UN Global Compact Network South Africa Concludes 3rd Dialogue at 2026 Thought Leadership Series

On August 28, 2026, the UN Global Compact Network South Africa held the third Compact Dialogue of the Sustainability and Innovation Thought Leadership Series 2026, at the Siemens campus, Midrand. 

Hosted by Siemens, the dialogue brought together business leaders and stakeholders to explore focusing on Climate, Nature, Zero Waste and the Water Nexus: Building Resilient Businesses in a Resource-Constrained World. 

The event, which drew over 45 business leaders from participating and non-participating companies of the Global Compact, highlighted the growing need for businesses to understand and respond to the interconnected environmental issues shaping our economies and demonstrated that sustainability is increasingly inseparable from business resilience.



From managing environmental risks and strengthening resource efficiency to responding to changing water demands and identifying opportunities for innovation, the discussion emphasised the need for businesses to look beyond individual environmental priorities and consider a systems-based approach.

The session was facilitated by Itumeleng Mogatusi, Senior Programmes Manager at the UN Global Compact Network South Africa. Athi Biko, Senior Manager: Finance & Stakeholder Engagement, provided an overview of the UN Global Compact’s role in supporting businesses to integrate sustainability and responsible business principles into their strategies and operations. She also highlighted the value of joining the initiative as businesses seek to strengthen responsible and sustainable business practices.

This was followed by Bernhard R., Head of the Competence Centre Sourcing at the Southern African-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry, who highlighted the importance of the partnership between the UN Global Compact Network South Africa and the Southern African-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry in advancing the objectives of the 2026 Thought Leadership Series.

Welcoming participants, Sabine Dall'Omo, CEO at Siemens Sub-Saharan Africa, highlighted the growing importance of water security, resource efficiency and sustainable water management in building resilient businesses.

Meanwhile, in the keynote address, Bridgette Setshedi, Manager, Climate Mitigation Presidential Climate Commission, explored key opportunities, challenges and areas for action across climate, nature, water and business resilience.

Water Security: A Shared Responsibility

According to the World Resources Institute, South Africa receives an average annual rainfall of approximately 464 millimetres—less than half the global average—placing the country under extremely high baseline water stress. One of the key takeaways was that water security is a catchment  responsibility. All stakeholders upstream and downstream, water utilities, water users, businesses, communities and municipalities , all within a water catchment,  are responsible for the health of the catchment.  Water reuse, conservation and the development of resilient infrastructure systems will be essential to ensuring long-term water security and stewardship.

Businesses have an important role to play, not only by reducing their own potable water consumption but also by supporting resilient infrastructure, protecting shared waterbodies  and contributing to solutions beyond their immediate operational boundaries. 

Addressing this challenge will require collaboration across sectors, tapping into sustainable finance to unlock partnerships for  innovative solutions that strengthen infrastructure resilience and diversification of water sources. 

The Compact Dialogues is a premier thought leadership platform that brings together business leaders, sustainability practitioners, executives, and industry experts to explore emerging sustainability trends, exchange practical insights, and advance responsible business leadership. 

As businesses navigate an increasingly resource-constrained world, the dialogue reinforced a clear message: building resilient businesses requires a holistic approach to sustainability—one that recognises the deep connections between climate, nature, waste, water and economic resilience.