Her Excellency, Halla Tómasdóttir, President of Iceland, has taken on the role of patron for the annual Wellbeing Economy Forum, scheduled to be held at Harpa in Reykjavik on May 8–9, 2025. The President's involvement emphasises the significance of establishing a Wellbeing Economy. The Forum has gained international recognition for showcasing Iceland’s pioneering efforts. Since 2018, the Icelandic government has actively participated in the Wellbeing Economy Governments Collaboration (WEGo), including Finland, Canada, Scotland, New Zealand, and Wales.
The Directorate of Health in Iceland organises the Forum in partnership with a variety of local and international stakeholders, including the Prime Minister’s Office in Iceland, the Ministry of Health in Iceland, the City of Reykjavík, WEGo, OECD, WHO-Europe, UNESCO, the Wellbeing Economy Alliance (WEAll), the Club of Rome, Earth for All, the Association of Local Authorities in Iceland, and Festa – Center for Sustainability in Iceland. The event is co-funded by the European Union.
Dr. Dóra Guðmundsdóttir, the Director of Public Health at the Directorate of Health in Iceland and a pioneer in the field of wellbeing, will chair the Forum. Elín Hirst, a former Member of Parliament and Head of News, serves as the project manager for the Forum. The Wellbeing Economy Forum aims to bring together politicians, academics, and representatives from businesses, municipalities, and various institutions to foster collaboration in developing and implementing a Wellbeing Economy, while also deepening the understanding of its core principles.
A Wellbeing Economy considers a broader range of metrics for evaluating living standards and quality of life, going beyond traditional economic measures. These metrics include housing security, physical and mental health, environmental sustainability, life satisfaction, civic participation, community safety, and work-life balance.
Additionally, a new master’s program in Wellbeing Science has received a grant of 420,000 Euros from the University Cooperation Fund in Iceland. This master’s program collaborates with the University of Surrey, the University of Reykjavík, the University of Iceland, the University of Akureyri, and the Directorate of Health in Iceland. The grant allocation was announced earlier this week by Áslaug Arna Sigurbjörnsdóttir, the Minister of Higher Education and Innovation.
For further information, please get in touch with Elín Hirst. Elin.hirst@landlaeknir.is
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