On 25 March 2026, UNU will host “From Regulation to Collaboration: The Role of the Private Sector in the UN System”, a conversation with Georg Kell, Founder and former Executive Director of the United Nations Global Compact, and Chairman of Arabesque. This event will start at 18:30 in the 2F Reception Hall at UNU Headquarters in Tokyo.
Since its founding in 1945, the United Nations has maintained a complex and evolving relationship with the private sector. While business leaders initially played a supportive role in the creation of the UN, the onset of the Cold War constrained private sector engagement. In this period, interaction with the private sector was largely channelled through technical and specialized agencies, most notably the International Labour Organization.
In the post-Cold War period, cooperation with the private sector became politically viable again. Under former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, the United Nations Global Compact was launched, establishing a voluntary framework through which companies could align their strategies with UN values and principles. The initiative has since grown into a global network of more than 20,000 participants across over 70 countries, with complimentary initiatives such as the Principles for Responsible Investment advancing the integration of environmental, social and governance considerations into global finance.
Today, the multilateral system is under mounting strain. Rising nationalism, armed conflict, declining development cooperation and the weaponization of trade are placing increasing pressure on UN principles and international cooperation. At a time when multilateralism faces unprecedented pressure, understanding the role of the private sector in supporting global cooperation has never been more urgent.
In this conversation, Georg Kell will join UNU Rector Tshilidzi Marwala for a discussion on the role of the private sector in shaping the future of multilateralism. The discussion will consider questions such as: What past models of UN-private sector engagement have proven effective, and which have fallen short? How should the role of global cooperations evolve as multilateral institutions face geopolitical fragmentation and declining trust? What incentives and safeguards are necessary to align corporate engagement with global public goods? What responsibilities and opportunities lie ahead for private companies?
This event is part of the UNU Conversation Series, which aims to foster audience participation. You are encouraged to engage with the speakers during the conversation and at the reception that will follow, where all event attendees are invited to enjoy hors d’oeuvres and drinks while exchanging ideas and making new contacts.
Please note that this event will be in English, with simultaneous interpretation into Japanese. Advance registration (by 24 March at 15:00) is required. Please click on the REGISTER button above to access the online registration page. Please be prepared to present identification at check-in.
About the speaker
Georg Kell is Chairman of Arabesque, a technology company that uses AI to empower the next generation of investors. He also advises business executives worldwide on sustainability and transformation issues.
Mr. Kell is the founding Director of the United Nations Global Compact, the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative. During his career of almost three decades at the United Nations, working directly with former Secretary Generals Kofi Annan and Ban Ki-moon, he built the UN Global Compact and oversaw the launch if its sister initiatives, including the Principles for Responsible Investing (PRI), the Principles for Responsible Management Education, and the Sustainable Stock Exchanges.
Georg started his career as a research fellow in engineering at the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology and Innovation in Berlin. He then worked as a financial analyst in various African and Asian countries before joining the United Nations in 1987.
A native of Germany, Mr. Kell holds advanced degrees in economics and engineering from the Technical University of Berlin.
