News and Insights

People and Planet United: A Global Summit on Human and Planetary Health with Purpose at the Core

May 21, 2025

Global Leaders Share Perspectives on Innovation and Sustainability

On May 5, 2025, I had the privilege of participating in People and Planet United: The 2025 Global Health and Purpose Summit—a groundbreaking event that brought together changemakers from across the health, climate, and technology landscapes to confront a global truth: our shared future depends on how we care for both people and the planet.

“People and planet health are not separate conversations — they are one unified dialogue,” said Gil Bashe, Chair Global Health and Purpose at FINN Partners. “This Summit creates a platform for those leading the charge, bridging innovation, compassion, and collaboration to build a future where every life thrives in balance with nature.”

The Summit convened 27 global leaders—scientists, CEOs, physicians, technologists, and policymakers—for a series of powerful conversations focused on health equity, sustainable innovation, AI, climate impact, and more. What united them was a shared commitment to purpose-driven leadership and bold, actionable solutions.

Throughout the day, speakers explored how to build more inclusive and resilient health systems while confronting the environmental challenges that increasingly shape global well-being. From rethinking supply chain packaging and reducing the carbon footprint of medical procedures, to using AI to close diagnostic gaps and expanding equitable access to care, the dialogue was both urgent and profoundly hopeful.

One clear takeaway emerged: Siloed solutions are no longer enough. The most compelling ideas stemmed from intersectional thinking, where digital health intersects with sustainability, climate data informs public health, and regulatory reform is seen not as a roadblock but a powerful driver of progress.

“Innovations in health cannot be siloed from the environmental realities impacting well-being globally,” added Stan Kachnowski, PhD, MPA, Founder of HITLAB. “At this Summit and throughout New York City Health Innovation Week, we spotlight breakthroughs that extend life and enhance the planet that sustains it.”

Technology was not positioned as a cure-all but as a critical enabler of equity—especially when it is designed with underserved populations in mind. Across every session, one message echoed: innovation that doesn’t serve both people and the planet is no longer innovation at all.

This gathering was a powerful reminder that collective action—across sectors, geographies, and disciplines—is not just aspirational but essential. I’m deeply grateful to our Summit partners and contributors who facilitated this vital dialogue. Together, we have sparked a conversation that must continue.

A heartfelt thank you to co-hosts FINN Partners, HITLAB, The Galien Foundation, and 1BusinessWorld for making this Summit possible—and to the visionary speakers who inspired us to think bigger, act faster, and lead with purpose.

Let’s keep the momentum going.

Watch the full sessions here:
https://1businessworld.com/people-and-planet-united-global-health-purpose-summit/