Saurabh Naithani
Member
Member
Business Fights Poverty Global Expert Network
The Business Fights Poverty Global Goals Summit 2025, our annual flagship event took place during the 80th UN General Assembly. Over three days, we convened senior leaders from business, civil society, and government in New York and Nairobi, together with a large global online audience.
This year’s theme is Economic Opportunity for All: Decent Jobs and Resilient Livelihoods. In partnership with Barclays, Standard Chartered, the Harvard Kennedy School’s Corporate Responsibility Initiative, and others, we shared practical lessons and co-created solutions for more inclusive and resilient economies.
The Summit also launched a new Business Fights Poverty Institute report, “5 Bridges to 2045,” which sets out how businesses can embed social and environmental impact into their core strategy and operations.
What makes this Summit unique is its interactive format of workshops, clinics, and networking; its inclusive reach through multi-location gatherings and a seamless online experience; and its insightful content from leading voices in business and international development.
We connected with peers, heard from global innovators, and helped shape the next 20 years of business impact.
This session, hosted with Barclays, explored how AI is reshaping the future of work. Hear from workforce development leaders, Per Scholas, Robin Hood, NationSwell, and corporate voices on how they are adapting programmes to equip learners for the jobs of tomorrow while ensuring access to opportunity.
Hear practical insights from innovators bridging AI disruption and workforce readiness, and discover how cross-sector partnerships can create pathways to thriving careers in a rapidly changing economy.
23 Sept | Online | NYC
This fireside chat with Vale explores how the private sector can drive impactful solutions to tackle poverty. Through real-world examples and strategic insights, speakers discussed how businesses can align purpose with profit, scale inclusive initiatives, and collaborate across sectors to create sustainable change for vulnerable communities.
Gain insights into how businesses can create inclusive solutions to tackle poverty, strengthen cross-sector partnerships, align social impact with strategy, and unlock new opportunities for sustainable growth and community resilience.
23 Sept | Online | NYC
Hosted with Walmart, this session explores how to expand MSME growth opportunities in the face of disruption. Examine strategies for strengthening local supplier networks, enhancing capacity, and building resilient value chains that adapt to shocks while generating long-term economic and social value.
Explore practical ways to support MSME growth amid disruption. Gain insights on resilient supply chains, supplier partnerships, and business models that foster innovation, adaptability, and shared prosperity.
23 Sept | Online | NYC
With just five years left to achieve the SDGs, the focus is shifting from promises to practice. This Fireside Chat with Novonesis examines how businesses can embed sustainability into strategy, moving beyond risk and cost management to creating jobs, strengthening livelihoods and delivering long-term business value.
Hear how companies are shifting from “making the case” to “living the case,” aligning with investor expectations, building resilient supply chains and turning sustainability into a driver of inclusive growth and innovation.
23 Sept | Online | NYC
This Fireside Chat with the Business Fights Poverty Institute examines regional perspectives on building economic opportunity through decent jobs and resilient livelihoods. Hear from East African Breweries on their Learning for Life programme and from UN Women on Generation Equality. Gain inspiration and practical lessons on how partnerships can overcome barriers and drive inclusive, sustainable livelihoods.
Learn from regional leaders advancing skills, equality, and opportunity. Discover practical approaches to overcome barriers, foster resilient livelihoods, and drive inclusive growth through business and societal partnerships.
24 Sept | Online | Nairobi
Hosted with Standard Chartered, this panel discussion explores the demand-side ecosystem for employability in Africa. Focusing on market-responsive skills, employer incentives, and decent work, the conversation draws insights from Standard Chartered Foundation, real-world examples from business, policy, and youth leaders.
Explore practical solutions for connecting young people to decent entry-level jobs, hear from employers, policymakers, and youth voices, and identify actions to strengthen inclusive employability across Africa’s fast-changing labour market.
24 Sept | Online | Nairobi
Our Community Clinics and Lunch Panel marked the launch of the Business Fights Poverty Institute report, 5 Bridges to 2045. Together, these sessions explored how business can help shape a fairer, more resilient and sustainable future. Participants examined the five bridges identified in the report connecting social impact to core business, aligning social and environmental agendas, evolving governance, amplifying local voices, and fostering partnerships, through practical examples and peer exchange.
Across the clinics and the lunch dialogue, participants co-created a future-facing timeline, defining concrete actions, commitments and milestones to embed social and environmental impact into business practice by 2045. The lunch panel offered further insights from leading practitioners on how to translate these ideas into systemic change and lasting economic opportunity for all.
This workshop brought together peers and thought leaders to wrap up UNGA80, Climate Week, and the Business Fights Poverty Global Goals Summit. The event featured a moderated conversation among industry peers and key stakeholders.
25 Sept | New York
98%
We bring together the world’s best thinkers and doers from business, civil society, and international development. Each session is designed to inspire fresh ideas, share practical lessons, and equip you with the tools to drive action.
98% of Summit participants said they learnt something valuable for their work.
97%
Our Summits are designed to get you involved. Instead of sitting passively in rows, you’ll join interactive workshops, clinics, and conversations that encourage you to contribute, challenge ideas, and build meaningful connections with peers both in-person and online.
97% of participants rated our Summit as “good” or “excellent”.
97%
Wherever you are in the world, you can take part. With in-person gatherings in multiple locations and a seamless online experience, our hybrid format ensures every voice can be heard and every perspective adds value.
97% of participants said they would recommend the Summit to colleagues.
At this year’s Summit we launched the new Business Fights Poverty Institute report – 5 Bridges to 2045.
The report sets out five critical pathways for how business can embed social and environmental impact into core strategy and operations. Each “bridge” highlights a structural gap limiting progress today and offers practical steps and examples to accelerate change. The Report is designed as a guide for action — helping business leaders and partners prioritise what matters most to build a fairer, more resilient future.
Saurabh Naithani
Member
Member
Business Fights Poverty Global Expert Network
Peter Njioka
Head of Talent Acquisition, Capability, Talent Management & HR Shared Services
Head of Talent Acquisition, Capability, Talent Management & HR Shared Services
Safaricom plc
Nadi Albino
Deputy Director
Deputy Director
UNICEF Generation Unlimited
Benon Mugarura
Founder and CEO
Founder and CEO
Hear Their Voice Initiative (HTVI)
Joe Griffin
Head of Sustainability Strategy
Head of Sustainability Strategy
Vodafone Foundation
Maya Middlemiss
Founder
Founder
Remote Work Europe
Iyad Kallas
Member
Member
Business Fights Poverty Global Expert Network
Radha Rajkotia
Member
Member
Business Fights Poverty Global Expert Network
Christian Pirzer
Managing Director
Managing Director
Endeva
John Bee
Executive Board Member
Executive Board Member
AOAC AFRICA SECTION
Laura Hawkesford
Co Director
Co Director
The Partnership Collective
Austin Atsua Terngu
Member
Member
Business Fights Poverty Global Expert Network
Isabelle Carboni
Member
Member
Business Fights Poverty Global Expert Network
Maria-Jose Subiela
Member
Member
Business Fights Poverty Global Expert Network
Martin Casey
Director
Director
AdvoCasey Advisory
Sanjay Banka
Executive Chairman
Executive Chairman
Banka BioLoo Limited
Tanya Singh
Partnerships Associate
Partnerships Associate
Good Business Lab
Wilson Kamau
Disability Inclusion Facilitator & Youth Sounding Board Member
Disability Inclusion Facilitator & Youth Sounding Board Member
Light for the World Kenya & European Union (EU) – Kenya
Andrew Dabalen
Africa Chief Economist
Africa Chief Economist
World Bank
Regina Mukiri
Regional Head, Community Impact and Engagement, Kenya & AME
Regional Head, Community Impact and Engagement, Kenya & AME
Standard Chartered
Dr. Jacques Drolet
Government and Industry Advisor
Government and Industry Advisor
IDRG/KAYAKAYO
Wim De Groof
Human Rights Lead
Human Rights Lead
ABF Sugar
Grazielle Parenti
Executive Vice-President Sustainability
Executive Vice-President Sustainability
Vale
Kate Gibson
Senior Advisor & Board Member
Senior Advisor & Board Member
Kate Gibson Consulting & Business Fights Poverty Global Expert Network member
Eric Kiniti
Group Corporate Relations Director
Group Corporate Relations Director
East African Breweries Limited
Beth Jenkins
Senior Adviser
Senior Adviser
Business Fights Poverty
Mark Thain
Head of Citizenship
Head of Citizenship
Barclays
Dr. John Frey
Senior Director & Chief Technologist
Senior Director & Chief Technologist
Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Caitlyn Brazill
President
President
Per Scholas
Will Hines
Director for Development
Director for Development
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Anna Mutavati
Regional Director, East and Southern Africa
Regional Director, East and Southern Africa
UN Women
Åsa Skogström Feldt
Managing Director
Managing Director
IKEA Social Entrepreneurship BV
Martín Burt
Founder and Executive Director
Founder and Executive Director
Fundación Paraguaya
John Kenny
Vice President, Citizenship
Vice President, Citizenship
Barclays
Chymeka Olfonse
Managing Director, Adults & Household Supports
Managing Director, Adults & Household Supports
Robin Hood
Greg Behrman
Founder & CEO
Founder & CEO
NationSwell
David Wofford
Senior Director, Private Sector Strategy & Engagement
Senior Director, Private Sector Strategy & Engagement
Universal Access Project
Catalina Garcia
Global Director, Corporate Affairs
Global Director, Corporate Affairs
AB InBev
Natasha Kwakwa
Global Head, Community Impact
Global Head, Community Impact
Standard Chartered Bank
Jane Nelson
Founding Director, Corporate Responsibility Initiative
Founding Director, Corporate Responsibility Initiative
Harvard Kennedy School
Yaquta Fatehi
Program Manager
Program Manager
William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan
Daniel Seymour
Member
Member
Business Fights Poverty Global Expert Network
Frances Cabrera
Vice President, Citizenship
Vice President, Citizenship
Barclays
William Warshauer
President and CEO
President and CEO
TechnoServe
Morten Enggaard Rasmussen
Executive Vice President, People & Stakeholder Relations,
Executive Vice President, People & Stakeholder Relations,
Novonesis
Dan Bryant
Executive Vice President, Global Public Policy and Government Affairs
Executive Vice President, Global Public Policy and Government Affairs
Walmart Inc
Ilze Melngailis
Senior Adviser
Senior Adviser
Business Fights Poverty
Jamie Coats
Co-Founder & CEO
Co-Founder & CEO
Wise Responder
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