From left: Dóra Guðrún Guðmundsdóttir – Director of Public Health, Directorate of Health and Chair of the Wellbeing Economy Forum; Soffía S. Sigurgeirsdóttir – CEO, Langbrók; Elva Rakel Jónsdóttir – CEO, Festa For decades, nations have measured success through economic growth, expressed in Gross Domestic Product (GDP). But we rarely have asked: What does this growth cost us? How does it affect people’s health and wellbeing, social justice, and the natural resources our li

The passing of Dr. Jane Goodall is deeply saddening. We will honor her by carrying forward her endless wisdom and unwavering hope. Jane Goodall At the Wellbeing Economy Forum in 2024, we were honoured by Jane's online presence. Her vision leaves a lasting impact, guiding our shared efforts to build a fairer, healthier, and more sustainable future: “Most important of all is to create a new mindset that gives top priority, not to the GDP of a nation, but to the health of its p

On June 17th, 2025, Dr. Dóra, Director of Public Health at the Icelandic Directorate of Health and founder of the Wellbeing Economy Forum , was awarded the Order of the Falcon by the President of Iceland, Halla Tómasdóttir, for her pioneering work in the field of public health and wellbeing in Iceland. Dóra has studied happiness and wellbeing for more than two decades. Groundbreaking results came from her studies on the economic crises and wellbeing, demonstrating that when G

In a world undergoing rapid change, leadership rooted in compassion, courage, and clarity of purpose becomes vital. At the 2025 Wellbeing Economy Forum in Reykjavík, Iceland, President Halla Tómasdóttir exemplified this very essence. As Patron of the Forum , the President’s presence set a resonant tone for the event. In an interview with Morgunblaðið , she shared her sense of duty and vision for Iceland’s future. She expressed how honored she felt to take on the role as a P

— Insights from Gary Gillespie, Director and Chief Economic Advisor to the Scottish Government In an interview with Iceland’s le ading daily newspaper, Morgunblaðið , and its online platform mbl.is , Gary Gillespie said countries participating in the Wellbeing Economy Forum each have their focus areas and issues to address. Gary Gillespie, Director and Scotthish Government Chief Economic Adviser. Gary was a member of the Wellbeing Economy Forum’s Advisory Board 2025. The t

We are pleased to announce that UNESCO will be a co-host for the Icelandic Wellbeing Economy Forum this week in Iceland. As a global leader in promoting peace, cultural understanding, and sustainable development, UNESCO’s involvement will significantly enrich the discussions surrounding a more inclusive and equitable wellbeing economy. Gustavo Merino, Director for Social Policies at UNESCO , will be chairing Plenary III on "Well-Being is Smart Economics" from 11:00 - 12:00,

By Elín Hirst Carl Sagan the famous astronomer and science writer And The Pale Blue Dot, as Carl Sagan called Earth, was first seen from 6 million kilometers away in 1990. “The connection between Earth Day and the Wellbeing Economy is rooted in a shared vision; of prioritising the health and future of the Earth and the people who live on it,” writes Elín Hirst on the occasion of Earth Day , which was April 22, and the Wellbeing Economy Forum in Harpa, May 8-9, 2025. Our E