Sustainability leaders, ESG professionals, investors, policymakers, innovators and business executives from around the world are preparing to gather online for the ESGNext Awards & Conference – Virtual 2026, a full-day digital event scheduled for Thursday, 3 December 2026. Organized by Next Business Media, the virtual gathering is one of three global editions the ESGNext Awards & Conference, alongside the Toronto and Barcelona editions.

According to the official event portal, the entirely online conference will run from 3:30 AM to 11:30 AM (GMT+5:30) and will combine keynote sessions, expert panel discussions and industry case studies with the ESGNext Awards, which recognize outstanding organizations and leaders driving sustainable business practices and responsible innovation. Planned topics include ESG strategy, sustainable finance, climate action, governance, regulatory compliance, ESG reporting, and AI and other emerging technologies.

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 through 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 that address some of the most pressing questions in ESG practice today. Taken together, the confirmed sessions connect the measurement of ESG performance with the financing, operating and governance decisions that shape how commitments are implemented.

1:00 PM – 1:30 PM — Panel Discussion: ESG Reporting – Technology, Data & Transparency
This session will examine how organizations are using technology and data to improve the accuracy and transparency of ESG disclosures.

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 the outcomes organizations can actually measure and report.

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.

2:30 PM – 3:00 PM — Panel Discussion: Green Finance & Sustainable Investment
This session will address how green bonds, transition finance and sustainable investment strategies are shaping capital allocation decisions.

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 / 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: the format brings 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.

Networking, Awards and Industry Engagement

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

The event portal also provides opportunities 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 will culminate in the ESGNext Awards, a platform to recognize 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

Join 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 the 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 the discussions shaping responsible business practices worldwide.

Those wishing to take a more active role are encouraged to get involved: 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 – Virtual 2026 takes place online on Thursday, 3 December 2026.

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