communities in the Global North, “peripheral” countries in the economic and monetary unions, and whole regions in the Global South. Radman has been exploring sustainable finance by focusing on the role of financial systems and instruments in green transformation, analysing possibilities of alternative policies for addressing poverty and inequality, and the relevance of state investment banks.

Tanja Šebez is an expert in investment management and ESG integration, with a strong background in finance and sustainability. She has successfully managed over 40 securities issuances for companies and municipalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including the country’s first ESG bond issuance by a financial institution. As a Sustainability Specialist she advises companies on corporate governance, ESG implementation, and financial strategies. She provides training and consultancy services to organizations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, facilitating their transition to ESG-aligned operations. Tanja has completed extensive training in ESG, Environmental and Social Management Systems (ESMS), women’s leadership, diversity, equity, and inclusion, corporate governance, sustainable financing, anti-corruption practices, and inclusive leadership. Her comprehensive expertise enables her to support organizations in aligning financial strategies with sustainability goals.

Based in Toronto, Ruthann is a global lead for Morningstar Sustainalytics Stewardship Services and acts as a trusted partner to our investor client base. In her role, Ruthann supports investors to meaningfully integrate stewardship into their ESG strategy, as well as to navigate the evolving ESG industry and trends. Ruthann is a tenured professional with a 25+ year career in investment management and financial services. With more than half her tenure in Responsible Investing and ESG strategies, Ruthann has been an active participant in the evolution of ESG since 2010. Ruthann has been collaborating with Sustainalytics for more than 15 years, first as a client and then as a colleague joining the Stewardship Services team.

Ernest Vlačić, Ph.D., MBA, is a university and college professor. After 15 years of corporate management and leadership experience, mostly with DANIELI S.p.A., he founded the Consulting Contract Research, Technological Development and Innovation (RTDI) organization NOVAMINA CIT, which deals with innovation and industrial policy consulting, conceptualization, development, and commercialization of technology-based products and services. Dr. Vlačić also acts as the president of the Thematic Innovation Council in Energy and Sustainable Environment. He is a member of the umbrella National Croatian Innovation Council in the Republic of Croatia. He began his career as a development engineer and corporate manager in DANIELI S.p.A. In 1997 he founded his first start-up SYSTEC DANIELI. In 2003 he started to work as a World Bank expert at the Naval Institute of Croatia as the institutional Change Manager on the national Science and Technology project.
As a co-founder in 2008, he has launched the R&D organization NOVAMINA Center for Innovative Technologies which cooperates with more than 300 EU partners, academic and non-academic organizations aiming to consult, design and develop close-to-market technological innovation projects, industrial policies and innovation ecosystems. The organization has so far successfully participated in 35 R&D projects in highly competitive funding programs, such as EU FP7, Horizon and similar.
In his research/scientific work, Dr. Vlačić focuses on the areas of innovation, innovation policies, and strategic management, and recently ESG principles. He continuously mentors and guides student projects on social and technological innovation based on the triple-helix principle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is this course for?
This programme is designed to be non-industry-specific, providing a comprehensive introduction to ESG principles that can be applied across sectors. Whether you are looking to build foundational knowledge or enhance the practical application of sustainability practices, this course offers value to a diverse range of professionals, including:
- Mid-Career Professionals: Those seeking to enhance their understanding of ESG principles to integrate sustainability into their roles.
- Sustainability and CSR Professionals: Specialists aiming to enhance their expertise, build valuable networks and develop innovative strategies for driving impactful sustainability initiatives.
- Entrepreneurs and Start-Up Founders: Visionaries looking to build sustainable businesses and embed ESG values from the ground up.
- Communication and HR Professionals: Key individuals responsible for conveying sustainability initiatives internally and externally, fostering employee engagement and aligning recruitment and retention strategies with ESG values.
This Programme is ideal for anyone looking to build foundational ESG knowledge or enhance their practical application of sustainability practices across various industries.
How long will I have access to the content?
Once the programme starts, modules will unlock on a weekly basis, with a new module becoming available every Monday at 6:00 CET. You will retain access to all previously unlocked materials as you progress through the course.
After completing the programme, you will have three months of access to all course materials, allowing you to revisit the content at your own pace and reinforce your learning.
Please note that to receive your certificate, you must submit all assignments within three weeks of the Programme’s end.
Do I need prior knowledge of sustainability?
No, prior knowledge of sustainability is not required. This programme is designed as an introduction to ESG principles, making it accessible to participants from diverse professional backgrounds and industries. Whether you are new to sustainability or looking to deepen your understanding, the course provides all the foundational knowledge and practical tools you need to engage in ESG discussions and initiatives confidently.
How do I get my certificate?
To receive your certificate, you must:
- Complete all modules: Progress through each module and meet participation requirements.
- Submit all assignments: Submit your assignments within the required timeframe. Assignments are evaluated by both moderators and peers using a “Completed” or “Not Completed” grading system—no numerical grades are assigned.
Once all assignments are marked as “Completed,” certificates will be issued to participants. Please note that all assignments must be submitted within three weeks of the Programme’s end to qualify for certification.