FINN Partners Hosts Third Climate Leadership Forum

As global leaders, policymakers, business executives and advocates gathered in New York City for Climate Week NYC and the 81st United Nations General Assembly, FINN Partners convened its Third Annual Climate & Sustainability Leadership Forum on September 23, bringing together voices from across the climate and sustainability landscape.

Organized in cooperation with 1BusinessWorld, the forum began at 8:00 a.m. ET and featured a full day of virtual conversations, followed by an in-person networking reception at FINN Partners’ New York City offices.

The initiative attracted a diverse group of participants and speakers representing climate, sustainability, energy, finance, education and media, creating opportunities for dialogue on some of the issues shaping the global sustainability agenda.

Leading the planning efforts was Christina Raish, Vice President and Chief of Staff at FINN Partners’ Purpose, Social Impact & Health practice, who described the forum as an important platform for dialogue and the exchange of ideas.

In an interview during the networking reception, Raish explained that the Climate & Sustainability Leadership Forum was created to give FINN Partners’ colleagues, thought leaders and friends an opportunity to share their voices, perspectives and work during Climate Week NYC, which takes place alongside the United Nations General Assembly.

“This is a platform for colleagues, thought leaders and friends to share their voice, thoughts and work during Climate Week,” Raish said.

This year’s forum featured approximately 54 speakers from across the United States, Europe, the United Kingdom, France, Israel, Australia, Myanmar, Malaysia and India, underscoring the international nature of the conversations.

Unlike some previous conferences that are organized around a single overarching theme, Raish said organizers intentionally chose not to establish a specific theme for this year’s forum.

She explained that the decision was deliberate, allowing presenters and participants greater freedom to explore a broad range of issues and perspectives without being constrained by a predetermined subject.

The diversity of speakers and topics reflected the increasingly interconnected nature of climate and sustainability, with discussions extending beyond environmental concerns to include business, finance, education, energy, social impact and communications.

For Raish, however, the value of the forum extended beyond the individual conversations and presentations.

Reflecting on the day’s activities during the evening reception, she expressed satisfaction with the work of the FINN Partners team in bringing the initiative together and “emphasized the importance of creating spaces where people can engage with one another at a time when societies are becoming increasingly divided and disconnected”.

She said “gatherings such as the Climate & Sustainability Leadership Forum demonstrate the value of bringing people from different backgrounds and walks of life together for meaningful conversations”.

Raish noted that FINN Partners was pleased to provide a platform where diverse leaders could exchange ideas, perspectives and experiences. Bringing those voices together, she said, is important to advancing change.

The reception provided an opportunity for speakers, colleagues, guests and invited members of the media to continue conversations that began throughout the day while building relationships and connections beyond the formal sessions.

Held against the backdrop of Climate Week NYC and the United Nations General Assembly, the third annual forum highlighted the role that communications and collaboration can play in advancing conversations around climate, sustainability and social impact.

For FINN Partners, the initiative also served as a reminder that meaningful progress can begin with something fundamental: creating spaces where people with different experiences and perspectives are willing to come together, listen and engage.

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