Filipino Carlo Chen-Delantar Selected for the WEF 2026 Class

Carlo Chen-Delantar joins the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders class of 2026 to champion sustainable investing and global governance.

Filipino sustainability leader, venture capital (VC) partner, and social entrepreneur Carlo Chen-Delantar has been named a member of the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders Class of 2026.

Chen-Delantar was selected as one of 118 outstanding leaders under 40 from 55 countries across sectors, including public service, innovation, research, civil society, entrepreneurship, and culture.

He joins a group of leaders that counts former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and Alibaba Group co-founder Jack Ma as its alumni. Filipino alumni include Senators Paolo Benigno Aquino and Francis Joseph Escudero, AC Mobility CEO Jaime Alfonso Zobel de Ayala, and DITO President and CEO Donald Patrick Lim.

Who Are Among the Young Global Leaders Class of 2026?

Chen-Delantar joins a 2026 class that includes Nord Security co-founder and CEO Tomas Okmanas of Lithuania, Dominican-American Olympic gold medallist Thea LaFond, and WIZ.AI co-founder and CEO Jennifer Zhang.

“What this recognition represents to me is a seat at a global table where we can also shape the investment and governance frameworks that determine what kind of future gets built,” Chen-Delantar said in an April 16 press statement.

How Does Carlo Chen-Delantar Drive Sustainable Investments and Clean Water Access?

Chen-Delantar’s roles include the following:

• Gobi Partners – As Partner and Head of Sustainability since 2021, he oversees a $200+ investment footprint across 17 Asian markets. Gobi Partners is a pan-Asian VC firm managing $1.7 billion in assets through 20 funds, with over 400 portfolio companies and 75 exits.
• Waves for Water Philippines – Serving as Founding Country Director and current Chairman, he spearheaded initiatives that provide clean water access to over 2 million Filipinos in underserved areas. Under his leadership, the organization earned the Presidential Development Award and Presidential Award and holds accreditation from the Philippine Council for NGO certification, a distinction held by less than 1% of registered NGOs in the country.

What is the Forum of Young Global Leaders?

Established by the World Economic Forum in 2004, the Forum of Young Global Leaders is a community of notable leaders from the private and public sectors. Its goal is to cultivate collaboration by providing members with access to resources, networks, and transformative experiences. 

The YGLs are equipped to think critically, develop innovative approaches, and tackle complex global issues with strategic clarity through partnership with top academic institutions and immersive learning opportunities. They are also invited to collaborate on global challenges alongside the World Economic Forum and take part in university modules and events through the three-year leadership program. 

The gathering and connection of top leaders aims to turn their skills and influence into real and lasting impact.

“The most effective leaders today are those who combine vision with responsibility, innovation with prosperity and success with service,” Ida Jeng Christensen, head of the Forum of Young Global Leaders, said in the same press statement.

The YGL community comprises over 1,400 members and alumni representing more than 120 nationalities and spanning business, government, media, arts, culture, and civil society. Its members lead governments and Fortune 500 companies and are recipients of Nobel Prizes and Grammy awards. A selection committee chooses over 100 members over the thousands nominated each year.