The next United Nations Secretary-General is slated to be seated on January 1, 2027. This white paper explores some of the key issues – and the competencies required to tackle these key issues – that should be topline priorities for the next Secretary-General at a vastly important historical moment. Four particular areas are recommended for time and attention: Peace and Security; Global Development and Health; Change Management and Finance; and positioning the UN to effectively address a new generation of global challenges including Artificial Intelligence and Climate Change.