Last week I spoke to 30 future Chinese business decision-makers about leadership in uncertain times. I came away impressed with their curiosity and desire to address issues like poverty and climate change.

I had been told that the group didn't like to interact so when we had a break halfway through the session I expected to be alone. Not a bit of it: they wanted to engage me further in the issues. What they didn't like was group discussions.

They were engaged, attentive, informed and curious. Some were even willing to talk how an absence of democracy will hamper China's development in the medium term. But all were rightly adamant that China did need to develop, which means the already-rich nations need to make room, both political and environmental.

The group has been selected as future leaders by CICPA, the leading Chinese accounting institute, and is in the UK for a month to accelerate their development. The ICAEW, Europe's largest accounting institute, has organised events every day on issues vital to their jobs, like corporate governance and audit standards.

This year I was asked to do a session on 'leadership in uncertain times' as a way of getting sustainability into their curriculum without calling it sustainability. Of course we do this sort of thing all the time, bringing together senior people with a common interest in developing leadership for sustainability through learning, reflection and, crucially, practical innovation.
 
They wanted a three hour - three hour! - talk in a wood-paneled room, deep in the Victorian gothic of Chartered Accountant's Hall. The messages were driven by a central proposition: that the business context after the recession will be driven by the challenges of sustainable development - 'living within our means' financially, environmentally and socially.
 
Presumably their curiosity and engagement were the reasons why they had been selected to come on this learning trip. If they apply those qualities to what I said then I’m hopeful they will help make a difference in China.