Professor Dr. Joseph Akinkugbe Adelegan, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Partners in Population and Development (PPD), participated in the Annual Meeting of Global Future Leaders 2026, convened by the World Economic Forum in collaboration with the Government of the United Arab Emirates from 13 to 15 October 2026 in Dubai.
The three-day gathering brought together leaders and experts from government, international organizations, business, science, technology, civil society, and other sectors to exchange perspectives on the major forces shaping the global future. The meeting provided a platform for intergenerational dialogue, collaborative problem-solving, and the exploration of practical responses to rapid technological, economic, demographic, environmental, and geopolitical change.
Professor Adelegan’s relationship with the World Economic Forum spans two decades. He was selected as a Young Global Leader in 2006, subsequently served on the World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council, and was recognized as a Technology Pioneer in 2009 for his groundbreaking Cows to Kilowatts Partnership, an innovation demonstrating how environmental challenges can be transformed into sustainable energy and development opportunities. These distinctions reflect a career marked by a willingness to challenge conventional approaches and connect innovation with scalable solutions to complex development challenges.
His participation in the 2026 Annual Meeting of Global Future Leaders therefore represented both a continuation of his longstanding engagement with the World Economic Forum and an opportunity to bring PPD’s population and development perspective into wider discussions on the future of societies and economies.
The meeting explored several interconnected areas shaping the global agenda, including artificial intelligence, technology and human agency; science, discovery and innovation; economic growth; geopolitics, security and trade; leadership and business innovation; human flourishing; and climate and nature. Discussions focused on how leaders can anticipate change, build resilience, and translate emerging ideas and technologies into practical and inclusive solutions.
Among the issues examined were the governance and responsible use of artificial intelligence, the evolving relationship between people and technology, changing patterns of global trade, economic decision-making under uncertainty, fairness and inclusion, and the role of younger generations in shaping future leadership.
For PPD and its 28 Member Countries, these discussions are closely connected to contemporary population and development priorities. Technological transformation is reshaping health systems and labour markets, demographic shifts are influencing economic and social policy, and climate pressures, fiscal constraints, and geopolitical uncertainty are creating new challenges for sustainable development.
PPD’s participation also reinforced the importance of placing demographic realities at the centre of global conversations about economic growth, innovation, human capital, health, and sustainable development. With the majority of the world’s population living in developing countries, decisions on technology, financing, employment, health systems, and climate resilience will increasingly need to reflect the priorities and experiences of the Global South.
The Annual Meeting placed particular emphasis on moving beyond dialogue towards collaboration and implementation. Participants explored practical pathways for strengthening resilience, supporting responsible innovation, promoting inclusive growth, and building partnerships capable of responding to increasingly complex global challenges.
Professor Adelegan’s participation forms part of PPD’s broader efforts to expand its engagement with influential global policy and development platforms, strengthen strategic partnerships, and create new opportunities that can benefit its Member Countries.
Through such high-level engagements, PPD continues to advocate for development approaches that place people, population dynamics, national priorities, innovation, and international cooperation at the centre of sustainable development.
The Annual Meeting of Global Future Leaders 2026 concluded on 15 October with renewed emphasis on collaborative leadership, intergenerational cooperation, innovation, and the need to translate foresight into practical action for a more resilient and inclusive future.
