On 10 December, the Foundation conducted its Annual General Meeting in an online format.

Please find here the Annual Report for 2024, in visual form, with links to various topics. Ms Louise Watson, Chairman of the Board of the Foundation, made remarks to the AGM, which may be read below.

For the Global Foundation, 2024 has been one of challenge, consolidation and a strategic reset to ensure we continue to align with our Partners’ and Members’ priorities globally and locally, and in the context of the continuing challenges our global community faces.

Our world remains fragile and fractious, and the rapid change in geo-political outlooks and the polarisation of many social issues and positions seems to be accelerating this condition.

Many think this is perhaps driven by technology — such as the gargantuan influence of social media and mainstreaming of AI.

And who would have thought that the Russia/ Ukraine and Middle East wars would still be raging?

And what of domestic and global focus and cooperation to address the urgent issue of climate change?  In my address last year, I spoke of the need to come together to secure the future of our planet. Climate change and environmental degradation do not respect the borders of nation states. The whole world is struggling to make progress on the global energy transition and the current structures of global governance are ineffective.

Within this context the Foundation worked to develop a signature global project to address this gap.

Led by the Secretary General, the Global Advisory leaders Mark Cutifani and Sharan Burrow, and the Foundation Board, the ‘Shaping Global Governance, Climate and Nature’ project was launched at our Rome Roundtable in June this year.

Forty eminent participants from across the world, from global business, institutions, academia, civil society and faiths came together in Rome, to address the main themes that frame our project — the need to build new forms of global collaboration around those matters that affect the global ‘commons’: climate change, nature and the whole idea of global governance itself.

At the heart of our endeavours is ‘business with purpose’ — the belief that enlightened business and markets must play a leadership role, if we are to realise a sustainable world.

This Rome Roundtable was one of the most compelling the Foundation has run. The enthusiastic engagement and commitment for our ‘Shaping Global Governance, Climate and Nature’ project was outstanding to behold and be part of.  Steve will talk more about this in his report, but it is a very exciting, and in our mind, an essential initiative that no one else is undertaking or more precisely, can undertake.

Another highlight of the Roundtable was that The Secretary General was able to secure an audience with Pope Francis for participants. It was a truly spiritual occasion, and for most, a once in a lifetime opportunity.

The Pope continues to embrace and encourage our efforts to promote cooperative globalisation that is fair, inclusive, prosperous and transformative.

Since this signature event, we have had two landmark sessions to progress this important project, supported by our committed Partners old and new.

The work of the Global Foundation is more important than it has ever been in its 26 years. The Foundation is in a unique position to provide a platform for constructive, respectful dialogue between civilizations. As a trusted, apolitical organisation that operates behind the scenes, we are able to serve as a bridge between the West and East, and the Global North and Global South. We can create the connections between influential global citizens and be the catalyst for meaningful change. 

However, we are a privately funded organisation — funded by caring organisations and people who strive towards the common good — and our work can only continue to flourish and deliver meaningful outcomes if we continue to attract new Partners and members. Your advocacy of the Global Foundation and its mission is needed and valued.

Into now its 27th year, the success of the Global Foundation is due to the vision, the drive and the incomparable skill of bringing together global leaders of goodwill, of our founder and Secretary General, Steve Howard.

Steve, we salute you and thank you for your enormous contribution to promoting cooperative globalisation — in simple terms, for making our world a better place. And can I say, it seems to get harder and harder to do so each year!  But Steve, your tenacity and optimism make it possible to continue our important work. For that, we are most grateful, because like you, working together to progress the global common good is something we all here truly believe in.

As we have shown again and again, as a trusted, apolitical organisation that operates behind the scenes, we can create the connections between influential global citizens and be the catalyst for meaningful change. 

At this point, I would like to call out and acknowledge the active support and leadership of our Global Advisory Council Chair and Deputy Chair, Mark Cutifani and Sharan Burrow. As they travel the world in their respective roles they not only advocate for the Foundation and its mission but inspire with ideas and contacts.

I would also like to acknowledge and thank the Board of the Foundation; Christine Christian, Paul Wellings and Brian Loughnane for their steadfast support and wise counsel during what has been a challenging year.

I would like to thank our outstanding Chief of Staff, Natalia Cikorska for her commitment and hard work above and beyond and her shining belief in our mission.

And finally, and very importantly, thank you to our wonderful band of supportive and energetic Key Partners, Partners and Members.

Thank you for your engagement with the Foundation and its programs throughout 2024, and we look forward to working with you throughout 2025. We have an ambitious forward program for 2025 that aims to engage diverse regions of the world. And we should have some exciting news around this and the furthering of our ‘Shaping Global Governance, Climate and Nature’ project in the very near future.