< Previousmanifested as a magical dinner party where artists, organizers, entrepreneurs, and a city councillor spent an evening dreaming together. While this didn’t immediately lead to any big shifts in the local economic system, we worked on the conditions for change by planting seeds of these ideas and creating the foundation for collaboration. How do you feel that shifting to a Wellbeing Economy will help make the world better? Our economic system prioritizes profi t and growth over community needs, includ- ing our need for a healthy environment. Transitioning to a Wellbeing Economy inverts this. Th e priority becomes meeting not only the needs of people but also that of the land and non-human creatures with whom we share the planet. It is import- ant to stress here that prioritizing needs means not simply the needs of those of us in the Global North or those of us who are settlers. While pathways for economic transition are always a source of debate, my view is that it will require everyone to get involved and deliberate over what we want and how to get there. Th is means that in addition to creating a viable future for our shared planet and ensuring everyone has enough to live in dignity and comfort, the transi- tion to a Wellbeing Economy might see an expansion of the realm of democracy too. I don’t see the transition to a Wellbeing Economy as an austere vision. I suspect that if we prioritize wellbeing over econom- ic growth we will develop deeper networks of care, work less, and have more freedom over our time. I like to see this from the perspective of philosopher Kate Soper, who advocates for an “alternative hedonism”5 — a diff erent vision for the good life that doesn’t depend on consumption. On one occasion during the Imaginal Transitions project, we gathered around a fi re and built stories of future econ- omies from the perspective of various local landmarks, animals, and characters. I don’t see the transition to a Wellbeing Economy as an austere vision. I suspect that if we prioritize wellbeing over economic growth we will develop deeper networks of care, work less, and have more freedom over our time. 20 MAKE THE WORLD BETTER MAGAZINE1. Read the David Suzuki Foundation article from Make The World Better Magazine at sparxpg.com/blog. 2. Visit the Wellbeing Economy Alliance website, weall.org. 3. See the Imagination Infrastructures website, imaginationinfrastructuring.com. 4. Campbell, T. & Hsu, C. (2022). Toronto Imaginal Transitions: Design For a Time Between Worlds. 5. Soper, K. (2022). Post-Growth Living: For an Alternative Hedonism. 6. Learn more about The Cornerstone Indicator Concept at darkmatterlabs.org/Cornerstone-Indicators. What are some of the challenges you typically face in advocating for the Wellbeing Economy? For many audiences, I fi nd even sug- gesting the economic system could be diff erent is often quickly rejected as un- achievable. Th ere seems to be a common sentiment that we have tried other eco- nomic models, they haven’t worked, and this is the best we have or that the system is too big to change. I think one primary purpose of our hub will be to support people, organizations, and institutions to see the current economic system as some- thing that humans have designed. We can design it diff erently. Th ere are a lot of myths and chal- lenges to overcome, but we don’t need to start with a blank slate. Th ere are so many functioning systems to point to as places of learning: the Cleveland Model, Indigenous economies, mutual aid networks, worker co-operatives, etc. Creativity, open-mindedness, and col- laboration are how we will overcome the challenges we face as we push for change. Are there any upcoming initiatives or projects related to your work/ the Wellbeing Economy you'd like to share? Many like-minded people are working for economic transition in Canada, which is really encouraging! We have been mapping the Canadian landscape of people, organizations, and networks working for wellbeing economies in some way or another, and we will be releasing an interactive map later this year. You will be able to fi nd that on our website once it is released. We hope the map can be a tool for anyone looking to get inspired by all the work already happening. We’ve also started a collaboration with Dark Matter Labs, a global non-profi t building infrastructure for a new civic economy. Dark Matter Labs has been piloting an initiative called Cornerstone Indicators,6 which involves bringing a community together to reimagine the metrics and indicators used to strive to- ward community wellbeing. Th ey have ex- perimented with this approach in Sweden and Scotland, and we are interested in piloting this with a community in Canada this year. We are also developing open- source tools that anyone could use if they are interested in these kinds of approaches. What can people do to help spread word about or take action toward transitioning to the Wellbeing Economy? How can they support your mission? We have been in an incubation period with the WEAll Canada hub for a while now and are getting ready to open it up for engagement soon. If the notion of a Wellbeing Economy is of interest, please come join and participate! Th is could be by subscribing to our newsletter or X (for- merly Twitter) account to stay informed about wellbeing economies–related news, or coming to events and building relation- ships with other people advancing wellbe- ing economies throughout the country. I think one primary purpose of our hub will be to support people, organizations, and institutions to see the current economic system as something that humans have designed. We can design it differently. Creativity, open-mindedness, and collaboration are how we will overcome the challenges we face as we push for change. weallcanada.org twitter.com/weallcanada (@WEAllCanada) Newsletter: weallcanada.org/ contact/#latest-news APRIL 2024 • ISSUE 07 21Network of Wellbeing Connecting changemakers in the UK to inspire action 22 MAKE THE WORLD BETTER MAGAZINEI n the battle for a sustainable future, negative messages tend to take the lead. Folks are constantly barraged with what they should not do rather than being shown practical examples of active steps they can take to make a positive diff erence. We spoke with Roger Higman, Director of Network of Wellbeing, about how this network is connecting people passionate about wellbeing for all and providing tangible ways to contribute to a sustainable world. What inspired you to start advocating for the Wellbeing Economy? I have over 30 years of experience cam- paigning on environmental issues. Previously, I worked in a variety of posi- tions at Friends of the Earth in London, where I ended up with the responsibility for integrating messages on economics, fairness, and the environment into a coher- ent whole. In doing that, I came to the conclusion that many of the debates that we engaged in (and even the structure of our organi- zations) focused almost exclusively on the problems we were concerned with: climate change, biodiversity loss, chemical pollu- tion, and so on. As a result, it was easier for us to say what we were against than what we were for. Moreover, those positive visions that had been developed, such as sustainable development, tended to focus on what society should be like rather than what individuals could aspire to. As such, they were diffi cult to explain and often left a vacuum in which the public heard only negative messages, like “don’t drive,” “don’t fl y,” “don’t eat meat,” “don’t use plastics,” and so on. So, when I started learning about well- being, I was hooked. Here was something we could all aspire to that needn't cost the Earth. Looking deeper, especially at the ev- idence from positive psychology, I realized that if we directed societies toward well- being, we could create fairer, sustainable civilizations through which everybody could thrive. For the last nine years, I have been the Director of the Network of Wellbeing (NOW). Our mission is to connect people, support projects, and inspire action for the wellbeing of people and planet. Th at has en- abled me to host debates on the Wellbeing Economy and create practical projects that give an idea of what a Wellbeing Economy might look like in practice. What do you consider to be your biggest success as an advocate and professional in this space? Can you share any stories of the impact your work has had that have surprised you? Th ree things. Firstly, we've brought the UK's nascent wellbeing movement togeth- er through events in ways that hadn't previously been done. In 2017, and then again in 2019, we organized two Building Wellbeing Together1 weekends at the lovely Hawkwood College in Stroud. It demon- strated that there were people across the UK and beyond who thought along similar lines and was a factor in the setting up of the Wellbeing Economy Alliance (WEAll). Secondly, in 2017, we set up the Share Shed — A Library of Th ings.2 Th is enables people to borrow things they only use occasionally, thereby enabling people to pursue their dreams while saving them money and reducing the consumption of natural resources. A fi lm3 made at the launch was viewed over 1.5 million times by people all over the world. In 2021, the Share Shed went mobile as the world's fi rst travelling library of things. It now serves seven towns weekly and is a testament to how a new Wellbeing Economy could help people meet their needs at lower cost to themselves and the planet. Th irdly, you may not believe it but, in 2018, someone gave us a retreat centre! Nestled on a hillside in the Devon coun- tryside, Eden Rise4 comprises two linked 19th-century barns that have been convert- ed to sleep up to 20 people. It is our very own haven for wellbeing and is used for all sorts of yoga, meditation, and personal development retreats. How do you feel that shifting to a Wellbeing Economy will help make the world better? When we focus on wellbeing, we focus on what truly matters to people. Th at means we factor in the importance of fairness, work-life balance, public space and public institutions, vibrant and support- ive communities, and respect for natural ecosystems and the benefi ts they provide. Th e world has enough for everyone's needs but not for the greed of those who want it all. By focusing on wellbeing, we can meet people's needs — the physical ones, for fresh air, water, food, shelter, and so on; and the emotional needs for connection, love, friendship, meaning, purpose, and more. And we can do so in ways that pre- serve the Earth so that future generations can meet their needs too. ShareFests, like this one in Totnes, UK, bring people together to connect, save money, and prevent waste. Attendees at this ShareFest in 2018 took action to prevent waste by repairing broken items. APRIL 2024 • ISSUE 07 231. Watch "Building Wellbeing Together" on the Network of Wellbeing YouTube channel. 2. Check out Share Shed at shareshed.org.uk. 3. Watch "Share Shed - A Library of Things" on the Share Shed - A Library of Things YouTube channel. 4. Learn more at networkofwellbeing.org/eden-rise. What are some of the challenges you typically face in advocating for the Wellbeing Economy? Th e world is the way it is because some- body benefi ts from it. Th ere are vast corporations and their shareholders with an interest in the resource-intensive, pollut- ing, unfair economy we have now. Th ese institutions have a stranglehold on political discourse and will resist change. Yet, we can subvert and resist that stranglehold. By discussing and demonstrating what could be, we show people that a better world can exist. By demanding and pressing for changes to policy and practices, we bring that better world into existence. Are there any upcoming initiatives or projects related to your work/ the Wellbeing Economy you'd like to share? Th is year, we're focusing on our off er to our audience. We have almost 30,000 peo- ple following us, including over 5,000 who have signed up for our monthly newsletter. We know that these people have a passion for wellbeing and many work professionally to deliver it in practice. We're working to improve our off er to them. We know they want more online events (because they've told us) so we're working to set these up. But, we're also keen to explore whether we can inspire these people to act — by connecting them with each other. At the moment, we struggle to reach our audience on social media. Th e algorithms seem to be against us. For example, over 700 people have signed up for our Building Wellbeing Together group on Facebook, but a typical post is only seen by about 50. So we're exploring whether we can set up our own online social network. We hope that, by connecting people with like-minded, pas- sionate people, they will become advocates for our mission and, as a result, a host of new ideas will bloom. What can people do to help spread word about or take action toward transitioning to the Wellbeing Economy? How can they support your mission? We have a presence on X (former- ly Twitter), Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. People can follow us on social media or sign up for our newsletter. We also welcome contributors to our blog and love to publicize events organized by others. We live through collaboration and are open to suggestions for partnerships of all kinds. By discussing and demonstrating what could be, we show people that a better world can exist. By demanding and pressing for changes to policy and practices, we bring that better world into existence. networkofwellbeing.org facebook.com/NetworkOfWellbeing twitter.com/NetwrkWellbeing (@NetwrkWellbeing) linkedin.com/company/ network-of-wellbeing instagram.com/networkofwellbeing (@networkofwellbeing) youtube.com/ NETW0RK0FWELLBEING (@NETWORKOFWELLBEING) Newsletter: networkofwellbeing. org/get-involved Bottom: Connecting with the natural world is vital for our wellbeing. Right: In 2017, the Network of Wellbeing brought many of the UK's leading wellbeing practitioners together to help build a movement for a better world. 24 MAKE THE WORLD BETTER MAGAZINEAmplify your message here Advertise in Make The World Better Magazine On a mission to spark positive change? We know a great audience for your initiatives. Catch the attention of like-minded individuals by advertising your purpose-driven organization in an upcoming edition of Make The World Better Magazine. POWERED BY SPARX PUBLISHING GROUP To advertise, get in touch with us here: mtwb@sparxpg.com Access our Media Kit:THE WELLBEING ECONOMY Sources: 1. Gallup 2023 2. NPR THE SEARCH FOR ORGANIZATIONAL PURPOSE AND MEANING According to a 2022 study by Gallup, only 32% of employees are engaged with their work , an 11% drop from 2020. 1 Stephanie Frias, Chief People Officer at Lyra Health, believes a central question for getting people engaged at work is "How do you instill meaning in that work?" 2 The Wellbeing Economy aims to unleash meaningful work and lives for everyone and emphasizes purpose as a key pillar of achieving this. By embedding purpose- driven initiatives and goals in the workplace, employees will feel that their work truly makes a positive difference in the world. 26 MAKE THE WORLD BETTER MAGAZINEFACTS Sources: 1. Fortune 2. EY Global 3. Deloitte But with the traditional focus on profit-first, can purpose take a leading role in organizations? Encouragingly, only 7% of Fortune 500 CEOs believe their companies should “mainly focus on making profits and not be distracted by social goals,” 1 while a survey by EY / Harvard Business Review Analytic Services found that 90% of executives recognize the importance of having "an aspirational reason for being which inspires and provides a call to action for an organization…and provides benefit to society," 2 and a Deloitte report shared that 78% of individuals said they would prefer to work for a purpose-driven company.3 This shows that business leaders and employees are increasingly aligned in seeing the need to embrace organizational purpose which is an important step toward building the Wellbeing Economy . APRIL 2024 • ISSUE 07 27Scottish Government Safeguarding future generations with a wellbeing framework 28 MAKE THE WORLD BETTER MAGAZINEO vercoming today’s challenges and building a better life for all requires economic and systems-level change. To mainstream approaches that place wellbeing at the centre, governments need frameworks and objectives that align with our greatest needs and provide opportunities for everyone to fl ourish. We spoke with Dr. Gary Gillespie, Director and Scottish Government Chief Economic Adviser, about how the Scottish Government is following a wellbeing framework to pursue a just transition to a green economy and reduce inequalities. What inspired you to start advocating for the Wellbeing Economy? My advocacy of the Wellbeing Economy refl ects, in part, a strong political desire in Scotland to put the Wellbeing Economy as a key focus of the Government’s objectives. Th is has been refl ected in the continued evolution of economic strategy in Scotland since 2015; the growing recognition of the combined challenges of rising inequality, climate, and nature loss; and the interde- pendencies and need to frame a system response which focuses on collective wellbeing across economic, social, and environmental domains, consistent with safeguarding future generations. As an economist advising and working in government, it has been great to work toward the Wellbeing Economy, drawing on new thinking and approaches from across academia and other countries. In my role, my focus on the Wellbeing Economy is through the lens of the economy. It is clear we need a successful economy to deliver our wider outcomes — provid- ing opportunities for employment, good jobs, income, and participation across the country while supporting our transition to net zero, reducing inequality, protecting and restoring nature, and investing in public goods. Although the Wellbeing Economy is often viewed as a new or novel approach, its roots can be traced across many areas. Adam Smith, Scottish political economist from the 17th century — often regarded as the father fi gure of modern economics — argued that governments should be viewed in direct proportion to the extent to which they improve the happiness or wellbeing of their citizens. Th erefore, advocacy of the Wellbeing Economy refl ects a tradition of seeking to improve citizens' outcomes, which I am happy to continue. What do you consider to be your biggest success as an advocate and professional in this space? Can you share any stories of the impact your work has had that have surprised you? I have been surprised at how quickly the idea and concept of the Wellbeing Economy has developed as an operat- ing framework for governments and also as a catalyst for broader change across communities. Personally, I would highlight Scotland’s role in the creation of Wellbeing Economy Governments (WEGo),1 alongside Iceland and New Zealand in 2018, the expansion of the group, and the ongoing international interest in governments working together to achieve similar aims. Scotland’s National Performance Framework,2 which was updated in 2018, with its central purpose to enhance wellbeing and provide opportunities for all to fl ourish, is now set in legislation and is regarded as Scotland’s wellbeing framework. Th is is also refl ected in the cross-party political interest and growing consensus on this approach in Scotland and internationally. I would also highlight the “Why governments should prioritize well-being” TED Talk3 by our then–First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, given in 2019, which has had over 2.5 million views. Another major highlight was the appointment of a Scottish Government Minister, Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy in 2023, which refl ects the centrality of this approach within the Scottish Government and its three missions: equality, opportu- nity, and community. Th e current focus is on mainstreaming this approach, working with the business community, and estab- lishing an expert advisory group to shape this work. Finally, the continuing work of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in developing frameworks and sharing policies to support the Centre on Well-being, Inclusion, Sustainability and Equal Opportunity (WISE), alongside the growing interest of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in this area who have reviewed the diff erent approaches taken by WEGo countries, is another noteworthy success. How do you feel that shifting to a Wellbeing Economy will help make the world better? At the heart of the Wellbeing Economy approach is the recognition of the need to change our economic model, given the broader challenges we face. Th e recog- nition of the interconnected nature of those challenges means economic trans- formation is critical if we are to meet our global climate and biodiversity obligations and secure a safe world for current and future generations. Th ese crises are already changing the global economy and how we live, so the only constant is change. We, therefore, need to play our part in pursuing a just transition to a green economy while maximizing the economic opportunities it brings and making sure those opportunities The fi rst public WEGo event, which took place in Edinburgh. Scotland's First Minister and Iceland's Prime Minister spoke about their commitment to collaborating to build wellbeing economies. I have been surprised at how quickly the idea and concept of the Wellbeing Economy has developed as an operating framework for governments and also as a catalyst for broader change across communities. APRIL 2024 • ISSUE 07 29Next >