Why Attend
Why Attend the Global CSR Forum?
The Global CSR Forum returns to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia at the Sofitel Hotel, for its second edition on the 5-6th October 2026, convening global leaders at a pivotal moment for corporate social responsibility. After years of pledges, frameworks, and expanding disclosures, the conversation has decisively shifted: 2026 is the year of execution.
Find Your Reasons to Attend
Select your area of expertise to discover the sessions, insights and connections most relevant to you.
CSR & Sustainability Strategy Professionals
CSR & Sustainability
CSR & Sustainability leaders attending will examine the operational realities of Scope 3 and circular economy integration. This track provides the specific frameworks required to scale complex CSR mandates in an era of mandatory ESG disclosures. The sessions across the 3 stages connect current regulations directly to corporate strategy.
- Legally mandated ESG frameworks: Mastering the shift from voluntary initiatives to binding compliance
- Scope 3 and circular economy integration: Blueprinting execution strategies for corporate adoption
- The role of AI in CSR: Scaling complex sustainability mandates and data processing through the latest AI developments
- Global CSR community: Benchmark operations and collaborate with dedicated networking opportunities
Governance, Risk & Compliance Professionals
Governance, Risk & Compliance
For those working in Governance, Risk & Compliance the Global CSR Forum bridges the gap between theoretical frameworks and audit-ready operations. Attendees will explore the integration of non-financial ESG data into Enterprise Risk Management to properly mitigate international liabilities. Furthermore, the wider focus remains on verifiable compliance and systemic risk reduction.
- Mandatory global reporting frameworks: Extracting concrete compliance roadmaps for international transition
- Enterprise Risk Management (ERM): Embedding non-financial ESG data directly into core risk assessments
- Multinational operational baselines: Designing audit-ready metrics for complex global organizations
- Supply chain liabilities and sourcing risks: Mitigating operational exposure using real-world data and monitoring
People, Culture & HR Professionals
People, Culture & HR
Human resources leaders attending the Global CSR Forum will address the strategic HR implications of AI and the evolving social elements of ESG. Sessions will look to connect the protection of human capital with the enforcement of ethical labor standards globally. In addition, there will be a focus on talent retention, and the role HR teams can play in this issue to turn this into a strategic CSR asset.
- The 'S' in ESG: Utilizing specific metrics to protect human capital and reframe social responsibilities
- Global talent retention: Transforming executive HR programs into measurable, auditable CSR assets
- AI-driven job displacement: Assessing and mitigating the strategic human resource impacts of technology
- Ethical labor across supply chains: Deploying strategies for human rights enforcement and equitable practices
Government, Public Policy & Regulatory Professionals
Government & Public Policy
Government officials & Policymakers convening at the Global CSR Forum will assess the regulatory pathways required to align domestic markets with global ESG standards. Sessions will focus on structuring viable public-private partnerships and leveraging CSR execution to enhance sovereign competitiveness. The program details how localized regulations interact with international disclosures.
- Global private sector CSR adoption: Examining the specific market incentives and subsidies driving corporate action
- Public-private partnerships: Structuring frameworks capable of funding and delivering major national projects
- Sovereign competitiveness: Leveraging execution-focused CSR to secure long-term economic and geopolitical advantage
- Localized market regulations: Aligning domestic policy pathways with mandatory global ESG disclosure requirements
Urban & Real Estate Development Professionals
Urban & Real Estate
Real estate developers in attendance at the Global CSR Forum will acquire execution strategies for managing Scope 3 emissions across large-scale construction and smart city projects. The agenda addresses the operational standards required to advance equitable urban mobility and translate sustainability compliance directly into asset value. Furthermore, there will be discussions around the role of CSR & Civic Infrastructure in Smart Cities.
- Sustainable infrastructure mega-projects: Extracting practical execution lessons from large-scale developments
- Scope 3 emissions in construction: Managing environmental impact and material tracking across building supply chains
- Equitable urban mobility and connectivity: Implementing the operational standards necessary for modern urban planning
- Asset value through compliance: Translating urban CSR requirements into measurable financial and property returns
Energy Transition & Climate Professionals
Energy & Climate
Energy and climate professionals attending the Global CSR Forum will discuss the complex issue of decarbonizing global energy supply chains. Sessions will look to outline the operational steps needed to transition from theoretical sustainability to executed net-zero pathways.
- Global net-zero pathways: Assessing the operational and engineering steps required within the energy sector
- Complex Scope 3 energy supply chains: Tackling systemic decarbonization challenges in fuel and power delivery
- Theoretical sustainability to execution-focused CSR: Navigating the energy sector's ongoing operational evolution
Philanthropy & Social Impact Professionals
Philanthropy & Social Impact
The philanthropy & social impact track at the 2026 Global CSR Forum investigates the commercial drivers behind modern corporate-NGO partnerships. Sessions will discuss community impact measurement and transforming organizational crisis response. The focus is on verifiable, data-driven community investment.
- Corporate-NGO partnerships: Capitalizing on the commercial imperatives driving effective collaboration
- Community impact measurement: Deploying digital tools to quantify modern philanthropy
- Global crisis response: Transforming organizational approaches to large-scale disaster and international relief
- Community investment execution: Extracting data-driven insights for targeted, effective resource allocation
Supply Chain & Responsible Sourcing Professionals
Supply Chain & Sourcing
Supply chain leaders attending the Global CSR Forum will be met with a program focused on preparing procurement operations for international traceability standards. The content centers on circularity, enforcing ethical oversight and mitigating supply chain volatility.
- International traceability standards: Preparing global procurement operations for rigorous regulatory compliance.
- Scope 3 decarbonization and circularity: Implementing execution frameworks across international manufacturing bases.
- Auditable operational baselines: Converting vendor guidelines into the concrete metrics required for market access.
Corporate & Public Affairs Professionals
Corporate & Public Affairs
Corporate affairs professionals at the Global CSR Forum will strategize on aligning sustainability initiatives with complex geopolitical and economic policies. The agenda emphasizes protecting stakeholder trust during disruptions and facilitating large-scale institutional partnerships. The sessions address the realities of cross-border market expansion.
- International economic policies: Aligning CSR initiatives with multinational agendas and trade realities
- Stakeholder trust during disruptions: Redesigning corporate crisis response models for climate and geopolitical events
- Cross-border market expansion: Navigating the reputational and regulatory complexities of international growth
- Large-scale public-private partnerships: Understanding the mechanics of facilitating strategic, multi-stakeholder deals
Agriculture & Rural Affairs Professionals
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Agriculture & Rural Affairs leaders in Riyadh will formulate data-driven approaches to mitigate physical environmental risks. This track examines the enforcement of strict ethical oversight in complex food systems and discussions will center on aligning agricultural initiatives with institutional capital.
- Environmental risks: Formulating resilient strategies for global agriculture ecosystems
- Ethical oversight in food supply chains: Gaining insights on practical, large-scale enforcement mechanisms
- Sovereign funding and institutional capital: Aligning sustainable agriculture initiatives with significant financial incentives