Sustainability leaders, ESG professionals, investors, policymakers, innovators and business executives from around the world are set to convene online for the ESGNext Awards & Conference – Virtual 2026, a fully digital event taking place on Thursday, 3 December 2026. Organized by Next Business Media, the virtual edition is one of three global editions of the ESGNext Awards & Conference, alongside the Toronto and Barcelona editions.

According to the official event portal, the conference will run from 3:30 AM to 11:30 AM (GMT+5:30) and will combine keynote sessions, expert panel discussions, industry case studies and the ESGNext Awards, which recognize outstanding organizations and leaders driving sustainable business practices and responsible innovation. Sessions are set to cover ESG strategy, sustainable finance, climate action, governance, regulatory compliance, ESG reporting, and AI and emerging technologies — a spread that mirrors how ESG responsibilities now reach across corporate functions, from treasury and compliance to technology and operations.

A Message from the CEO

Anas Jawed, Founder and CEO of Next Business Media Private Limited, brings extensive experience in organizing business events, technology platforms and digital solutions that connect industry leaders across sectors, including the company's AINext, AgriNext and ESGNext event portfolios. Ahead of the event, he shared a welcome message:

"ESG leadership today is a global conversation, and it does not always need a boarding pass. Our virtual edition of ESGNext exists so that sustainability leaders, regulators and investors from every region can sit in the same room, however far apart they actually are, and work through what ESG commitments look like in practice: real reporting, real finance decisions, real accountability. We are proud of the breadth of speakers joining us this December, and we look forward to a day of honest, practical conversation."

A Programme Built Around Practical ESG Impact

The agenda features 12 sessions across the day, opening with panels addressing some of the most pressing questions in ESG practice today. Confirmed sessions include:

1:00 PM – 1:30 PM — Panel Discussion: ESG Reporting – Technology, Data & Transparency

The session will examine how organizations are using technology and data to improve the accuracy and transparency of ESG disclosures. The topic carries added weight as regulators in major economies, including the European Union, phase in mandatory sustainability reporting requirements that put the quality of ESG data under closer scrutiny.

1:30 PM – 2:00 PM — Panel Discussion: From ESG Commitments to Measurable Impact

The discussion will focus on closing the gap between stated ESG commitments and outcomes organizations can actually measure and report — a gap investors and regulators have increasingly pressed companies to close.

2:00 PM – 2:30 PM — Panel Discussion: Integrating Circular Economy for Business Value

The panel will explore how circular economy principles are being built into business models to create measurable commercial value, an approach that has moved from policy discussions into mainstream business planning as companies look to cut waste and resource costs.

2:30 PM – 3:00 PM — Panel Discussion: Green Finance & Sustainable Investment

The session will address how green bonds, transition finance sustainable investment strategies are shaping capital allocation decisions. The credibility of green-labelled instruments has become a recurring debate as sustainable finance scales, sharpening the focus on how such capital is actually deployed.

Organizers note that the full agenda runs to 12 sessions across the day, with further keynotes and panels to be published on the event portal ahead of 3 December.

Featured Speakers

The virtual edition currently features 21 speakers representing sustainability, ESG advisory, sustainable finance, public policy, manufacturing and impact investing, drawn from organizations across the UAE, Europe, South Asia and beyond.

Among the confirmed speakers is Ali Syed, associated with Ōkami Parfums and the Asian Development Bank, alongside Akshay Purandar, Independent Director at DANFOSS Systems Limited. Ghada Rahal, a Sustainability & ESG Expert, and Jeffrey Beyer, Founder and Managing Director of Zest Associates, are also set to speak, bringing perspectives spanning corporate governance and sustainability advisory.

Public sector and policy voices will be represented by Zyad Khan, Associate Director at Dubai World Trade Centre; Soren Kannik, Minister Counsellor at the Trade Council Dubai, Royal Danish Consulate General; and Prof. Suzanna Elmassah, Professor of Economics at Zayed University. Shereen Shaheen, Middle East & Africa Public Policy Sustainability Head at Tetra Pak, will bring a corporate sustainability policy perspective.

Corporate and industry leadership will be represented by Maher Al Kaabi, Independent Board Member at Alserkal Group; Ahmed Elmetwally, CEO and General Manager of the Private Office of HH Sheikh Mohamed Bin Ahmed Bin Hamdan Al Nahyan; Saeed Al Shamsi, Chairman of EXHub Holding; and Malachi Halliday, CEO of Halliday Forfaiting Services. Nicole Zethelius, Executive Chair of Sunthetics AB, and Anita Nouri, CEO and Founder of Green Growth Planning & Consultancy (GGPC), will add climate-tech and sustainability consultancy perspectives.

Rounding out the lineup are Sameera Fernandes, Founder and CEO of Econova; Sumit Agarwal, CEO and ESG Partner at ESG WEISE; Hassaan Ghazali, Senior Advisor at Vericap; Dr. Abdullah Mohammed Alsehly, Manufacturing Sustainability Researcher and Development Manager at Alsehly Holding Co.; Ismail Tekin of The World Impacteurs; and Emeel Bishay, a Corporate Affairs Leader. Anas Jawed, CEO of Next Business Media, is also confirmed to speak.

Connecting a Global ESG Community

What distinguishes the virtual edition, according to organizers, is its reach: bringing together sustainability leaders, regulators, investors and innovators from around the world without the barrier of travel. The speaker lineup reflects that reach, spanning organizations including the Asian Development Bank, DANFOSS Systems, Tetra Pak, Dubai World Trade Centre, Zayed University, the Royal Danish Consulate General, Sunthetics AB and Alserkal Group, alongside independent sustainability consultants and ESG advisors. For a conference built around climate action, the online format also sidesteps the travel emissions that come with flying an international audience to a single venue.

Networking, Awards and Industry Engagement

Beyond the conference sessions, ESGNext Virtual is set to provide opportunities for attendees to connect through an attendee directory, forum, one-to-one chat and networking connections available through paid passes.

The event portal also offers pathways to speak, exhibit, sponsor, become a media partner, join as a thought leader or committee member, apply as an academic speaker, or nominate an individual or organization for the ESGNext Awards. The day is set to culminate in the ESGNext Awards, a platform recognizing individuals and organizations driving responsible business forward.

Event Details

• Event: ESGNext Awards & Conference – Virtual
• Date: Thursday, 3 December 2026
• Time: 3:30 AM – 11:30 AM (GMT+5:30)
• Format: Online
• Passes: $500 – $3,900, available on the event portal

Participating in ESGNext Virtual 2026

With ESG expectations tightening across regulation, capital markets and supply chains, the ESGNext Awards & Conference – Virtual 2026 is positioned as an accessible meeting point for leaders turning sustainability commitments into measurable outcomes, without the need to travel.

Organizations, sustainability leaders, investors and professionals are invited to be part of the conversation. Delegates can attend the full-day virtual programme to hear from ESG leaders across regions and take part in discussions shaping responsible business practices worldwide.

Those wishing to take a more active role can speak as a session panelist or keynote presenter, submit an academic abstract for peer review, showcase products and services as an exhibitor or sponsor, partner with the event as a media partner, or join as a thought leader or committee member. Organizations and individuals driving meaningful ESG impact are also invited to submit a nomination for the ESGNext Awards.

The ESGNext Awards & Conference – 2026 takes place online on Thursday, 3 December 2026.

Official Event Portal:

Event Website:

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