100 bright young things

Forum’s scholars plant seeds of sustainability “The world needs sustainability literate leaders, people who understand the need for change to a more sustainable society and know what it takes to get there.” That, in the words of Forum for the Future’s Sara Parkin, is the thinking behind its Leadership for Sustainable Development Masters Programme, which has just celebrated its 100th graduate. The idea is that bright young things, recruited for their passion and leadership potential, can then plant the seed of sustainable thinking out in the wider world. This year’s batch, fresh from a graduation ceremony involving a lively question and answer session with BP’s chief executive, Lord Browne, are set to take up places within central and local government, industry and NGOs. Erica Jobson, the 100th scholar of the programme, will be working as a consultant with communications agency Futerra to help civil service employees integrate sustainable development into their policy-making. Other graduates’ destinations include Defra’s Rural Development Service and carpet manufacturer Interface’s reuse and recycling programme. Sam Clements is taking a different tack. After meeting a nun whose passionate campaigning for Brazil’s rainforests came to an end at the hands of paid gunmen, Clements has been inspired to do his bit to protect this natural wonder. He’s currently working with educational charity Learning through Landscapes, and is collaborating with teachers to create school resource packs based on her story (www.studentnunamazon.com), that could be used to teach issues from faith through to climate change. His ultimate aim to is to adapt the model for corporates, where he believes adults could learn a thing or two as well. - Hannah Bullock Forum for the Future, Leadership for Sustainable Development Masters Programme, 020 7324 3675

20 September 2005

Hannah Bullock