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Key People

These influential individuals are leading thinkers, practitioners, and advocates in their respective fields, helping to shape and advance wellbeing economy approaches through their work, research, writing, and public engagement. They represent diverse perspectives and approaches but share a commitment to creating more just, sustainable, and human-centered economic systems.
Please note: links are to searches for these leaders, you may have to alter the search to find them, not all links have been checked.
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Adrienne Maree Brown
Author of "Emergent Strategy" highly networked across movements
Naomi Klein
Author and activist with broad reach and economic systems critique
Patrick Reinsborough
Center for Story-based Strategy pioneer in narrative change
Alyssa Battistoni
Climate and labor writer bridging environmentalism with economic justice
Thomas Coombes
Developer of hope-based communication for social change
5
Gus Speth
Co-founder of the New Economy Coalition former environmental establishment figure
Frances Moore Lappé
Food systems pioneer who has evolved to whole-systems perspective
Charles Eisenstein
Writer with broad appeal across spiritual and systems change communities
Amanda Cahill
The Next Economy practical implementation of new economy models
Juliet Schor
Sharing economy researcher bridging academic rigor with practical applications
5
Kate Raworth
Creator of Doughnut Economics bridging economic redesign with ecological limits
Katherine Trebeck
Co-founder of the Wellbeing Economy Alliance connecting policy business and academia
John Fullerton
Founder of Capital Institute former Wall Street executive bringing credibility to regenerative economics
Marjorie Kelly
The Democracy Collaborative pioneer in ownership design and community wealth building
Janelle Orsi
Sustainable Economies Law Center connecting legal frameworks with commons approaches
5
David Bollier
Commons theorist with extensive connections across movements
Silke Helfrich
Commons researcher and activist co-author of "Free Fair and Alive"
Rob Hopkins
Founder of Transition Town movement skilled storyteller with broad appeal
Elinor Ostrom
Nobel Prize-winning work on commons management remains foundational
Helena Norberg-Hodge
Local Futures/Economics of Happiness bridges localism with global perspective
5
Michel Bauwens
P2P Foundation extensive cross-movement knowledge and networks
Nathan Schneider
Platform cooperativism advocate connects tech with broader economic transformation
Audrey Tang
Taiwan's Digital Minister innovator in digital democracy and civic tech
Astra Taylor
Filmmaker and organizer connecting technology with democracy and economic justice
Trebor Scholz
Platform Cooperativism bridging tech workers with ownership models
5
Paul Hawken
Project Drawdown Regeneration broad appeal and mainstream credibility
Vandana Shiva
Seed sovereignty and anti-globalization activist with global following
Bill McKibben
350.org founder widely respected climate voice with economic critique
Janine Benyus
Biomimicry pioneer connects ecological design with business innovation
Robin Wall Kimmerer
Indigenous scientist bridging traditional knowledge with ecology
5
Donella Meadows
Systems thinking pioneer her work remains influential
Daniel Christian Wahl
Regenerative development expert with cross-movement perspective
Otto Scharmer
Theory U and Presencing Institute connecting inner work with systems change
Joanna Macy
Deep ecology and Work That Reconnects intergenerational appeal
David Korten
Author of "The Great Turning" connecting democratic movements with economics
5
Resmaa Menakem
Racialized trauma healer with growing influence
Thich Nhat Hanh
Engaged Buddhism connecting inner practice with social action
Dr. Gabor Maté
Trauma and addiction specialist connecting personal and social healing
Dr. Dan Siegel
Interpersonal neurobiology expert connecting science with relational approaches
Bayo Akomolafe
Post-activism thinker bridging indigenous wisdom with systems change
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