GISD's Strategy Group meeting, which took place in Dubai, UAE on 23-24 February 2023, concluded with an open event with attendees from the local business and financial sectors. Co-hosted by the Emirates Environmental Group (EEG), the event consisted of two Davos-style panel discussions. Welcoming and opening remarks were provided by Ms. Habiba Al Mar'ashi (Chairperson, EEG), Mr. Navid Hanif (ASG for Economic Development, UN DESA), and Dr. Nasser Saidi (Chairman, Clean Energy Business Council and former Lebanese politician). 

The first panel discussion, titled "Scaling up Green Finance - What COP28 can Achieve," focussed on the upcoming COP28 to be held in the UAE in November 2023. Moderator Shameela Soobramoney (Chief Sustainability Officer, Johannesburg Stock Exchange) led the discussion with panellists Jay Collins (Citi), Marc-Andre Blanchard (CDPQ), Kristina Kloberdanz (Macquarie Asset Management), Benoit Felix (Banco Santander), and Boitumelo Sethlatswe (Standard Bank).

The second panel discussion, "Shifting the investment ecosystem: integrating a long-term sustainability perspective," stressed the need to align interests and resources to achieve the sustainable development goals. Moderator Gavin Power (Chief of Sustainable Development & International Affairs, PIMCO), led the discussion with panellists Timothee Jaulin (Amundi), Krishnan Sharma (UN DESA), Franziska Ehm (Allianz), Tan Moorthy (Infosys), and Robert Vicsai (SEB Investment Management).