10.22 FUTURE EDGE – SUSTAINABILITY STRAND

Facilitators: Green Spark Group (Sustainability Strand Only)

Dates: From October 2022

Duration: 6 Months (approx. 1 day per month)

Venue: Remote

Max Participants: 10 Companies

Cost: €900  (covers 2 x Senior Level participants per company)

INTRODUCTION

The output from the Sustainability strand of Future Edge will be for each company to develop a SustainabilityPlan/Policy/Strategy for their company. In collaboration with Green Spark Group, Future Edge will cover sustainability in its broadest scope which includes environmental, wellbeing, diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as economic/governance issues.

Future Edge will help participants develop and align their sustainability strategy with their corporate mission. It will establish the Irish creative industries as a place that is future-fit and attractive for both investment and human resource development. We have a set of clear objectives and outcomes for the cohort participants:

  • Literacy on environmental, climate, social and broader sustainability trends – and specific challenges, opportunities and responsibilities within the Screen Sector.
  • Awareness of tools and practices for advancing green procedures as a company leader.
  • Strategic planning experience, from goal-setting to the tactical implementation of initiatives – and how to evaluate these through KPIs.
  • Practice shaping short and long-term goals specific to their company’s timeline, culture, and resources.
  • A systems perspective that can be applied within their company, in Ireland, within the Screen Sector, and in service of sustainability and tackling the climate crisis.
  • Stronger connections across the Irish Screen Sector (including film, tv, animation, vfx, games and immersive technologies sectors) as well as global networks through the course speakers and team.
  • Clear next steps identified to support the further development of a sustainability plan / policy / strategy.
  • Inspiration and insight from the expert facilitators and speakers and cohort members to advance sustainability in the industry and in their company.

KEY TOPICS & CURRICULUM OVERVIEW

The following provides a brief overview of the programme curriculum. Additional modules/needs may be added once applications have been assessed.

PRE-WORK

  • Watch introductory videos, read briefings.
  • Review programme team and participant bios, and programme overview.
  • Write 1-3 bullet points on what you hope to achieve during the programme.
  • Identity 1 compelling / favourite creative film, tv, game etc. linked to climate and sustainability.

WORKSHOP 1

Setting the Stage: Climate and Sustainable Production

  • Welcome and interactive icebreakers.
  • Introduction to climate and sustainability issues and useful frameworks.
  • Overview of how the Screen Sector contributes to the problems and solutions.
  • Understand industry trends and where you fit
  • Review of strategic planning processes.
  • Introduction to the programme platform.

WORKSHOP 2

Purpose Development: Vision, Mission, Values and Strategic Goals

  • Facilitated discussion on green initiatives, Screen Sector initiatives, and inspirations.
  • Purpose development.
  • Systems thinking approaches to shape strategy
  • Compliance versus climate leadership
  • Examples of strategic goals: Energy and Climate, Circularity & Zero Waste, Social Purpose, and more.

WORKSHOP 3

Building the Plan: Materiality, Stakeholders, Governance and Metrics 

  • Facilitated discussion on outcomes from previous session and homeworkElements of a strategy; how to make each element actionable.
  • Making your strategy actionable.
  • Intersection of climate and sustainability with company roles and responsibilities.
  • Breakdown of different global reporting bodies.
  •  Internal and external processes to achieve meaningful changes, CapEx versus OpEx.
  • Governance to embed change.
  • Tracking, evaluation and learning.

WORKSHOP 4

Defining Strategies: Initiatives, Objectives, Actions and Implementation

  • Interactive sharing of lessons learned from coaching sessions.
  • Engaging stakeholders and incorporating their priorities.
  • Identifying ‘high-impact’ opportunities.
  • Short and long term goals that contribute to overarching priorities.
  • Maintaining flexibility once operational plans and goals are set.
  • Presentation skills including in preparation for Session 5 participant feedback.

WORKSHOP 5

Presenting Draft Plans and Next Steps

The final session is formatted as a sharing exchange among participants and an opportunity to look forward beyond the programme. Key elements include:

  • Participants present their (draft) strategy to the programme cohort using an agreed upon format.
  • Through peer learning / feedback from peers, facilitators and guests, they solidify their strategy or draft action plan.
  • Facilitated discussion to identify clear next steps with guidance from the Green Spark Group team.
  • Closing dialogue with the cohort including personal reflections on what the participants will do toward their plan the next day, week, month, and 6 months.

FACILITATORS

Green Spark Group is a specialist digital transformation advisory firm, enabling businesses to successfully adapt to compete in today’s digital world.

Zena Harris, Project Director – Zena is President of Green Spark Group and manages on-production strategy, best practice implementation and data analysis with studios such as Disney/21st Century Fox, NBC Universal, HBO and Amazon. She works with corporations on sustainability strategy, goal setting and key performance indicator development. She has created multi-stakeholder programs that unite the motion picture industry around sustainability and has created events like the Sustainable Production Forum to accelerate knowledge sharing. She has developed and implemented strategic programmes and educational/training programmes for clients within the screen sector and delivered dozens of training courses, educational workshops and presentations. Previously she served for seven years as the Executive Director of the International Sustainable Campus Network (ISCN), a global forum to support leading colleges, universities, and corporate campuses in the exchange of information, ideas, and best practices for achieving sustainable campus operations and integrating sustainability in operations, research and teaching. Zena holds a master’s degree from Harvard University in Sustainability and Environmental Management.

Andrew Robinson, Project Manager – Andrew leads the implementation of sustainable production practices in the screen industry through corporate/organisational strategy development and training. Recent clients include HBO, Apple tv, Netflix, Vancouver Film Studios, Creative BC and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. He has developed and implemented training courses on Climate and Sustainable Production, Carbon Literacy, and key tracking tools for film commission and film school clients. Since 2017 he has trained and delivered educational content to over 1,000 individuals through Ontario Creates, Creative BC, CBC/Radio-Canada, and the Quebec Film & Television Council. Andrew has extensive environmental content & regulatory proficiency from over 20 years working in the private, government, film & broadcasting, as well as nonprofit sectors. His experience spans many facets including strategic sustainability planning & development for both projects & corporations, research & reporting, education & training, multi stakeholder engagement, greenhouse gas accounting, policy development, & team management. Andrew holds a master’s degree from Oxford University in Environmental Change and Management.

APPLICATION DETAILS

Requirements

  • Statement of intent outlining what you want to achieve from the programme. 
  • Biography of each applicant. 
  • Company Profile. 

Apply for the Sustainability Strand HERE

DEADLINE TO APPLY: September 21st 5pm

RETURN TO THE MAIN PAGE

IMPORTANT: Places are open to Republic of Ireland based companies/organisations only. Companies/organisations outside of the ROI do not qualify. 

For further information, please email sean@animationskillnet.ie