In a major leadership shift with global implications, Sri Lankan-born international lawyer and educator Neshan Gunasekera has been appointed the new Chief Executive Officer of the World Future Council (WFC). Gunasekera officially assumed the role in May 2025, bringing with him an extensive background in global governance, environmental sustainability, and intergenerational justice.
Gunasekera’s selection signals a renewed direction for the WFC, one that places strong emphasis on protecting the rights of future generations and advancing ecological and social justice on a global platform. His appointment comes as part of a broader leadership transition aimed at reinvigorating the council’s mission amid escalating global challenges.
A veteran contributor to the WFC since its inception in 2007, Gunasekera is no stranger to the organization’s ethos. His career has spanned key international institutions, including the United Nations, the European Union, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, and the Earth Trusteeship Initiative. His work in promoting peace, sustainable development, and good governance earned him the prestigious Weeramantry International Justice Award in 2020.
Describing his new position as “a sacred duty,” Gunasekera emphasized the importance of intergenerational wisdom in tackling today’s crises. “I am honored by the trust placed in me to uphold the Council’s values and help steer its vision forward at a critical time for humanity and the planet,” he said.
Franz-Theo Gottwald, Chairperson of the WFC Supervisory Board, praised the new CEO’s appointment as a timely and strategic decision. “Neshan brings deep institutional experience, profound global insight particularly from the Global South and the kind of leadership that will drive the WFC into a transformative era of bold initiatives and financial resilience.”
The organization also acknowledged the service of its outgoing board members, Alexandra Wandel and Marie Biermann. Wandel, a key figure in the Council since its founding, will transition to lead the NGO All for One, All People for One Planet as Executive Director. Meanwhile, Biermann is set to take on the role of Managing Director of LIFE Campus in Hamburg beginning April 2025.
Gunasekera’s leadership marks not just a new chapter for the WFC, but a potential turning point in how global justice and sustainability are approached guided by voices from the Global South and anchored in a philosophy of unity across generations.
