The World's Most Impossible Job: Priorities for the Next Secretary-General

Event Date: 19th October 2026
Location: Online, 6pm BST

The race to select the tenth United Nations Secretary-General is underway, with an evolving field of candidates vying for the support of key member states. This transition arrives at a moment of immense strain for the multilateral system. Trust in international institutions is eroding, geopolitical divisions are hardening, and the credibility of a rules-based order is being put to the test. The next Secretary-General will inherit a UN system stretched thin by compounding wars in Iran, Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, and elsewhere, escalating climate-driven disasters, emerging technology demanding unified international governance, and a severe funding crisis. The incoming Secretary-General will have to navigate this landscape of diminished resources and eroding confidence while still being expected to lead through the world’s most urgent crises.

Against this backdrop, Perry World House will host a virtual roundtable bringing together experts to discuss the most pressing issues across the UN’s core pillars: peace and security, development, and human rights. The discussion will focus on the top priorities the incoming Secretary-General must confront from day one, the reforms needed to restore trust and effectiveness across the UN system, and the openings this moment of crisis creates for more innovative and accountable global leadership.