Kaplan Middle East & North Africa (MENA), one of the region’s leading professional learning providers, has successfully hosted two exclusive Sustainability & ESG Forums in Riyadh and Dubai on 28 and 29 October 2025. The events brought together influential voices in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) leadership from across the globe.
The Riyadh event, held in collaboration with the Financial Academy, the organisation responsible for developing human capital capabilities in the financial sector, and the Dubai event, hosted by Kaplan MENA, convened senior decision-makers from government, industry, and finance. The discussions focused on transforming ESG from a compliance exercise into a core business value driver.
A Platform for Action: From Policy to Practicality
Under the theme “Turning Sustainability into a Competitive Advantage: From Cost Centre to Value Driver,” both forums featured keynote addresses and panel discussions led by global sustainability and ESG leaders, including executives from ACWA Power, Emirates Global Aluminium, Al Safi Danone, and VFS Global, as well as a UN-awarded sustainability expert.
Speakers discussed operationalising ESG strategies, future-proofing businesses, and aligning with national visions such as Saudi Vision 2030 and UAE Net Zero 2050.
Stuart Whent, Chief Operating Officer at Kaplan MENA said,
“These forums are more than just conversations; they are accelerators for meaningful change. We are convening the people who have the influence and vision to reshape how sustainability is embedded in our region’s economic future.”
Launching a First-of-Its-Kind Sustainability and ESG Education Pathway
At the heart of the forums was the launch of Kaplan’s Sustainability & ESG Foundations Certificate, an accredited learning programme tailored specifically for GCC professionals. This innovative course integrates:
- Regional context, including a module aligned with GCC policy and regulatory frameworks
- Sector-specific pathways, enabling learners to specialise in industries such as finance, energy, and tourism
- Global academic rigour, co-designed with Melina Taprantzi, Founder of Earth & Co. and a UN-awarded ESG expert
Melina Taprantzi said,
“We designed this programme to close the gap between ESG intent and credible implementation. The curriculum bridges global standards with regional realities, ensuring learners walk away with both strategic insight and practical tools.”
Driving Real Change in the Middle East
As more organisations across the Middle East adopt ESG strategies, the need for robust, localised training has become increasingly urgent. Kaplan’s initiative directly supports national priorities by:
- Enabling better ESG reporting and data quality
- Helping companies access green capital and reduce the cost of funding
- Building a scalable, sustainable talent pipeline with verified ESG skills
- Catalysing cross-sector collaboration through high-level convening
With over 1.2 million learners annually across 27 countries, Kaplan is leveraging its global education expertise to address one of the region’s most pressing challenges – building ESG capabilities that are credible, relevant, and impactful.
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