Reform UN Forum 2026
The Next UN Secretary‑General: Leadership for a Renewed Multilateral Order?
About the Forum
The Reform UN Forum 2026 stands as a premier global convening platform dedicated to renewing multilateral cooperation and accelerating the modernization of the United Nations system. It brings together a distinguished constellation of young global leaders, career diplomats, senior foreign‑service officers, former ambassadors, multilateral negotiators, UN policy specialists, international governance advisors, global cooperation architects, institutional reform advisors, peacebuilding practitioners, development strategists, senior envoys, and other high‑level experts committed to strengthening the future of global governance. Together, they form a multigenerational, multisector leadership community capable of anticipating global transformations, co‑creating resilient solutions, and advancing institutional reform across regions and systems.
Through secure diplomacy, strategic dialogue, and collaborative innovation, the Forum serves as a catalyst for reimagining the UN’s role in a rapidly changing world—mobilizing nations, institutions, and emerging leaders to shape a more representative, effective, and future‑ready multilateral order.
Under the theme “The Next UN Secretary‑General: Leadership for a Renewed Multilateral Order”, Reform UN Forum 2026 explores how the next UN Secretary‑General must navigate a fragmented geopolitical landscape, confront declining institutional performance, and champion a new era of secure diplomacy, collective leadership, and system‑wide reform. The Forum examines the SG’s responsibility to anticipate global transformations, mobilize nations around shared priorities, revitalize peace and security mechanisms, accelerate development system modernization, and rebuild trust in multilateral institutions. It highlights the SG’s unique mandate to convene states, inspire cooperation, and lead the UN toward a more representative, resilient, and future‑ready global order.
Plenary 1
Leadership at a Turning Point — The SG’s role in guiding the UN through systemic crisis.
Plenary 2
Rebuilding Trust in Multilateralism — Restoring credibility and legitimacy.
Plenary 3
Secure Diplomacy for a Fragmented World — Protecting dialogue and stabilizing cooperation.
Plenary 4
A Future‑Ready United Nations — Innovation, youth engagement, and institutional transformation.
Dr. Jean Narcisse Djaha
Chair & Principal Leader, Reform United Nations Project Global Chair, African Council on Foreign Relations
Opening Remarks
HE Thabo Mbeki
Former President of the Republic of South Africa
Keynote Remarks / Plenary
Mrs. Elizabeth S. Glenn
Chair Emeritus, President & CEO, US Africa Collaborative
Keynote Remarks / Plenary
Prof. Patrick Paul Walsh
Professor Patrick Paul Walsh, University College Dublin Professor of Global Affairs and Sustainable Futures | Director of the UCD M.Sc. in Sustainable Development in partnership with the SDG Academy
Keynote Remarks / Plenary
Our Founding Partners
Our strength lies in our individuality. Set up by Esther Bryce, the team strives to bring in the best talent in various fields, from architecture to interior design and sales.
