FINN Partners' Third Annual Climate and Sustainability Forum Unites Global Leaders Across Business, Government and Nonprofit Sectors

More Than 40 Leaders Share Ideas on Resilient Communities, Sustainable Travel and Responses to the Global Poly-Crisis

NEW YORK, Sept. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Resiliency and sustainability are no longer issues at the edge of business or public life. They shape economic competitiveness, public health, community safety and the kind of world future generations will inherit. Coinciding with Climate Week NYC and the United Nations General Assembly, FINN Partners will convene leaders who are moving beyond promises to show what practical progress looks like.

The Third Annual Climate & Sustainability Leadership Forum will take place on Wednesday, September 23, from 8 AM to 6 PM ET, followed by an in-person reception at FINN Partners in New York. The program is in cooperation with 1BusinessWorld, a global organizer of in-person and virtual conferences.

The Forum will connect leaders from academia, business, government and not-for-profit organizations, with perspectives spanning conservation, education, energy, environment, finance, health, manufacturing, technology, travel and tourism. Together, presenters explore a shared premise: purpose and prosperity reinforce one another, strengthening reputation and stakeholder relationships when leaders turn intention into action.

Leadership That Builds What Comes Next

Peter Finn, CEO and Founding Managing Partner of FINN Partners, will open the Forum, drawing on lessons from his work helping revitalize Hunter, New York, through the Catskill Mountain Foundation: "Hunter showed me what becomes possible when people unite to build a sustainable community," said Finn. "That lesson shaped FINN and our belief that purpose and prosperity can strengthen one another."

Solutions With Consequences for Everyday Life

The program will make the scale of the challenge tangible through leaders already reshaping cities, industries and communities. Keith Kerman, Chief Fleet Officer and Deputy Commissioner of the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services, will discuss the city's clean fleet plan. Syd Kitson, chairman and CEO of Kitson & Partners, will share lessons from Babcock Ranch, a solar-powered, storm-resilient community built around sustainable development.

Featured conversations examine how Belize is aligning tourism with a national sustainability plan; how new technology can extend the reach of first responders confronting wildfires; how food loss and waste accelerate climate pressures, and why mental health and emotional resilience belong within the climate agenda. Sessions will address industrial decarbonization, sustainable design and the relationship between artificial intelligence and responsible growth.

"People experience the stakes of sustainability long before they appear in a corporate report," said Gil Bashe, Chair Global Health and Purpose at FINN Partners. "They are felt when wildfire threatens a home, severe weather tests a community, tourism either protects or depletes a destination and business decisions shape health, livelihoods and opportunity. This Forum is built on the belief that economic strength, human health and the well-being of the planet are inseparable."

Communication That Moves People to Act

The Forum also recognizes that progress begins when people are aware, acknowledge what matters and act.

"Communication is essential to business resilience. It turns evidence into understanding, commitments into accountability and engages people as partners in shaping what comes next," said Amy Terpeluk, Managing Partner and Global Purpose & Social Impact Practice Lead at FINN Partners.

Terpeluk adds, "This Forum propels practical ideas from leaders prioritizing sustainability into the global conversation and connects those ideas with communities and decision-makers ready to put them to work."

Participating organizations include Babcock Ranch, the Government of Belize, Kenvue, Michelin North America, the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services, Rabobank North America, Schroders Capital, Sustainable Brands, Unilever and WWF International. Together with leaders from conservation, education, emergency response, public health and technology, they give the Forum global reach and offer practical experience across the sectors shaping business and community resilience. The complete program and speaker roster are available on the registration page.

Continuing the Conversation

The Forum will conclude with an in-person networking reception from 5 PM to 7 PM ET at the FINN Partners New York office (registration required). The gathering offers speakers, partners and sustainability leaders an opportunity to turn dialogue into new relationships and potential collaborations.

Register: https://1businessworld.com/2026-climate-sustainability-leadership-forum/

About FINN Partners
Founded in 2011 on the core principles of innovation and collaborative partnership, FINN Partners has grown from about $24 million in fees to approximately $200 million in fees during the past 14 years, becoming one of the fastest-growing independent public relations agencies in the world. Recognized as one of Fast Company's 2024 Most Innovative Companies, PRovoke Media's 2024 Best Agency to Work For and 2022 Agency of the Year, the full-service marketing and communications company's record-setting pace results from organic growth and integrating new companies and new people into the FINN world through a common philosophy. With more than 1,300 professionals across 39 offices, FINN provides clients with global access and capabilities in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. In addition, FINN provides its clients with access to top-tier agencies worldwide through its membership in the global network PROI.

Headquartered in New York, FINN has offices in: Abu Dhabi, Atlanta, Bangalore, Bangkok, Beijing, Boston, Chicago, Columbus, Delhi, Denver, Detroit, Dublin, Fort Lauderdale, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Honolulu, Jerusalem, Kuala Lumpur, London, Los Angeles, Madison, Wisc., Manila, Melbourne, Minneapolis, Mumbai, Munich, Nashville, Orange County, Paris, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Singapore, Sydney, Vancouver, Washington D.C. and Yangon. Find us at finnpartners.com and follow us on Instagram at @finnpartners.

About 1BusinessWorld
1BusinessWorld is a global business ecosystem and convening platform connecting entrepreneurs, business leaders, investors and organizations across industries and markets. Through its conferences, content, leadership communities and specialized "Worlds," 1BusinessWorld facilitates the exchange of ideas, insights and opportunities designed to support innovation, collaboration and responsible business growth. For more information, visit https://1businessworld.com/.

SOURCE Finn Partners, Inc.