Global leaders convene at WiSER Annual Forum as platform marks 10 years of advancing women in sustainability
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Senior decision-makers gather to advance global dialogue on women’s leadership in sustainability, as WiSER hosts its Annual Forum during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2026
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High-level participation from ministers, ambassadors and international leaders underscores the Forum’s role in shaping inclusive growth across policy, finance, innovation and governance
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WiSER marks milestone with the launch of its 10-Year Impact Report, showcasing a decade of empowering women to drive climate, policy and economic solutions
More than 120 influential figures gathered to advance dialogue on women’s leadership in sustainability and inclusive development at an annual forum held by WiSER, a global platform founded by Masdar and Zayed Sustainability Prize. The event took place on Wednesday, January 14, as part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2026.
Held under the theme, “Inclusive Pathways for Transformative Growth,” the Forum featured a series of high-level roundtable discussions examining how women’s leadership can drive systemic change, with a focus on inclusive finance, policy and governance reform, scaling innovation, advancing skills for the future of work, redefining leadership norms, and strengthening inclusive foresight to build long-term resilience. It welcomed participation from across government and international institutions, including H.E. Lucia Witbooi, Vice President of the Republic of Namibia.
Commenting on the importance of the Forum, H.E. Lucia Witbooi said: “Inclusion is the foundation of sustainable progress. When women are empowered to lead at the highest levels, institutions become more responsive, decision-making more balanced, and development more resilient. Global platforms like the WiSER Annual Forum play a vital role in ensuring that women’s voices help shape the policies and systems that define our collective future.”
Dr Lamya Fawwaz, Executive Director of Brand and Strategic Initiatives at Masdar and WiSER Program Director, said:
Over the past ten years, WiSER has shown what becomes possible when women are trusted as leaders and supported to act. Looking ahead, our focus is on momentum and building pathways that enable women to lead the next era of sustainability, innovation, and policy. The future we are working toward is one where inclusion is not an aspiration, but a driver of lasting impact.
During the Forum, WiSER launched its 10-Year Impact Report, marking a decade of advancing gender-inclusive leadership across the global sustainability agenda and setting out its vision for the decade ahead.
Since its launch in 2015, WiSER has grown into a globally recognized platform shaping the next generation of women sustainability leaders. Over the past decade, it has empowered more than 150 women through its flagship Pioneers program, delivered over 565 hours of structured one-to-one mentorship, and mobilized a global network of 35+ mentors and 85+ strategic partners
Beyond the numbers, WiSER’s impact is reflected in the lived outcomes of the women it supports. Drawn from more than 30 countries, WiSER Pioneers are translating ideas into action, launching clean energy enterprises, shaping climate and energy policy, advancing innovation, and driving solutions that strengthen communities on the ground. Alumni have gone on to influence decision-making in government and industry, contribute to global forums such as the Conference of the Parties (COP), and apply technical expertise in ways that improve access to energy, water, and climate-resilient infrastructure.
Through its annual forums, summits, and policy dialogues across six continents, WiSER has convened over 4,000 influential voices from government, industry, academia, and civil society, building a powerful pipeline of inclusive leadership. Working with partners worldwide, WiSER channels insights from these collaborations into white papers, podcasts, and dialogues that shape policy, industry practice, and everyday decision-making.
The 10-year milestone also marks the launch of WiSER’s next phase, a renewed vision for the decade ahead. Looking toward 2035, WiSER will expand its global footprint, deepen alumni engagement, scale field-based programs such as WiSER Cares, and strengthen policy advocacy to accelerate women’s leadership in sustainability worldwide.
WiSER’s journey demonstrates that gender equity is not peripheral to sustainability, it is foundational to progress. As the platform enters its next decade, it calls on governments, businesses and civil society to partner in building a more inclusive, resilient and sustainable future.
To download the full report and learn more, visit: https://masdar.ae/-/media/corporate-revamp/downloads/wiser/celebrating-10-years-of-wiser-impact-report.pdf
