A Lancaster academic brought her expertise to the heart of Italy as part of an inaugural executive education programme hosted by the Vatican.

Dr Alison Stowell, Senior Lecturer in Lancaster University Management School, was part of Moral Leadership in a Volatile World, held at the Laudato Si' Centre for Higher Education in Castel Gandolfo – summer residence of Popes since the 17^th century.

The programme is designed for alumni of World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)'s education initiatives, with a focus on the challenges of sustainability and moral leadership.

“The experience was far more than just academic exploration,” said Dr Stowell, who provided expertise and insight from both the International Masters Program for Managers (IMPM), which Lancaster has co-delivered for 30 years, and from her training as a FTHub Forest Therapy Practitioner. “This was a programme that brought together leaders focused on navigating complexity with clarity and responsibility through conscience, courage, compassion and the common good.

“It was a unique environment for participants to slow down, gain perspective, and engage in meaningful conversations that transcend the traditional classroom setting, and connect with nature in the gardens of Borgo Laudato Sì (pictured below) and with each other as well as with business concepts.”

Lancaster University has collaborated with the WBCSD education team for 10 years. This has involved sharing the Reflection Practice developed by Professor Mike Reynolds, Professor Lucas Introna and Dr Martin Brigham as part of the IMPM, which has run for 30 years.

WBCSD has incorporated this practice into their Introduction to Sustainability in Business online course, accessible to almost two million members and employees.

Through the partnership, Dr Stowell holds an adjunct position with the WBCSD education team. She has shared her research on waste, and for the past two years WBCSD has hosted their leadership programme at Lancaster University’s international partner Sunway University, in Malaysia.

Dr Stowell added: “It is a privilege to represent LUMS and work with WBCSD and FTHub, all are committed to responsibility and driving the connection with people, nature and something greater than ourselves.

“The combination of reflection and immersive experience created a powerful impact for the participants in Italy, reminding participants that leadership today requires not only clarity of thought, but also clarity of heart.”

Dr Stowell and Alex Gesse, Executive Director of FTHub, contributed nature-based perspectives to the curriculum, that were grounded in science. Both Dr Stowell and Professor Rodney Irwin, Chief Education Officer at WBCSD, studied under Alex and are FTHub Forest Therapy Practitioners.

Alex said: “Bringing nature-based practice into executive leadership settings has meaningful effects. The collaboration with WBCSD demonstrates how forest therapy can create ties between ecological awareness and organisational practice, and it has been rewarding to support both Alison and Rodney as practitioners in this work.”

Among the distinguished faculty present at the event was Sister Alessandra Smerilli, Secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development – an economist and religious sister whose work has become a reference point for the Vatican's social and ecological vision. She was joined by Carlo Giardinetti, Lois Guthrie, James Gomme and Gabriele Uriarte Taberna.

The programme incorporated modules including Integral Ecology, Nature Connection, Values & Inner Compass, Wisdom and Overcoming Immunity to Change, with the historic gardens of Castel Gandolfo serving as an active component.

Professor Irwin said: “The practice Lancaster has shared with us has become integral to how we approach leadership development, and working with colleagues like Alison brings invaluable depth to our programmes.”