Abu Dhabi celebrates successful Global Goals House

Salama Al Ameemi, Director-General of Authority of Social Contribution, Ma’an, took part in the "Sustainable Innovation for the SDGs" panel alongside Vera Hahn, SVP and Head of Corporate Sustainability at Bayer; John Blood, Chief Legal and Corporate Affairs Officer of Anheuser-Busch InBev; and Dr. Fitsum Assefa Adela, Minister of Plan and Development Commission for the Federal Government of Ethiopia. The event provided a valuable platform for participants to amplify ideas around sustainability-driven innovation and ways to improve business operations and processes to become more efficient—all with the overarching goal of meeting the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

Abu Dhabi hosted its “Tech and Innovation for Sustainable Economic Development” panel discussion. Moderated by Nick Thompson, Editor-in-Chief of WIRED, the conversation featured; HE Dr Tariq bin Hendi, Director General Abu Dhabi Investment Office; Hanan Harhara Al Yafei, CEO of Hub71; Kai Fu Lee, CEO Sinovation Ventures, renowned AI scientist and MBZUAI board member and Stasia Mitchell, EY Global Entrepreneurship Leader. Together, the group explored how government bodies and business leaders can best address environmental, social and economic issues by scaling up efforts through collaboration with peers, industry and sector organisations, customers, governments, non-profit organisations and society at large.

Abu Dhabi hosted "The Great Green Reset: Rebuilding Sustainably" panel discussion, moderated by CNBC’s Dan Murphy and featuring His Excellency Awaidha Murshed Ali Al Marar, Chairman of The Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE); Her Excellency Dr Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary General, Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi; Vivian Schiller, Executive Director at Aspen Digital; and Alan Smith, CEO of Aagthia Group. In the face of the disruption caused by COVID-19, the panel explored how governments and companies must sharpen appetites for sustainability at local, national and global levels to drive sustainable development in a post-pandemic world.

Dr. Tariq Bin Hendi, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, addressed a group gathered in London for the World Food Programme’s "Dine with Purpose" event, focused on the climate’s impact on food supply. The occasion provided an opportunity for Dr. Tariq to showcase the Emirate’s work in future-proofing important food supplies, including its US$100 million investment and R&D in the vital AgTech sector. Other speakers included: Dr Ute Klamert, Assistant Executive Director of the UN World Food Programme; Rebecca Marmot, Chief Sustainability Officer of Unilever; Tony Milikin, AB InBev’s Chief Procurement and Sustainability Officer; and Vivek Bapat, Senior Vice President for Purpose and Brand Experience at SAP; among others.

Abu Dhabi hosted its “Will the Global Pandemic Fast-Track the Healthtech Revolution?” panel discussion. Moderated by John Defterios, CNN International, the session included Dr Jamal Mohammed Alkaabi, Acting Undersectary of Abu Dhabi Department of Health; Dr Farida Al Hosani, Director of the Comunicable Diseases Department, Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre; Ashish Koshy, CEO of G42 Healthcare; Bernardo Mariano Júnior, Chief Information Officer of The World Health Organisation; and Patricia O’Hayer, Global Head of Communications and Public Affairs at RB. Together, the group showcased some of the significant advancements made in healthcare technologies, particulary those since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and how HealthTech can be utilized to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism, was joined by Dr Tristram Hunt, Director of the Victoria and Albert Museum for the “Culture through COVID” fireside chat, a one-on-one discussion to explore what the future will look like for culture in a world impacted by new health and safety requirements, travel restrictions and declines in many of the world’s largest economies, while highlighting the importance of rebuilding a society that still values history and heritage