HoSS Forum 2026 – Sustainable agenda-setting in uncertain times: Collective action and new alliances
What does it take to build a sustainable future when the world feels increasingly unpredictable? Join us on October 16 for the annual HoSS Forum, where we bring together international thought leaders to discuss how governments, businesses, investors, and civil society can mobilize collective action and build new alliances in a time of geopolitical tensions, climate risks, and economic uncertainty.
Under the theme "Sustainable agenda-setting in uncertain times: Collective action and new alliances", the House of Sustainable Society Forum 2026 examines how governments, businesses, investors, and civil society can work together to navigate an increasingly complex world. As countries rethink energy systems, industrial strategies, and global partnerships, difficult trade-offs are emerging between resilience and efficiency, competitiveness and sustainability, security and international cooperation.
The Forum will explore how new alliances are taking shape across sectors and borders, and what it takes to mobilize collective action when the future is uncertain. By bringing together leading international scholars and practitioners, the HoSS Forum creates a space for fresh ideas, meaningful dialogue, and practical insights into how societies can continue to invest in sustainable futures.
Speakers at the HoSS Forum 2026 are leading global experts who can help us make sense of these tumultuous times.
Academic speakers
Keynote: Professor Julie Battilana
Julie Battilana, Professor of Organizational Behavior at Harvard Business School and Social Innovation at Harvard Kennedy School. Founder and faculty chair of the Social Innovation + Change Initiative.
Professor Battilana's research examines the politics of change in organizations and in society. She’s especially focused on organizations and individuals that initiate and implement changes that diverge from the taken-for-granted norm—that break with the status quo. Her research has been featured in publications like The Boston Globe, Forbes, Huffington Post, The Guardian, and The Washington Post.
Professor John Åke Arne Hassler
John Hassler, Professor of Economics at the Institute for International Economic Studies at Stockholm University.
Professor Hassler’s research focuses on climate economics, macroeconomic policy, and the long-term interaction between economic growth, natural resources, and environmental sustainability. His work explores how governments can design effective and resilient policies that address climate change while supporting economic prosperity and social welfare.
Professor Michael Kevin Power
Michael Power, Professor of Accounting at the London School of Economics and a Fellow of the British Academy
Professor Power’s research focuses on the intersection of accounting, organizational theory, and risk governance. His work examines how modern society relies on audits, data tracking, and compliance metrics to manage uncertainty, analyzing how these verification practices ultimately reshape institutional behavior and corporate accountability.
Panel discussion
Navigating transformation: Business, policy and science in the age of uncertainty
How are leading companies transforming their sustainability agendas under real-world pressures? How is the policy landscape evolving, and what do businesses and researchers need from it? These are some of the questions that will be explored during the HoSS Forum 2026 panel discussion. It will also ask a critical question: what role can science and evidence realistically play in turning global commitments into action?
The panel discussion, moderated by Catarina Rolfsdotter-Jansson, will include:
- Fredrik Ekström, Chief Financial Officer, Alfa Laval
- Henrik Henriksson, Chief Executive Officer, Stegra (formerly H2 Green Steel)
- Isabella Lövin, Member of the European Parliament
- John Hassler, Professor of Economics, Stockholm University
