Ban Ki-moon served as the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations from 2007 to 2016. At the time of his appointment to the UN, he was the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade for the Republic of Korea. Throughout his tenure, Mr. Ban mobilized world leaders to address a broad spectrum of challenges, from climate change and economic upheaval to pandemics and resource scarcity involving food, energy, and water. His leadership was instrumental in securing the landmark Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

Currently, he serves as Co-chair of the Ban Ki-moon Foundation, which empowers youth and women to become active global citizens. In addition, he holds multiple leadership roles, including the Presidency and Chairmanship of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA).