Message from Gillian Martin Mehers – Director, Learning, LEAD International:

The birth of LEAD

LEAD was established by the Rockefeller Foundation in 1992 to encourage a new generation of global sustainability leaders with the knowledge, skills, and commitment to accelerate change. More than 2400 outstanding leaders have now undergone our intensive Fellowship training programme and become part of our global network, working individually and collectively to ensure that the sustainability agenda influences critical decision-making across all sectors.

20 years on

As we approach our 20th anniversary, LEAD's mission to inspire leadership and change for a sustainable world has never been more relevant. The world has changed profoundly in the last 20 years however and as sustainable development, climate change and ecosystem management have become key items on the political agenda, LEAD's marketplace has become more crowded.

In addition, technological advancement has resulted in radical shifts in approaches to communication and knowledge sharing, and a demand for learning programmes that embrace the digital age.

The challenge

Inspired by the rapidly changing sustainability landscape, LEAD has challenged itself to harness new developments in learning and leadership and transform the way it operates. This transformation process - known as LEAD 2.0 - will allow us to continue our mission to inspire leadership and change and also significantly increase the reach of our Fellowship programme.

LEAD 2.0

The LEAD 2.0 transformation process presents us with an exciting opportunity to reassert LEAD as a global innovator and provider of leadership development and learning programmes. The new model will build on our wealth of experience and will focus on a blend of virtual learning and face-to-face interactions. LEAD 2.0 will also employ a new technology platform that will further expand and enrich the global LEAD Network, supporting relationship building, knowledge exchange and dialogue between Fellows.

The transformation process

The planning process for LEAD 2.0 began in June 2011 and we aim to launch our new model at Rio+20 in June 2012. The design and development of LEAD 2.0 will be achieved through a system of work streams which cover all areas of the transition process. The work streams will be managed by LEAD staff and will involve representatives from the Fellows and external experts in an advisory capacity. The next update will contain more information about the work stream topics and the way that they will operate.

For more information about the LEAD 2.0 process, please contact Katie Singer ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. )