Sustainability Forum Middle East unveils diverse advisory committee for 2027 edition in Bahrain

The Sustainability Forum Middle East has announced its advisory committee for its fifth edition, which is scheduled to take place on 26 and 27 January 2027 in Bahrain. The event continues to expand on a broader regional platform focused on climate action, energy transition, and sustainable development.

The committee features senior figures from a variety of sectors, including government, energy, finance, consulting, industry, and sustainability. Those named include Abdullah Saeed Al Jubran from The National Water Company, Asmaa Shalabi from UNDP, Ian McCallum of Bank ABC, Jessica Robinson from Solve Strategies, Kalyan Krishnan Subramanian of KPMG Bahrain, Karim El Jisr of Red Sea Global, Eng. Khalid bin Mohammed Albalushi from Oman’s Environment Authority, Shaikh Khalifa Al Khalifa of Bapco Refining, Laila Danesh of FinMark Communications, Eng Layla Sabeel from Bahrain’s Supreme Council for Environment, Okan Ugurlu from Turkey’s Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, Sarah Baashan of Aramco, and Victoria Barron at Gulf International Bank.

According to the forum, this committee will help steer the agenda, shape the line-up of speakers, and back ongoing partnerships and activities throughout the year. Its composition seems to be a clear effort to bring together voices from both the public and private sectors , something that’s become ever more crucial as Gulf countries try to align their economic growth strategies with efforts to cut emissions, improve resilience, and invest in cleaner infrastructure.

Laila Danesh, who is the managing director of FinMark Communications and also chairs the advisory committee, expressed her pleasure working alongside such a diverse group of experienced leaders. She mentioned that the committee’s direction will be key in making sure the 2027 event tackles the region’s most urgent questions around sustainability, climate, energy, and the economy, while really encouraging discussion and action.

That focus aligns with the wider positioning of the forum. The Sustainability Forum Middle East describes itself as a regional platform designed for policy exchange, business engagement, and knowledge sharing on issues like climate change, energy transition, and sustainable economic development. It brings together policymakers, investors, academics, business leaders, and sustainability specialists from around the region and beyond.

Looking ahead, the 2027 edition will follow on the heels of its predecessor, scheduled for 27 and 28 January 2026 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Manama. That event will be held under the patronage of H.E. Dr. Mohamed bin Mubarak Bin Daina, Bahrain’s Minister of Oil and Environment, and Special Envoy for Climate Affairs, supported by the Supreme Council for Environment. The 2026 programme includes a keynote speech by H.E. Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin, the UN Special Envoy on Financing Sustainable Development , a sign of how the forum aims to connect policy discussions with finance, investments, and tangible delivery.

It’s also worth noting that the lead-up to the 2026 event shows how SFME has expanded beyond just holding a single annual gathering. The forum’s advisory committee supports a busy calendar that includes decarbonisation roundtables, workshops, collaboration projects, research initiatives, and the Sustainability Future Lab , an ongoing effort to develop future sustainability leaders by engaging with universities and young professionals.

This multi-faceted approach is increasingly typical of climate-focused organisations in the Gulf, where the conversation has shifted from high-level ambitions to realising concrete actions. Governments and companies across the region now face real pressure to move from pledges of net-zero to practical steps involving power systems, water security, decarbonising industries, sustainable finance, and carbon management. For an event like SFME, having a dedicated advisory committee helps to keep those themes grounded in the policy and market realities on the ground.

Bringing together experts in water management, banking, energy, climate policy, and sustainability communication suggests the forum intends to keep its scope broad and inclusive. That’s particularly important in the Gulf, where climate risks are often intertwined with issues like food security, desalination, infrastructure, logistics, and economic diversification. It also reflects a growing consensus that climate action shouldn’t be treated as a standalone environmental matter, but as something integrated across sectors.

The involvement of UNDP adds yet another layer of credibility. The organisation has already partnered with FinMark Communications , the forum’s organiser , ahead of the 2026 edition, signalling international support for the event’s regional aims. This partnership helps SFME bridge local priorities with global sustainability frameworks, making its messages more impactful.

Bahrain’s role as host for both the 2026 and 2027 events also cements the kingdom’s position as a hub for sustainability conversations in the Gulf. For regional stakeholders, the announcement of the advisory committee isn’t just ceremonial; it’s a clear signal about how the forum plans to influence debate over the next couple of years, through deeper technical discussions, broader collaborations, and a tighter link between policy, finance, and practical implementation.

As climate and energy policies in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) continue to evolve in detail, forums like SFME are poised to become even more important , connecting decision-makers who need to turn ambitious targets into real, measurable actions. The new advisory committee is clearly meant to support and facilitate exactly that kind of shift.