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David Aikman is Co-Founder, Chief Partnerships Officer and Chairman of OpenESG.com - the world’s sustainability data infrastructure. It is a free, fast, dynamic and open ESG reporting system, built on trust and integrity, that rewards companies for their positive impact on our world.
David is a proven leader in creating innovative partnerships between companies and non-profit organisations, that create sustainable, shared value on a global scale. Over the last 25+ years, working for the International Olympic Committee and the World Economic Forum, David has created, curated, and led innovative communities and developed properties that have changed the world for the better.
He led some of the most renowned global communities of young leaders and entrepreneurs, advising them on how to reach their full potential. David successfully led and grew the “Forum of Young Global Leaders”, the world’s foremost community of changemakers. He has unique perspectives on next generation thinking, having launched, then led, the “Global Shapers Community”, which now has over 10,000 young leaders in 500+ local hubs around the world, working to improve their communities.
This track record has created a global network of deep and trusted relationships with governments, NGOs, global CEOs, and future global leaders from all walks of life.
As an entrepreneur, David has passion for technology and social entrepreneurship, leveraging his past experience running the “Technology Pioneers” programme (seeking out the most exciting world-changing technologies) and the “Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship” (working with grassroots start-ups, helping some of the poorest populations in the world with access to technology, finance, and healthcare).
Prior to co-founding OpenESG, David was the Chief Representative of the World Economic Forum in Beijing, where he specialised in building empathetic bridges between China and the global business community, as well as helping Chinese companies to champion ESG reporting.
David is also a certified Non-Executive Director (NED) who has served on non-profit boards related to youth, education, and social entrepreneurship. In his spare time David collects bad Dad Jokes, Scottish single malts, and Chinese contemporary art, and manages his Shiba Inu’s IG account. UWC and IMD alumnus.
