Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Forum

September 24, 2025 | New York, NY

The 2025 Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Forum took place September 24 alongside the United Nations General Assembly in New York, bringing together top leaders from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to address the world’s most urgent challenges and opportunities. Hosted by Michael R. Bloomberg, the forum is a catalyst for collaboration, driving meaningful change through partnerships that unite government, business, and nonprofit leaders.

Global heads of state and business leaders converged to explore the next era of global cooperation. In an era marked by geopolitical shifts, economic fragmentation, and evolving power dynamics, this event identifies ways to strengthen collaboration, unlock growth, and deliver real-world impact.

Speakers

Agenda

Plenary – 9:15 to 11:30 AM ET

9:15 AM

Welcome & Introduction

Michael R. Bloomberg
Founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies & Bloomberg L.P.

Quick Take: Harnessing the Power of AI

AI is a driving force, shaping industries, economies, and communities. We’ll explore the opportunities and challenges of this transformative technology, as well as the roles of business, government, and philanthropy in shaping AI’s trajectory.

Speaker
Ruth Porat
President & Chief Investment Officer, Alphabet & Google

Moderator
Francine Lacqua
Anchor, Bloomberg Television

The Biodiversity Imperative: Investing in Nature

From rainforests to coral reefs, biodiversity underpins planetary stability, human well-being, and economic resilience. Conservationist Dr. Jane Goodall and former U.S. Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson make the financial and ecological case for biodiversity, discussing strategies to mobilize capital and drive large-scale action that sustains life on Earth.

Speakers

Jane Goodall
Founder, The Jane Goodall Institute & UN Messenger of Peace

Henry M. Paulson Jr.
Chairman, The Paulson Institute

Moderator
Antha Williams
Head of Environment Programs, Bloomberg Philanthropies

Quick Take: NBA’s Global Game Plan

As the NBA continues its rapid global expansion, the league is shaping more than just the future of basketball—it’s helping to drive economic growth, create jobs, and inspire new industries worldwide. In this one-on-one conversation, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will share how the league is strategically investing in international markets, building partnerships that extend beyond sports, and using the power of basketball to foster opportunity, community, and economic development across the globe.

Speaker
Adam Silver
NBA Commissioner

Moderator
Jason Kelly
Chief Correspondent, Bloomberg Originals; Host & Executive Producer, The Deal

Navigating the New Global Economy

UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy discusses how foreign policy is shaping the United Kingdom’s role in a rapidly changing global landscape. We’ll examine the UK’s strategic priorities, spanning diplomacy, security, trade and global partnerships.

Speaker
The Right Honourable David Lammy
Deputy Prime Minister, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Moderator
John Micklethwait
Editor-in-Chief, Bloomberg

The Future of Global Infrastructure

How are hard assets evolving amid market volatility and geopolitical shifts? The world’s biggest and most influential infrastructure investors discuss the regions, stakeholders and projects that are poised to deliver returns and meet the world’s infrastructure needs.

Speakers

Bruce Flatt
CEO, Brookfield

Shemara Wikramanayake
Managing Director & CEO, Macquarie Group

Adebayo Ogunlesi
Chairman & CEO, Global Infrastructure Partners

Moderator
Jason Kelly
Chief Correspondent, Bloomberg Originals; Host & Executive Producer, The Deal

Europe’s Next Chapter

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola will discuss Europe’s leadership role and the key challenges and opportunities shaping its future.

Speaker
Roberta Metsola
President, European Parliament

Moderator
Francine Lacqua
Anchor, Bloomberg Television

Mission 300: Energizing Africa

Reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy creates jobs and powers economies. Mission 300 aims to connect 300 million people to electricity in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030. World Bank President Ajay Banga and AfDB President Dr. Sidi Ould Tah discuss progress to date, the growth and opportunity it’s catalyzing, and what’s next.

Speakers

Ajay Banga
President, World Bank Group

Dr. Sidi Ould Tah
President, African Development Bank

Moderator
Jennifer Zabasajja
Chief Africa Correspondent & Anchor, Bloomberg Television

Unlocking Africa’s Global Cultural Influence

African creators aren’t just driving economic growth – they’re shaping culture worldwide. Yet the full potential of Africa’s creative industries remains untapped. We’ll explore the importance of creating and distributing African content, and how investing in the creative economy can drive jobs, revenue, and influence.

Speakers

Mo Abudu
Founder & CEO, EbonyLIfe Group

Djimon Hounsou
Actor & Founder, Djimon Hounsou Foundation

Moderator
Chiney Ogwumike
Two-Time WNBA All-Star; Multi-Platform Host & Analyst

Building Africa’s Future

Masai Ujiri and Bill Gates discuss how cross-sector partnerships on infrastructure, talent development and health can drive economic growth and innovation in Africa.

Speakers

Bill Gates
Chair, Gates Foundation

Masai Ujiri
Co-Founder, Giants of Africa & Zaria Group

Moderator
Francine Lacqua
Anchor, Bloomberg Television

11:30 AM

Plenary Concludes

Mission 300: Energizing Africa – 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM ET

As part of the Forum, a dedicated session will spotlight Mission 300, an initiative to provide electricity to 300 million people in Africa by 2030. By bringing together African governments, the private sector, and development partners, it aims to deliver reliable, affordable, and sustainable power that creates jobs and powers economies. Heads of State and the leaders of the World Bank and African Development Bank will highlight the progress, growth, and opportunities that Mission 300 is catalyzing.

11:30 AM

New Compact Endorsement Ceremony

Speakers

Ajay Banga
President, World Bank Group

Michael R. Bloomberg
UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Climate Ambition & Solutions, WHO Global Ambassador for Noncommunicable Diseases & Injuries, & Founder, Bloomberg Philanthropies & Bloomberg L.P.

Heads of State and Ministers to be announced

Moderator
Jennifer Zabasajja
Chief Africa Correspondent & Anchor, Bloomberg Television

Mission 300: Energizing Africa

Discussions exploring the ways that Mission 300 is accelerating energy access, driving economic empowerment, and unlocking investment opportunities across Africa.

Speakers

H.E. John Dramani Mahama
President of the Republic of Ghana

H.E. Kaba Nialé
Minister of Economy, Planning and Development, Republic of Côte d’Ivoire

H.E. Mahmoud Thabit Kombo
Minister of Foreign Affairs and East Africa Cooperation of the United Republic of Tanzania

Dr. Sidi Ould Tah
President, African Development Bank Group

Jacqueline Novogratz
CEO and Founder, Acumen

Edu Okeke
Managing Director, Azura Power West Africa Ltd

Manoj Sinha
CEO and Co-founder, Husk Power Systems

Terje Pilskog
CEO, Scatec

Moderator
Jennifer Zabasajja
Chief Africa Correspondent & Anchor, Bloomberg Television

1:00 PM

Program Concludes

Past Forums

2017 Bloomberg Global Business Forum: Apple CEO Tim Cook and Mike Bloomberg

2024 Bloomberg Global Business Forum: Ajay Banga, President, The World Bank Group and Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director, International Monetary Fund with moderator Mark Carney, UN Special Envoy for Climate Action and Finance; Chair, Bloomberg; Co-Chair GFANZ

2019 Bloomberg Global Business Forum: European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde, HSBC Chief Executive of Global Banking and Markets Samir Assaf, Enel Chief Executive Officer Francesco Starace, Allianz Global Investors Chief Executive Officer Andreas Utermann, and Macquarie Group Chief Executive Officer Shemara Wikramanayake

2018 Bloomberg Global Business Forum: United States President William J. Clinton, Colombian President Iván Duque Márquez, Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa

2017 Bloomberg Global Business Forum: Dangote Industries CEO Aliko Dangote, Gates Foundation Co-Founder Bill Gates, PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi, and Softbank Group Chairman and CEO Masayoshi Son

2024 Bloomberg Global Business Forum: Mike Bloomberg and President Joe Biden

2019 Bloomberg Global Business Forum: Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi

2019 Bloomberg Global Business Forum: Bloomberg's Jason Kelly and Carol Massar with Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra, Bank of America Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Brian Moynihan, and Blackstone Group Chief Executive Officer and co-founder Stephen Schwarzman

2019 Bloomberg Global Business Forum: Economist Editor-in-Chief Zanny Minton Beddoes, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, European Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmstrom, Citigroup Chief Executive Officer Michael Corbat, and Credit Suisse Chief Executive Officer Tidjane Thiam

2017 Bloomberg Global Business Forum: French President Emmanuel Macron and Mike Bloomberg

2024 Bloomberg Global Business Forum: Erik Schatzker, Editorial Director, Bloomberg New Economy and Ruth Porat, President & Chief Investment Officer, Alphabet & Google

2019 Bloomberg Global Business Forum: David M. Solomon, Chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs, Hiro Mizuno, Executive Managing Director and CIO of the Government Pension Investment Fund, and Denis Duverne, Chairman of the Board of Directors of AXA Group

2018 Bloomberg Global Business Forum: Mike Bloomberg

2024 Bloomberg Global Business Forum: H.E. Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment of Indonesia, Majid Al Suwaidi, CEO, ALTÉRRA, Bill Winters, Group Chief Executive, Standard Chartered, Shemara Wikramanayake, Managing Director & CEO, Macquarie Group, with moderator Jennifer Zabasajja, Chief Africa Correspondent & Anchor, Bloomberg Television

2019 Bloomberg Global Business Forum: The Honorable Xie Zhenhua, Special Representative for Climate Change Affairs of China and Henry “Hank” M. Paulson Jr., Chairman of the Paulson Institute and former Secretary of the Treasury, and David M. Rubenstein