Leadership In Practice

Developing the capability required to progress sustainable finance in practice

An evolution of ASFI’s Leadership Working Groups, this program focuses on the capabilities required to lead and implement change within organisations.

Capability in practice

Leadership and capability on sustainability are widely recognised as critical enablers for the transformation to a more sustainable, resilient and inclusive financial system.

Action at multiple levels is required to build the momentum and capability required for system-wide change, however in practice, this work often sits within small teams navigating complexity, competing priorities, and the need to build alignment across organisations.

Progress depends not only on technical expertise, but on how effectively change is led and implemented within organisations.

For enquiries or to request a programme prospectus, please contact: info@asfi.org.au

  • We expected the ASFI leadership programme to provide a valuable opportunity to learn from industry peers and reflect on the key issues shaping sustainable finance. It delivered on that expectation through well-structured, thoughtfully designed content and discussion

    — Senior Associate, Clean Energy Investor​

  • Working through real barriers with peers across the system assured me that we are often dealing with similar issues and offered different perspectives on where leadership can unlock progress

    — Head of Sustainable Finance, Institutional Asset Manager

  • Exploring real barriers to progress with peers from across the system provided practical perspectives on common challenges, including governance, board engagement, internal alignment, stakeholder buy-in and embedding sustainable finance across the organisation

    — Director of Sustainability, Clean Energy Investor ​

  • The practical tools shared by ASFI and the honest discussions that ensued were supportive in my day‑to‑day role, reinforcing for me that sustainable finance is as much about leadership and influence as it is about technical expertise

    — Head of Sustainable Finance, Institutional Asset Manager

Program Overview

ASFI has hosted successful Leadership Working Group programmes in 2023, 2024 and 2025, offering ASFI members the opportunity to share lessons and approaches to common challenges and opportunities in progressing sustainability work and outcomes. Building on that foundation, Leadership in Practice has been developed for both ASFI member and non-member organisations to strengthen the leadership capability needed to progress sustainable finance in practice.

Designed for a senior leader and a junior or emerging colleague from the same organisation, the program combines cohort learning and tailored coaching support to help participants navigate complexity, build alignment, and apply learning to a real organisational issue.

Leadership in Practice has been developed to support practitioners working to progress sustainable finance within their organisations.

The programme will bring together two participants from the same organisation, at different career stages, recognising that effective change requires alignment across levels. It combines cohort-based learning with tailored consultation support, enabling participants to apply this work to a current sustainable finance issue within their organisation.

Cohort Sessions

The programme includes four half-day cohort sessions focused on the leadership capabilities needed to progress sustainable finance in practice: ‍

  • Leading change within organisations

  • Planning transition and navigating its tensions

  • Understanding influence and decision-making dynamics

  • Recognising cultural and capability constraints

  • Identifying structural barriers and opportunities

Coaching Sessions

Alongside the cohort sessions, participants will receive tailored coaching support from ASFI CEO Kristy Graham to help them work through:

  • A live sustainable finance issue, challenge or opportunity from within their organisation

  • Testing thinking, refining approach and working through barriers in context

  • Practical and credible next steps for progressing the issue internally

REACH OUT TO LEARN MORE
REACH OUT TO LEARN MORE

Program Details

The next Leadership in Practice program will commence in July 2026.

  • Cohort commencement: July 2026

    Session cadence: Quarterly sessions held across July, October, February and May

  • Sessions: Four in-person half-day cohort sessions, supported by one-hour coaching sessions, designed to support application to a live organisational issue.

    Participants: Two participants from the same organisation, at different career stages.

  • Eligibility: Open to ASFI member and non-member organisations

    Location: Determined based on cohort location