Net Positive Leadership Academy

Developing a new generation of leaders equipped to tackle the interconnected challenges of climate and health.

The Net+ Leadership Academy brings together emerging leaders from across academia, the public sector, NGOs and charities, business and the creative industries to learn, connect and collaborate at the intersection of climate and health.

Complex challenges need leadership that can work across disciplines, sectors and traditional boundaries. The Academy creates the time and space for a diverse group of people to explore different perspectives, build lasting relationships and develop the skills and connections needed to help drive change.

A three-year learning community

The Leadership Academy is a three-year programme running from 2026–2028, built around a continuing cohort of 25 Fellows.

Each year, Fellows come together for a three-day residential retreat combining expert insight, leadership development, mentoring, knowledge exchange and participant-led learning.

But the Academy is more than a series of retreats. By bringing the same cohort together over three years, it is designed to create a lasting interdisciplinary and cross-sector community — enabling Fellows to learn from one another, develop collaborations and explore new responses to shared climate and health challenges.

Fellows also become part of the wider Centre for Net Positive Health and Climate Solutions community, with opportunities to contribute to Centre activities, research, events and its longer-term legacy.

Leading through connection and care

The first Net+ Leadership Academy took place at Dartington Hall in Devon from 16–18 September 2026.

Under the theme Leading through connection and care, the inaugural retreat explored what leadership looks like in the context of complex, interconnected climate and health challenges.

Through expert contributions, facilitated discussion and time for reflection and exchange, Fellows began exploring new approaches to leadership — while building the relationships that will underpin the Academy over the next three years.

Future themes will be shaped with the Fellows themselves, allowing the Academy to respond to emerging issues and the priorities of those working across climate and health.

Building connections that last

At the heart of the Leadership Academy is a simple idea: tackling complex challenges requires more than individual expertise.

It requires people who can make connections — between disciplines, sectors, evidence and experience — and work with others to turn knowledge into change.

Over three years, the Net+ Leadership Academy will support Fellows to build those connections, strengthen their leadership practice and become part of a growing community working towards better outcomes for climate, health and society.

For more information about the selection process and how we brought together our Leadership Academy group view our now closed application pages