Written by: Sandton Chronical
The UNGCNSA, in partnership with Alexforbes, recently hosted its annual Young Professionals, Business, and Innovation Conference, fostering innovative solutions rooted in sustainable development.
UN Global Compact Network South Africa (UNGCSA) held its highly anticipated annual Young Professionals, Business, and Innovation Conference, sponsored by the Alexforbes, on February 28, bringing together over 100 attendees.
The conference focused on empowering young professionals to drive innovative solutions aligned with the sustainable development goals (SDG).
UNGCSA executive director Achieng Ojwang opened the event by emphasising the importance of young people in sustainability. “Sustainability is intrinsically linked to inclusion. You cannot claim inclusion if you do not have young people as an integral constituency within the work that you do. “
Ojwang referred to young professionals as key drivers of innovative thinking in the private sector, particularly around sustainable business practices. “We see incredible potential in our young leaders, and it’s crucial to invest in their ideas and innovations. Every challenge, be it poverty or education, is also an opportunity for business to create positive societal impact.
“Our SDG Innovation Accelerator programme has successfully guided over 140 innovators from 35 South African companies, helping them develop scalable solutions to sustainability challenges.”
The Alexforbes head of sustainability, Lee Swan, expressed the firm’s commitment to integrating sustainability into its core operations, and supporting the development of young talent. “Sustainability is at the core of what we do as a business. We believe that thinking sustainably is essential for achieving long-term outcomes for our clients. Our partnership with the UNGCSA is crucial in fostering innovation and creating discussions among young professionals within our economy.”
Swan shared the initiatives they have to support young professionals. “We send a cohort of young professionals each year to the UNGCSA SDG Innovation Accelerator, providing them with transformative experiences that integrate sustainable thinking into their work.
“This is how we can collectively empower the next generation of leaders in the financial services industry.”
The conference served as a platform for collaboration, innovation, and mutual learning, urging all attendees to work together towards achieving a more inclusive and sustainable future.
