Hello, I'm Nikos Avlonas
My vision is to foster bold leadership in Sustainability and Climate Resilience — now more than ever. Let’s create it together!
A Life’s Work in Sustainability
For over 25 years, Nikos Avlonas has been on a mission to help businesses and leaders drive positive change through sustainability and corporate responsibility.
His journey began with a belief: that companies can achieve growth while protecting the planet and enhancing society.
That belief led him to found the Centre for Sustainability and Excellence (CSE) in 2004—a pioneering global firm that has since empowered more than 10,000 professionals across 90% of the FT 500.
Through the Certified Sustainability (ESG) Practitioner Program, Nikos and CSE have provided the tools and strategies to help executives, policymakers, and entrepreneurs lead with purpose.
Today, Nikos is a sought-after advisor, guiding organizations such as Nestlé, Coca-Cola, Heineken, Pfizer, the US Forest Service, and the European Investment Bank toward sustainable success.
He works at the intersection of climate resilience, carbon reduction, impact investing, and net-zero transitions—helping shape the future of responsible business on a global scale.
Educator. Author. Thought Leader.
As an educator, Nikos has spent nearly 25 years sharing his knowledge and passion with future sustainability leaders.
He serves as a Visiting Professor at the Athens University of Economics and Business, and has taught at University of Illinois at Chicago, DePaul University, and University of San Francisco.
His workshops have reached executives from NASA, BP, and global corporations across four continents.
In 2014, he co-authored the best-selling book Practical Sustainability Strategies (Wiley; now in its 3rd edition, 2025)—a leading resource for companies integrating sustainability into their core strategies.
His thought leadership has been featured in major outlets including CNN, Forbes, Harvard Business Review, The Guardian, and Sustainability Times.
Nikos’ contributions have earned global recognition:
- CSR Professional of the Year (PR News, 2017)
- Practitioner of the Year (Silicon Valley Community Foundation, 2018)
- Environment + Energy Leader 100 (2021)
He is also Vice President of the Corporate Responsibility Institute, and a keynote speaker at premier ESG and climate conferences worldwide—including the NYC World ESG & Climate Summit, 3BL Forum, and European ESG Conference.
A Timeline of Impact
Engineering + Business Foundations
- Democritus University of Thrace – Degree in Electrical Engineering
- University of Louisville – Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- Began working in sustainability strategy and ESG advisory in 1999.
2004 — Founded CSE
- Created the first global organization to deliver specialized ESG training and consulting.
- Developed the Certified Sustainability (ESG) Practitioner Program (now offered in 60+ countries).
- Helped certify 10,000+ professionals and train 25,000+ C-suite executives.
2014 — Published Best-Seller
- Co-authored Practical Sustainability Strategies, adopted by business schools and executive education programs worldwide.
2015–Today — Academic Impact
- Visiting Professor at Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB).
- Lecturer at University of Illinois at Chicago, DePaul University, and University of San Francisco.
Global Recognition
- Multiple awards and media features for advancing the field of sustainability and climate leadership.
Today — Continuing Global ESG Leadership
- Serving as Vice President and Co-Founder of the Corporate Responsibility Institute.
- Advising Fortune 500 companies, governments, and investment institutions across the US, Europe, and Middle East.
- Leading initiatives on climate strategy, green finance, and net-zero transitions.
- Championing sustainability education as CSE celebrates its 20th anniversary.
My Books
Books & Practical guides for today’s sustainability champions
Practical Sustainability Strategies: How to Excel in ESG and Gain a Competitive Advantage, 3rd Edition
A comprehensive guide for developing and implementing ESG strategies that propel sustainable growth and enhance corporate responsibility
Practical Sustainability Strategies: How to Excel in ESG and Gain a Competitive Advantage provides the essential tools needed to implement ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) frameworks. With a strong focus on actionable strategies and practical applications, this real-world guide offers expert insights into how sustainability can drive corporate success while benefiting the environment and society.
In-depth yet accessible chapters bridge the gap between theory and practice, arming readers with proven frameworks to align organizational goals with global sustainability standards. The book covers the latest ESG trends and includes real-world case studies to help readers navigate the evolving landscape.
The updated and expanded third edition builds on previous insights by incorporating the latest trends, tools, and guidelines, including an entirely new chapter on ESG and circular economy, to ensure that businesses stay ahead of the curve. Laying out a clear path to building sustainable, competitive businesses, this book:
- Provides the tools and knowledge required to communicate, measure, and report ESG metrics
- Empowers organizations to lead with transparency and accountability, positively impacting both their bottom line and the wider world
- Includes PowerPoint slides for instructors and trainers to facilitate effective teaching and learning
- Addresses both advanced and specialist levels, suitable for professionals and students at various stages in their careers
- Contains numerous case studies and practical templates based on Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards
Ideal for graduate-level students studying sustainability, corporate social responsibility, business strategy, and corporate governance, Practical Sustainability Strategies: How to Excel in ESG and Gain a Competitive Advantage, Third Edition is also a valuable resource for C-Suite executives and sustainability managers, including Chief Sustainability Officers looking to deepen their knowledge and improve their organization’s ESG performance; as well as for government organizations and NGOs
Practical Sustainability Strategies: How to Gain a Competitive Advantage, 2nd Edition
The guide to sustainable strategies and tools to improve competitive business advantage, updated with practical case studies and supporting teaching material
The revised and updated second edition of Practical Sustainability Strategies is filled with proven strategies and tools for organizations to integrate sustainability into their business models.
Drawing on the authors’ research and years of hands-on experience, the book defines strategies that organizations can put in place to develop, extend, or maintain competitive advantage without harming the environment. Additionally, the authors provide tools for measuring and reporting progress and present illustrative case studies that clearly demonstrate the importance of implementing sustainability.
Since the first edition was published in 2013, new strategies, measurements, and certifications have been developed. The book, which is used by several business schools around the globe, has been updated to include these new and effective strategies, including circular economy, the sharing economy, adaptation, resiliency, and strategies to fight climate change. This new edition also highlights the UN Sustainable Development Goals that have been adopted worldwide. This updated second edition:
- Covers new strategies, measuring systems, GRI, STARS and B-Lab certifications
- Offers teaching slides and questions for use in the classroom
- Explores the principles and importance of sustainability
- Examines more than 10 different sustainability strategies
- Presents the economic justification for sustainability with illustrative examples
Written for sustainability managers, ESG professionals, engineers, process designers, policy makers, CEOs, business schools, and others, the second edition of Practical Sustainability Strategies offers an updated guide to the most recent strategies and tools that can be put into place to improve competitive advantage, while also providing a positive impact to the community and workplace.
English 
Greek