SDSN Brings Together Global Network Managers for Flagship Workshop in Malaysia
From November 3 to 6, 2025, managers and chairs from 23 SDSN national and regional networks gathered in Sunway City, Malaysia, for the SDSN Global Network Managers Workshop.
The four-day event, co-organized by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and the Institute of International Affairs, Qianhai and hosted by Sunway University, brought together SDSN network chairs, managers, and secretariat staff to exchange experiences, reflect on lessons learned, and explore new partnerships to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at local, national, and regional levels.
Key Workshop Themes and Discussions
The workshop featured several sessions focused on strengthening SDG implementation and collaboration. It kicked off with a key session on filling SDG data gaps, where discussions focused on how the SDSN and its partners are working to improve access to reliable and timely information. Participants shared experiences from different countries, noting challenges in coordination and data collection, and highlighted the important role of universities and students in addressing these gaps.
Other discussions explored the past, present, and future of the SDGs. Facilitated by María Cortés-Puch, SDSN Vice President for Networks, the sessions“SDGs Looking Back: What Has Worked?” and “SDGs Looking Forward: Beyond 2030” reflected not only on what has worked and why, but also on the current global context, persistent challenges, and ways to accelerate progress in the remaining five years. Participants emphasized the importance of the Pact for the Future as a guiding framework to renew multilateral commitment and coherence in SDG implementation. Discussions also underscored the relevance of regional and local approaches, where context-specific solutions and stronger cooperation between governments, academia, and civil society have yielded tangible impact, such as community-driven climate action, sustainability education, and effective plastic reduction policies. It identified political will, public engagement, and credible data as key enablers of progress going forward.
The session “Universities as Climate Catalysts,” presented by Andrija Erac, Head of Networks, and Kannan Reghunathan Nair, Asia Pacific Networks Manager, showcased how higher education institutions are partnering with cities to achieve net-zero targets by applying the SDSN Net Zero on Campus Guide, associated toolkit, and community of practice. The SDSN Secretariat also introduced the UNICO project, which, funded by the European Union (EU) Erasmus+ programme, will unite four SDSN networks to work on campus decarbonization starting in 2026. Additionally, they introduced the IMPETUS project, funded under Horizon 2020 and part of the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change, highlighting its innovative tools for building climate resilience. These include Resilience Knowledge Boosters (RKBs), a marketplace for solutions, and seven demonstration sites that showcase practical adaptation pathways across Europe. They also showcased the IMPETUS Massive Open Online Course From Commitments to Action: Transformative Approaches to Climate Adaptation in Europe, co-developed by the SDSN, SDG Academy, and IMPETUS consortium, which offers practical, expert-led guidance to help learners understand and implement effective climate adaptation strategies across Europe.
The Network Spotlights session, moderated by Andrija Erac, allowed managers from Benin, Ireland, Thailand, and Mexico to share insights into their impactful work on SDG measurement, localisation, stakeholder engagement, and collaboration with national ministries to advance sustainable development. Each presentation illustrated how networks are driving local action and innovation while connecting diverse actors across sectors.
A session on “How to Partner Successfully with Local Governments, ”moderated by Marta García Haro, Senior Manager, SDSN Networks Program, showcased a number of networks that have established successful and inspiring university-city partnerships in Bolivia, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, and Sweden. Examples included Bolivia’s SDG Municipal Atlas, Mission 4.7, Long-term pathways analysis for Indonesia’s cities, and the application of the SDG Impact Assessment Tool in Nordic municipalities.
Complementing the high-level discussions, the workshop participants attended two sessions on the SDSN’s governance and communications, led by Stacey Clark, Vice-President of Operations and Finance, and Maria Cortes-Puch, Vice-President of Networks. They presented the SDSN’s bylaws and operating scheme, followed by a presentation on SDSN’s community on SustainChain and an interactive session by SDSN Senior Managers Giovanni Bruna and Amirah Majid.
External Perspectives and Onsite Tours
The workshop also featured external sessions led by the Asia School of Business (ASB) and the Jeffrey Sachs Center on Sustainable Development (JSC), Sunway University, which highlighted the vital role of academia and the private sector in sprouting innovations and advancing sustainability. ASB shared insights on how companies can integrate sustainability into their core strategies, using innovation to create both economic and social value. Meanwhile, JSC presented its ongoing research and education initiatives, including projects on biodiversity, climate resilience, and SDG tracking across Malaysian states.
Together, the sessions demonstrated how universities and businesses can work hand in hand to translate knowledge and innovation into real-world impact. In addition, Professor Mahendhiran Nair, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Research and Sustainability, shared Sunway University’s research priorities and the Desa Mentari project, emphasizing innovation and collaboration as drivers of sustainable impact.
During the workshop, participants took part in a walking tour of Sunway City and the Sunway University campus. Tan Sri Sir Dr. Jeffrey Cheah KBE AO, Chair of SDSN Malaysia, SDSN Leadership Council Member, and Founder and Chairman of Sunway Group, then hosted a presentation and lunch, which spotlighted Sunway City as a model for sustainable urban development. There, Mr. Ong Pang Yen, Executive Director of the Chairman’s Office at Sunway Group, highlighted how integrated planning, education, research, and green infrastructure can work together to create a vibrant and resilient community.
The workshop concluded with a session on strategic stakeholder engagement, in conjunction with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development’s (WBCSD) 2025 Leadership Program. The interactive session facilitated by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Priya Sharma, Sunway University, highlighted the importance of cross-sector partnerships. The SDSN’s Universities for Goal 13 initiative was presented to the WBCSD participants by the SDSN Secretariat as an example of a successful partnership with the private sector
The 2025 Network Managers Workshop created a valuable space for dialogue, learning, and collaboration among SDSN’s global network managers. As participants return to their respective institutions, the knowledge shared and partnerships formed will continue to strengthen collective efforts toward achieving the SDGs.
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2025 Workshop Participants
Network Chairs and Managers
SDSN Andes (Jorge Gomez-Paredes) · SDSN Australia, New Zealand, & Pacific (Tahl Kestin) · SDSN Belgium (Inge Willems) · SDSN Benin (Achille Barnabé Assouto) · SDSN Bolivia (Lykke Anderson) · SDSN Canada (Joseli Macedo) · SDSN Caribbean (Neisha Manickchand) · SDSN Greece (Dimitrios Raptis) · SDSN Indonesia (Adnan Hasyim Wibowo) · SDSN Ireland (John Barimo) · SDSN Italy (Sara Torabi) · SDSN Kazakhstan (Aida Kumarbayeva) · SDSN Malaysia (Karen Chand) · SDSN Malaysia (Phui Yi Kong) · SDSN Mexico (Karina Ruiz) · SDSN Netherlands (Neele Van Den Bongardt) · SDSN Northern Europe (Martin Eriksson) · SDSN Philippines (Antonio Carlos Maralit) · SDSN Philippines (Jonathan Quiambao) · SDSN Romania (Elena Preda) · SDSN Southeast Asia (Alexandre Desmyttère) · SDSN Southeast Asia (Israruddin) · SDSN Spain (Estibaliz Sáez de Cámara) · SDSN Switzerland (Jorge Tamayo) · SDSN Thailand (Arusa Panyakotkaew) · SDSN Thailand (Nuntinee Malanon) · SDSN United Kingdom (Sundas Gull)
SDSN Secretariat Staff
Maria Cortes-Puch, Vice-President of Networks · Andrija Erac, Head of Networks · Giovanni Bruna, Senior Manager, Americas Lead · Marta Garcia-Haro, Senior Manager ·Amirah Majid, Senior Manager, Asia Pacific Lead · Kannan Reghunathan Nair, Asia Pacific Network Manager · Gautham Varada Narayan, Asia Pacific Network Manager
