Following the G100 Smart and Sustainable Cities Wing event held on 20 May 2026, entitled “Housing in an Interconnected World: Women Leading Inclusive & Resilient Urban Futures,” the Wing had the honor of hosting a distinguished Women’s Gathering Roundtable Dinner in Baku, bringing together prominent global women leaders to exchange perspectives on the future of inclusive, resilient, and sustainable cities.   The gathering provided a unique platform for dialogue, collaboration, and knowledge exchange among leaders committed to advancing urban transformation through women-led initiatives and cross-sector partnerships.   A highlight of the evening was the participation of Dr Maimunah Mohd Sharif, who joined the gathering as Guest of Honor. Her visionary and inspiring remarks offered valuable strategic insights into sustainable urban development and emphasized the critical importance of women’s leadership in shaping inclusive, resilient, and future-ready cities.   The evening commenced with welcoming remarks by H. Zeynep Bodur Okyay, Global Chair of the G100 Smart and Sustainable Cities Wing, who underscored the importance of global collaboration, collective leadership, and cross-border partnerships in addressing today’s urban challenges.   She was followed by Dr Maimunah Mohd Sharif, whose compelling address provided a powerful framework for the evening’s discussions, and Dr (h.c) Hartini Osman, Global President of G100, who shared her perspective on strengthening women-led global impact and advancing inclusive development through international cooperation.   The Roundtable Dinner was facilitated by Berrin Benli, Coordinator of the G100 Smart and Sustainable Cities Wing and Founder of NOVUSENS Smart City Institute. Through a structured and engaging dialogue, participants explored a range of topics including inclusive urban development, resilient communities, sustainable city transformation, and the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration in creating lasting impact.   A strong consensus emerged around the need to accelerate efforts toward cities that are not only smart and sustainable, but also inclusive, resilient, and human-centered. Participants highlighted the importance of leadership, innovation, and collaboration in building urban futures that leave no one behind. The G100 Smart and Sustainable Cities Wing extends its sincere appreciation to:

• Dr Maimunah Mohd Sharif for her visionary leadership and invaluable contributions;
• H. Zeynep Bodur Okyayfor her distinguished leadership and gracious hosting;
• Dr (h.c) Hartini Osmanfor her inspiring insights and global perspective;
• and all participants for their meaningful engagement and commitment to advancing sustainable urban futures.
•  

As cities around the world continue to face increasingly complex challenges, the importance of inclusive leadership has never been greater. Building the cities of the future requires not only infrastructure and technology, but also vision, collaboration, empathy, and purpose, with women playing a central role in shaping positive and lasting change.   The discussions in Baku reinforced a shared commitment to transforming ideas into action and to continuing this important dialogue through future initiatives, partnerships, and global engagements.   Together, we move forward toward smarter, more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive cities for all.