The WEF is a not-for-profit organisation that allows stakeholders to share varying views about the world that impact sustainability aims globally
The World Economic Forum (WEF) is a not-for-profit platform that enables connections between stakeholders to build on initiatives around the world.
It connects people from various sectors, like political, business, academic and civil society, with the aim to shape global, regional and industry agendas.
The organisation was established in 1971 and says it has the mission of improving the state of the world by believing in the power of human integrity, entrepreneurship, innovation and cooperation.
What is WEF doing to combat global challenges?
The WEF has 11 centres that span 130 initiatives with the aim to provide partners with the information to take action and generate impact.
It says it tackles global challenges through these 11 centres:
- Advanced Manufacturing and Supply chain
- AI Excellence
- Cybersecurity
- Energy and materials
- Financial and monetary systems
- Health and healthcare
- Nature and climate
- Trade and geopolitics
- Fourth industrial revolution
- New economy and society
- Urban transformation
The WEF has partnered with the United Arab Emirates to launch the global regulatory innovation platform to modernise regulation and rapid technology disruption.
It will pilot solutions based in AI, healthcare and digital finance to enable governments to develop future ready regulations.
Her Excellency Maryam Al Hammadi, Minister of State and Secretary General of the UAE Cabinet: says: “Sustainable economies thrive only within forward-looking and agile regulatory ecosystems.
“The quality of life of our communities in the future exponentially depends on the work conducted by regulators.
“The Global Regulatory Innovation Platform will strive to empower legislators globally, providing them with cutting-edge regulatory tools and data to keep pace with a world of relentless technological breakthroughs.”
The organisation also collaborated with Capgemini to create the technology convergence report, aiming to accelerate the combination of technologies like AI, quantum computing and engineering biology.
The report aims to offer leaders a strategic lens to help identify where and how to invest in innovations.
“The question is not about whether technology convergence will reshape industries. That journey has already begun. The real challenge is how companies can position themselves to be champions of convergence,” says Aiman Ezzat, CEO of Capgemini.
Who is leading the WEF?
Børge Brende, President and CEO of the WEF
Børge previously was a Norwegian Minister of Foreign, Affairs Minister of Trade and Industry, and Minister of Climate and the Environment.
He took on the role of CEO at WEF in 2017 utilising his varied previous knowledge to lead the organisation.
Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, Chairman ad Interim of the Board of Trustees of the WEF
In 2025 the board unanimously appointed Peter as Chairman.
Peter was the CEO at Nestlé Group for more than 10 years and has various awards for innovation.
H.M. Queen Rania Al Abdullah of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Queen Rania is a member of the board of trustees, as an advocate for education, promoter of opportunities for women and youth and an international voice for cross-culture dialogue.
Some of her most notable achievements include being named UNICEF's first Eminent Advocate for Children in 2007 and being Honorary Global Chair of the UN Girls' Education Initiative.
Jim Hagemann Snabe
Jim is a member of the board of trustees alongside being Chairman at Siemens.
Siemens is a leading technology company that is focused on industry, infrastructure, mobility and healthcare.
WEF events and reports
In June 2025, the WEF held its annual meeting of the New Champions with the key focus of entrepreneurship for a new era.
More than 1,700 global leaders gathered to discuss how entrepreneurship can reignite growth, focusing on five key topics: deciphering the world economy, the outlook on China, industries disrupted, investing in people and the planet and new energy and materials.
“In a shifting global landscape, technology is the key to driving shared progress,” said Peter.
The organisation also creates important reports collating stats related to global affairs.
In the WEF's Global Gender Gap Report, the organisation found that the gap had closed by 68.8%, but the pace that progress is being made has slowed down since before the pandemic.
It reports that although women outpace men in higher education, only 28.8% reach senior leadership.
The WEF estimates that, at this pace, full parity will not be achieved for another 123 years.
Saadia Zahidi, Managing Director at the WEF, says: “At a time of heightened global economic uncertainty and a low growth outlook combined with technological and demographic change, advancing gender parity represents a key force for economic renewal,
"The evidence is clear. Economies that have made decisive progress towards parity are positioning themselves for stronger, more innovative and more resilient economic progress.”
Who is partnered with the WEF?
Some of the biggest partners involved with the WEF include:
Børge Brende, President and CEO of the WEF
Børge previously was a Norwegian Minister of Foreign, Affairs Minister of Trade and Industry, and Minister of Climate and the Environment.
He took on the role of CEO at WEF in 2017 utilising his varied previous knowledge to lead the organisation.
Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, Chairman ad Interim of the Board of Trustees of the WEF
In 2025 the board unanimously appointed Peter as Chairman.
Peter was the CEO at Nestlé Group for more than 10 years and has various awards for innovation.
H.M. Queen Rania Al Abdullah of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Queen Rania is a member of the board of trustees, as an advocate for education, promoter of opportunities for women and youth and an international voice for cross-culture dialogue.
Some of her most notable achievements include being named UNICEF's first Eminent Advocate for Children in 2007 and being Honorary Global Chair of the UN Girls' Education Initiative.
Jim Hagemann Snabe
Jim is a member of the board of trustees alongside being Chairman at Siemens.
Siemens is a leading technology company that is focused on industry, infrastructure, mobility and healthcare.
WEF events and reports
In June 2025, the WEF held its annual meeting of the New Champions with the key focus of entrepreneurship for a new era.
More than 1,700 global leaders gathered to discuss how entrepreneurship can reignite growth, focusing on five key topics: deciphering the world economy, the outlook on China, industries disrupted, investing in people and the planet and new energy and materials.
“In a shifting global landscape, technology is the key to driving shared progress,” said Peter.
The organisation also creates important reports collating stats related to global affairs.
In the WEF's Global Gender Gap Report, the organisation found that the gap had closed by 68.8%, but the pace that progress is being made has slowed down since before the pandemic.
It reports that although women outpace men in higher education, only 28.8% reach senior leadership.
The WEF estimates that, at this pace, full parity will not be achieved for another 123 years.
Saadia Zahidi, Managing Director at the WEF, says: “At a time of heightened global economic uncertainty and a low growth outlook combined with technological and demographic change, advancing gender parity represents a key force for economic renewal,
"The evidence is clear. Economies that have made decisive progress towards parity are positioning themselves for stronger, more innovative and more resilient economic progress.”
Who is partnered with the WEF?
Some of the biggest partners involved with the WEF include:
- Amazon
- Apple
- Samsung Electronics
- Shell
- Neste
- Volkswagen Group
- PepsiCo
- Barclays
By : How WEF is Combatting Global Sustainability Challenges | Sustainability Magazine
