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Europe here we come.
Since the WorkforClimate Academy launched in Australia in 2023, it has equipped hundreds of employees with the knowledge and leadership skills to build power inside their organisations, influence corporate decision-makers, and counter climate backsliding.
From Laura Wilson’s ground-breaking climate work at global cycling company Specialized to Bernie Wiley shaking things up at toilet paper behemoth Who Gives A Crap, our Academy graduates have been driving climate action from all angles.
Yet for all these wins, the need for decisive corporate climate action is more urgent than ever. That’s why we are expanding this movement of changemakers to Europe – launching our first ever UK WorkforClimate Academy cohort in September 2025.
Why Europe, why now?
Corporations have the power to cut emissions, shape social narratives and public policy, and develop the solutions needed for a low-carbon future. But with governments failing to act at the necessary pace and a growing backlash against corporate sustainability, businesses are retreating from climate commitments.
A well-funded political push against ESG is accelerating this retreat, while increasing political polarisation and regulatory uncertainty makes government intervention unreliable. Meanwhile, 8 out of 10 employees said they are ready and willing to take action on climate at work, yet most feel powerless to drive change from within.
But here’s the thing: employees have more power than ever. Employee pressure has already driven companies like Amazon and Microsoft to accelerate sustainability efforts, with over half of C-suite executives admitting that employee activism has influenced their company’s climate strategy.
Learning from the best of the best
Leading the Academy will be the best of the best in corporate sustainability and employee organising.
Tessa Wernink - European Strategic Lead
Tessa co-founded the company Fairphone and more recently the Undercover Activist, a learning hub for employee-led change. Tessa is putting employee-led change on the map as a powerful driver for positive change.
Katelyn Prendiville - Head of Engagement
Co-founder of workplace climate solution SeedCulture and experienced corporate sustainability strategist, Katelyn literally wrote a book on how to reshape our approach to climate action.
Laure Legros - Head of Advocacy
No-one knows employee-led climate action like Laure. After pivoting from a career in Big Tech, Laure launched and led WorkforClimate’s Academy in Australia, becoming a powerful climate influencer and activist in the process.
The WorkforClimate Academy 101
Live in Europe, but don’t know what the WorkforClimate Academy is all about? Here’s the lowdown.
Unlike most corporate sustainability training programs focused on compliance and designed to maintain the status quo, WorkforClimate arms employees with the strategy, skills, and support network to drive real action. This isn’t just about education – it’s about mobilising employees to shift power in their organisations.
The WorkforClimate Academy provides self-paced training, live sessions, and practical tools to help employees influence change and rally their colleagues around climate action. Participants also gain access to a supportive community of professionals working inside companies, along with expert coaching to cut through corporate greenwash and push for real commitments.
Want to join the employee-led climate movement? Registration for the very first European WorkforClimate Academy is open now. Head here to find out more.
