UNEP FI Global Roundtable 2024

UNEP FI is hosting its 18th Global Roundtable on 10-11 December in Geneva, Switzerland and online. The flagship event will focus on accelerating practical approaches to setting and implementing targets in areas including net zero, nature, impact, pollution, human rights, and financial inclusion to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

UNEP FI’s biennial Global Roundtable (GRT) is a key event for driving action within the finance industry, offering thousands of professionals the chance to collaborate with peers and gain insights from global leaders. The GRT convenes a diverse group of stakeholders, including banks, insurers, investors, regulators, policymakers, and civil society, to collectively shape the sustainable finance agenda and catalyse action across the financial system to deliver more sustainable global economies for years to come.

UNEP FI and Building Bridges join forces

This year, the Global Roundtable will be held under the same roof as Building Bridges (9-12 December), a powerful movement that brings 2500+ attendees from 100+ countries from the finance and corporate sectors, governments, civil society, academia, and sustainable development communities to Geneva annually, to shape the global sustainable finance agenda and build a bridge towards a global economic model that meets the needs of a sustainable and just society. Find out more about Building Bridges 2024 here.

Registrations

In-person attendance

Registrations for general public

Takes you to registration

In-person attendance

UNEP FI Member registrations

Takes you to the Members’ Area

Virtual attendance

Virtual registrations

Live virtual attendance

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I register?

Please register here

What are the costs for event passes?

UNEP FI Members: UNEP FI members receive 2 complimentary passes per organisation. You can find the link to register in the members’ area, or contact us on roundtable@unepfi.org
General Public: Prices vary between 150 and 300CHF.
Online Attendance: Free of charge.

I’ve registered for the UNEP FI Global Roundtable; do I also get access to Building Bridges?

Yes, registration grants access to the UNEP FI Global Roundtable and the Building Bridges Action Days (10-12 December), whether attending in person or virtually.

I’ve registered to attend in-person. Do I have to pay for anything else?

Participants traveling to Geneva are responsible for their own travel arrangements and related costs, including transportation, visa (if applicable), food, and accommodation.

Can I join online?

Yes, sessions at the Global Roundtable will be streamed live on the UNEP FI website. Register to attend online here for free, and a link to watch the event will be sent to you closer to the event. Join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #GRT2024.

Does UNEP FI provide certificates of participation?

No, UNEP FI does not issue certificates of participation.

Will there be Wi-Fi at the venue?

Yes, free Wi-Fi will be provided at the venue.

Where is the in-person event located?

The UNEP FI Global Roundtable (GRT) will be held at the CICG – The International Conference Center Geneva (Rue de Varembé 17, 1211 Genève, Switzerland).

Is there a recommended hotel I should stay at?

While it is entirely up to each participant to choose their accommodation, our partner Building Bridges has provided a list of recommended hotels on their website. Please note that UNEP FI does not have any special agreements with these hotels.

How do I get to the venue?

Please find detailed directions on the Building Bridges website.

How do I travel to Geneva?

You can travel to Geneva by plane, with Geneva Airport (GVA) being the main international gateway, or by train, car, or bus from other European cities. UNEP FI is not responsible for covering any travel costs.

What is the best way to travel around Geneva?

The best way to travel around Geneva is by using its efficient public transportation system, including trams, buses, and trains. Walking and cycling are also popular options.

How do I get to the CICG venue?

The CICG (Centre International de Conférences Genève) can be easily reached by taking a tram or bus from various parts of the city, or by taxi, although we recommend using the most sustainable choice i.e. public transport.

Do I need a visa to visit Geneva?

Whether you need a visa depends on your nationality. Schengen Area visa rules apply, so check if your country requires a visa for Switzerland. Participants traveling to Geneva are responsible for their own travel arrangements and related costs, including visa (if applicable).

UNEP FI is unable to provide letters to assist with visa applications.

Contact us for any questions or comments, or if you are interested in sponsoring the Global Roundtable, at: roundtable@unepfi.org.

We invite you to explore the Global Roundtable 2024 agenda below. In parallel, the Building Bridges Action Days will take place from 10–12 December at the same venue. As a participant of the GRT, you will also have full access to the Building Bridges Action Days, featuring 65+ crowd-sourced sessions, offering a wide array of interactive formats such as panel discussions, workshops, fishbowl conversations, trainings, and case studies. To explore the Building Bridges Action Days program, click here.

Time (CET)	10 December 2024 – Day 1
10:50	Opening of the UNEP FI Global Roundtable 2024 Eric Usher, Head, UNEP FI
11:00	SPEECH Keynote
11:10	PLENARY PANEL Driving change through responsible banking and sustainable insurance Jean-François Chalifoux, President and CEO, Beneva
12:05	HIGH-LEVEL DIALOGUE Accelerating the real economy transition Gilles Vermot Desroches, SVP Corporate Citizenship and Institutional affairs, Schneider Electric
12:30	SPEECH Keynote
12:40	FIRESIDE CHAT Bringing nature to the heart of finance Kirsten Schuijt, Director General, WWF International
13:00	Lunch
	Start of Deep Dive sessions
14:00	DEEP DIVE SESSION 1 Embedding biodiversity concerns across portfolios Antoni Ballabriga, Global Head of Sustainability Intelligence & Advocacy, BBVA Kirsten Schuijt, Director General, WWF International Lauren Ferstandig, Managing Director, Nature Vest, The Nature Conservancy Makoto Haraguchi, SVP of Sustainability Section, MS&AD Insurance Group	DEEP DIVE SESSION 2 Mobilising finance for energy efficiency Claudia Canevari, Head of Unit, Energy Efficiency Policy and Financing, Directorate-General for Energy (DG ENER), European Commission Grace Tam, Head of Consumer Finance, Clean Energy Finance Corporation Luca Bertalot, Secretary General, European Mortgage Federation – European Covered Bond Council (EMF-ECBC)
15:00	DEEP DIVE SESSION 3 Next steps to implementing the Global Biodiversity Framework Deborah Halberstadt, Special Advisor to the Commissioner on Biodiversity and Inclusive Insurance, California Department of Insurance Paul Harris, Head of Natural Resource Risk Management, Global Markets, Bank of Ireland Saori Takahashi, Manager, Sustainability Management, Corporate Strategy Group, The Norinchukin Bank Susanne Pedersen, Director, Science and Knowledge Centre, IUCN	DEEP DIVE SESSION 4 Mobilising sustainable finance in emerging markets Alejandra Díaz, Chief Sustainability Officer, Banco Davivienda and Seguros Bolívar Ghizlaine Nourlil, Financing Mobilization and Sustainability Group Director, Caisse de Dépôt et de Gestion (CDG) Group Joel Khaw Chuan Penn, Head of MIND and Sustainability, Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Berhad (BPMB) Simon Bessant, Global Head of Insurance and Director, The Texel Group
16:00	DEEP DIVE SESSION 5 Driving interoperability between sustainable finance taxonomies Clémence Humeau, Head of Sustainability Coordination and Governance, AXA Investment Managers Madelena Mohamed, Sustainability Director, Bank Negara Malaysia Makaio Witte, Head of Sustainable Finance, Sustainable Economic Transformation and Sustainable Finance Global Project, GIZ Tomás Soley Pérez, General Superintendent, General Superintendence of Insurance of Costa Rica (SUGESE) Sean Kidney, CEO, Climate Bonds Initiative	DEEP DIVE SESSION 6 Just transition: Incorporating human rights into climate finance Carlos José Santos Lardé, Sustainability Manager, Banco Bolivariano Dorothée Baumann-Pauly, Director, Geneva Center for Business and Human Rights Jenny Wik Karlsson, CEO & Senior Legal Adviser, Swedish Sami Association and Chairperson, FSC Sweden Masaaki Nagamura, Fellow International Initiatives, Tokio Marine Nick Robins, Executive Director, Just Transition Finance Lab, LSE
17:00	DEEP DIVE SESSION 7 Mainstreaming impact management Gemma Sanchez-Danes, Acting Head of Secretariat, Sustainability Reporting (ESRS), EFRAG Noelia Garcia, Head of Sustainability Coordination and Governance, ISO Susan Stawicki, Head of Reporting, UN Global Compact Vincent Siegerink, OECD Lead liaison to the Impact Management Platform, OECD & Impact Management Platform	DEEP DIVE SESSION 8 Tackling plastics and promoting circularity to achieve sustainability goals Opening Keynote: Andrew Morlet, CEO, Ellen MacArthur Foundation Panellists: Franco Piza, Head of Sustainability, Grupo Bancolombia Lauren Clarke-Wiest, Head of Data and Analytics, Aon Massimiano Tellini, Head – Circular Economy, Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center
18:00	End of Day 1

	11 December 2024 – Day 2
10:00	Opening
10:05	PLENARY PANEL Supporting global sustainability ambition through policy and regulation Christoph König, Deputy State Secretary, State Secretariat for International Finance SIF of the Ministry of Finance, Switzerland Geetu Joshi, Advisor, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance of the Government of India Irene Heemskerk, Head of the Climate Change Centre, European Central Bank
10:50	FIRESIDE CHAT Fireside chat
11:10	PLENARY PANEL Driving 1.5 ambition through finance Marc Kahn, Chief Strategy & Sustainability Officer, Investec Group Sue Reid, Climate Finance Advisor to Christiana Figueres, Global Optimism
11:55	FIRESIDE CHAT Risk and impact: Both sides of the same coin Christos Megalou, CEO, Piraeus Bank Sander Biesma, CEO, NN Re
12:15	Lunch
	Start of Deep Dive sessions
13:15	DEEP DIVE SESSION 9 Scaling finance for adaptation Amal-Lee Amin, Managing Director and Head of Climate, Diversity and Advisory, British International Investment Denisse Gonzalez, Climate Change Specialist, Produbanco Nicola Ranger, Leader, Resilience & International Development Programme, and Executive Director, Oxford Martin Programme Tomás Soley Pérez, General Superintendent, General Superintendence of Insurance of Costa Rica (SUGESE) Vanessa Doger de Spéville, Head, Sustainability, Reputation & Engagement, Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB)	DEEP DIVE SESSION 10 Overcoming data challenges in sustainable finance Hans Biemans, Head of Sustainable Markets, ING Simone Kramer, Head of Product, Net Zero Data Public Utility (NZDPU), Bloomberg
14:05	DEEP DIVE SESSION 11 Transition finance: Opportunities and challenges Linda Freiner, Chief Sustainability Officer, Zurich Insurance Group Tomo Ishikawa, Chief Regulatory Engagement Officer, MUFG Udo Riese, Global Head of Sustainable Investing, Allianz Investment Management Vincent Damas, Group Head of Sustainability, CNP Assurances	DEEP DIVE SESSION 12 Public and private cooperation for sustainable development Meg Nicolaysen, Deputy Director, Climate Change and Sustainability, UK Export Finance Susan Olsen, CFA, Principal Investment Specialist, Private Sector Financial Institutions, South East Asia Region, Asian Development Bank
15:05	DEEP DIVE SESSION 13 Closing the gender gap: the role of banks (co-hosted with UN Women) Dawn Bailey, Head of Financial Wellbeing, Bank of Ireland Verónica Gavilanes Véjar, Deputy General Manager, BancoSol Wendy Teleki, Head of the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (WE-FI), the World Bank	DEEP DIVE SESSION 14 – Insurance Unlocking nature-positive insurance for a thriving planet Amandine Favier, Head of Sustainable Finance, WWF Switzerland Caroline Wakesho Sonje, ESG Specialist, ICEA Lion Emily McKenzie, Technical Director, TNFD Thomas Viegas, Nature Strategy Lead, Aviva
16:05	DEEP DIVE SESSION 15 – PRB Effective client engagement: Strategies for banks to foster sustainable finance Christine Würfel, Head of Group ESG & Sustainability Management, Raiffeisen Bank International AG (RBI) Shargiil Bashir, Chief Sustainability Officer and Executive Vice President, First Abu Dhabi Bank	DEEP DIVE SESSION 16 – Insurance Scaling climate action in the insurance industry Amita Chaudhury, Group Head of Sustainability, AIA Dale Perry, Assistant Vice President of Climate and Environment Risk, Sun Life Esther Egeter, Sustainability Manager, a.s.r. João Mestre, Sustainability Director, Fidelidade
17:05	DEEP DIVE SESSION 17 – PRB Engaging clients on social issues: Strategies for banks to drive positive impact Abimbola Agbejule, Head, Corporate Sustainability, Wema Bank Amanda Zillig, Human Rights Lead, ING Jonathan Fowlie, Chief External Relations Officer and Head of Impact Strategy, Vancity Yasmine Pagni, Head of the Social Policy Unit, European Investment Bank	DEEP DIVE SESSION 18 – insurance V20: Insuring the most vulnerable Sara Jane Ahmed, Managing Director and V20 Finance Advisor, Climate Vulnerable Forum and V20 Finance Ministers
18:05	End of GRT2024

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