Professor Andy Stirling delivers a presentation to a small group during a sustainability workshop in a rustic meeting room, encouraging critical reflection on progress, power, and alternative pathways.

During the 2023 CEO Alliance for Sustainability residential retreat in La Ramée, Jodoigne, Belgium, Professor Andy Stirling of the University of Sussex delivered a powerful and thought-provoking session titled Taking Transformation Seriously. Rather than offering predefined solutions or roadmaps to sustainability, Stirling challenged participants to critically examine the dominant narratives surrounding progress and transformation. Drawing on his extensive work in science and technology policy and his critique of « colonial modernity, » Stirling invited the group to embrace uncertainty, question the illusion of control, and unlock plural pathways toward sustainability. The intimate setting fostered open dialogue, reflective thinking, and a shared commitment to reimagining the future.