More than 120 senior decision-makers, policymakers, and global leaders gathered at the WiSER Annual Forum to advance dialogue on women’s leadership in sustainability and inclusive development.
Held on 14 January 2026 as part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2026, the Forum marked a major milestone—10 years since the founding of WiSER, a global platform established by Masdar and the Zayed Sustainability Prize.
Held under the theme “Inclusive Pathways for Transformative Growth,” the Forum featured a series of high-level roundtable discussions exploring how women’s leadership can drive systemic change across sustainability ecosystems. Key focus areas included:
Inclusive finance, policy, and governance reform
Scaling innovation and future-ready skills
Redefining leadership norms
Strengthening inclusive foresight for long-term resilience
Participants represented governments, international institutions, industry, and civil society, including H.E. Lucia Witbooi, Vice President of the Republic of Namibia.
H.E. Lucia Witbooi highlighted the critical role of inclusion in sustainable progress, noting that empowering women at the highest levels leads to more balanced decision-making, stronger institutions, and more resilient development outcomes.
Dr Lamya Fawwaz, Executive Director of Brand and Strategic Initiatives at Masdar and WiSER Program Director, reflected on WiSER’s journey, emphasizing that the platform’s next chapter will focus on building momentum and enabling women to lead the next era of sustainability, innovation, and policy—where inclusion is a driver of impact, not an aspiration.
A key highlight of the Forum was the launch of WiSER’s 10-Year Impact Report, showcasing a decade of advancing gender-inclusive leadership across the global sustainability agenda and outlining the platform’s vision for the decade ahead.
Since its launch in 2015, WiSER has grown into a globally recognized leadership platform, having:
Empowered 150+ women through its flagship Pioneers Program
Delivered 565+ hours of structured one-to-one mentorship
Built a global network of 35+ mentors and 85+ strategic partners
WiSER’s impact extends well beyond metrics. Its Pioneers—drawn from over 30 countries—are translating ideas into action by launching clean energy enterprises, shaping climate and energy policy, advancing innovation, and strengthening community resilience. Alumni have gone on to influence decision-making in government and industry, contribute to global forums such as COP, and apply technical expertise to improve access to energy, water, and climate-resilient infrastructure.
Through forums, summits, and policy dialogues across six continents, WiSER has convened more than 4,000 influential voices from government, industry, academia, and civil society. Insights from these engagements are channelled into white papers, podcasts, and global dialogues that inform policy, industry practice, and decision-making worldwide.
The 10-year milestone also marks the beginning of WiSER’s next phase. Looking toward 2035, the platform will:
Expand its global footprint
Deepen alumni engagement
Scale field-based initiatives such as WiSER Cares
Strengthen policy advocacy to accelerate women’s leadership in sustainability
WiSER’s journey reinforces a powerful message: 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 work together to build a more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable future for all.