Meet the experts helping chart a course to a more sustainable future

When tackling the world’s biggest challenges — from deepening inequalities and economic uncertainty to the climate crisis — it helps to have some of the sharpest global minds at the table. That’s the role of the UN High-level Advisory Board on Economic and Social Affairs (HLAB), a group of 22 distinguished thought leaders in fields such as economics, finance, demography, the environment, and gender equality.

Convened by UN DESA, this diverse group includes former Heads of State, a Nobel Laureate, former senior government officials and intellectual leaders from all regions. They offer independent, cross-disciplinary insights to help shape the UN thinking on sustainable development and bring us closer to a world that leaves no one behind.

The HLAB recently launched its third term with a multi-day session in Bangkok, Thailand. These meetings, held twice a year, are led by UN DESA Under-Secretary-General Li Junhua and include participation from the Principals of the UN Regional Commissions and UNCTAD, among other special guests. Key takeaways are shared with senior UN leadership—including the Secretary-General—to inform decision-making in support of sustainable development.

But the HLAB’s impact goes beyond internal discussions. 

Through the UN DESA Global Policy Dialogue Series, HLAB members engage and share their expertise directly with the public—from civil society, students, policymakers and people working toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In Bangkok, members participated in an interactive policy dialogue at Chulalongkorn University titled “Converging Crises, Shared Solutions: Applying Lessons from Asia and the Pacific to Global Challenges,” showcasing SDG good practices for an online and in-person audience.

Before the next HLAB meeting this fall, many of them will participate in Policy Dialogues alongside major UN events in July, including the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) and the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). By connecting global expertise with inclusive dialogue, HLAB is helping to turn big-picture goals into concrete actions and lighting the way toward a more sustainable future for all.

For the full list of HLAB members, please visit the HLAB website. To register for the upcoming Policy Dialogues at FFD4 and HLPF, please visit the Policy Dialogues website.