Join us as we bring together the Business Fights Poverty community to explore how we can collectively navigate the opportunities and challenges of 2025. This online event is a unique opportunity to connect, share insights, and collaborate on key trends and strategies to deepen partnerships for impact.
Our annual start-of-year Community Forum is an inclusive and engaging platform where voices from around the world come together. Part written forum, part video event, the session will provide valuable opportunities to exchange ideas, gain fresh perspectives, and network with panellists and community members globally.
To help kick off the conversation, our Business Fights Poverty Institute Senior Fellows have identified 5 areas to prioritise in 2025. Join us at Together for 2025 Community Forum to add your perspectives, and explore how we collectively take action this year.
Date: Wednesday, 22 January, 2025 Time: 10:00 to 11:15 am EST / 3:00 to 4:15 pm GMT
Amina Coulibaly, Senior Country Economist for Timor-Leste, Economic Policies GP, World Bank
Rachel Cowburn-Walden, Global Head of Sustainability (Human Rights), Unilever
Deb Gallagher, Professor Emeritus, Duke University
Justin Perrettson, Head of Partnerships and External Engagement, Novonesis
Sarah Roberts, CEO, Practical Action
Amanda Smith, Head of Community Impact, Diageo
Kim Wales, CEO, Wales Capital
Peg Willingham, Senior Managing Director, Food & Agriculture, Save the Children
And many more, see the full list of contributors here.
Together we will explore these three questions:
What priorities or actions should businesses focus on in 2025 to maximize their social and environmental impact?
What are the most significant challenges the social impact community will likely face in 2025, and how could we approach them?
If you could offer one piece of guidance to a corporate social impact leader stepping into 2025, what would it be?
How to add your comments
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Thanks for the invitation Yvette and Zahid and this wonderful initiative! It will be a pleasure to participate and share of views from BBVA Microfinance Foundation. [Laura Fernández Lord](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ laurafernandezlord)
I am Muhammad Zubair Mughal, the Chief Executive Officer of AlHuda Centre of Islamic Banking and Economics (CIBE). With over 19 years of experience in Islamic finance, I have dedicated my career to promoting Shariah-compliant financial systems, including Islamic banking, Takaful, Sukuk, and Islamic microfinance, across more than 85 countries. I have had the privilege of working with esteemed organizations such as the World Bank, Islamic Development Bank, and central banks worldwide to develop inclusive and sustainable financial solutions. Through my research, speaking engagements, and advisory roles, I strive to contribute to financial inclusion, poverty alleviation, and the global advancement of Islamic finance.
It will be a pleasure to Participate and share my views from Alhuda CIBE.
You can find me on LinkedIn at: Zubair Mughal - AlHuda Centre of Islamic Banking & Economics | LinkedIn
I am glad to be invited! I am Dos Santos (NIlton) from African Trade Chamber, Southern African Region. In my point of view to enhance social and environmental impact in 2025, businesses should align their operations with principles that prioritize sustainability, ethical governance, and community well-being. This includes investing in renewable energy, sustainable farming, and strengthening local supply chains to reduce reliance on imports while generating jobs and boosting regional economies. Equipping youth and women with skills and opportunities should be a key focus to address unemployment and enable their meaningful participation in economic progress. Crucially, businesses must involve the communities they serve as active stakeholders and, where possible, as shareholders to ensure solutions are inclusive, equitable, and community-driven.
Overcoming challenges like climate risks, economic disparities, and limited financial access will require joint efforts between the public and private sectors, along with tailored regional approaches. Companies must prioritize building resilience through initiatives that address environmental threats, ensure fair compensation, and expand access to funding for small businesses and community-driven enterprises. By embedding local communities into decision-making processes and offering them a tangible stake in the outcomes, businesses can foster trust, drive transformative change, and support lasting development while achieving sustainable growth.
