Dr. Julia KIM, Gross National Happiness Center

Dr. Julia Kim is a researcher and global health and sustainable development specialist who has worked extensively in Africa, and Asia with NGOs, academia and UN agencies (UNDP and UNICEF). She is currently a Senior Program Advisor at the Gross National Happiness (GNH) Centre in Bhutan which, in collaboration with international partners (such as the Presencing Institute, the Global Leadership Academy GIZ/BMZ, Schumacher College, and the Mind and Life Institute), aims to bring the principles and practices of Bhutan’s unique development philosophy into action in the spheres of business, education, government, and civil society.

Julia has come to view “development” – whether of countries, institutions or individuals – as a dynamic process which requires balanced attention to both outer/material growth and inner/consciousness development. With the GNH Centre and partners, she co-designs and facilitates leadership development & institutional change programs at the cross-section of New Economics, wellbeing, and sustainable development. These initiatives (such as the Global Wellbeing and GNH Lab, the Right Livelihood Program, and the GNH Masterclass ) deliberately combine intellectual understanding (“Head”) with compassion and mindfulness-based practices (“Heart”) for transformative action (“Hand”) towards a happier and more sustainable world.

Julia is a member of the International Expert Working Group for the New Development Paradigm, (convened by the Government of Bhutan), as well as the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (Canada), and the Presencing Institute. She graduated from Cornell University (B.A.) and the University of Manitoba (M.D.), and is a Specialist in Internal Medicine & Community-Oriented Primary Care (Tufts University School of Medicine) as well as Public Health in Developing Countries (MSc. London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine).