THE World Economic Forum (WEF) has long been perceived by critics as an exclusive club for the global elite. It will therefore be ironic, for some, that the theme of next week’s conference is boosting trust and cooperation in a fragmented, polarised world.

This year’s meeting, which starts next Monday (Jan 15), welcomes over 100 national governments, key major international organisations, key civil society leaders, and more than 1,000 companies. This includes innovative firms, such as Novo Nordisk, at the forefront of tackling some of the key challenges facing the globe, from obesity to climate change.

The Danish-headquartered pharmaceutical company is currently one of Europe’s most valuable by stock market capitalisation, and operates through a so-called “triple bottom line” model. This balances not just financial benchmarks, but also social and environmental considerations to try to deliver sustainable success for business and society.