Declan Edwards — Founder
If you and I sat down for a cuppa together and you asked what I do, I’d probably start with this: I’ve spent the past decade of my life studying happiness. Not the fluffy “just be positive” kind, but the messy, scientific, deeply human kind. The kind that impacts wellbeing, performance, relationships, and the way we show up in the world. Somewhere along the way I realised two things that completely changed my life: 1. Happiness matters. 2. Happiness is a skill. And once I saw that, I couldn’t unsee it. I saw how many people were chasing “success” at the expense of their wellbeing. I saw leaders burning bright but burning out. I saw workplaces pouring money into perks while their people quietly struggled. And I saw everyday humans who cared deeply, but didn’t have the tools or language to sustainably care for themselves. I saw too many good humans giving the world what was left of them, rather than the best of them. So in 2017, I founded BU Happiness College with one mission: to make the skills and science of happiness more accessible so people and workplaces can actually thrive, not just cope. Since then, my team and I have helped people across 6+ countries become an average of 57% happier within their first 12 months, and we’ve supported workplaces to reduce burnout, lift engagement, and become recognised as Accredited Happy Workplaces (which says a lot about culture and leadership). Along the way, the college has been named Social Enterprise of the Year (2020) and United Nations SDG Champion (2022) and I’ve had the privilege of speaking for organisations like Red Cross, Westpac Rescue Helicopter, TEDx, and the United Nations General Assembly. I also guest lecture on wellbeing science for CQUniversity, Bond University, and The Culture Institute of Australia. But titles and accolades aside, I’ll tell you the real reason I do this: I genuinely believe the world gets better when people get happier. Happier partners, happier leaders, happier parents, happier teams; the ripple effect of genuine happiness is enormous. If you’re curious about mastering the skills of happiness for yourself or your workplace, I’d love to connect. Send me a message, or visit my website, and let’s see what happiness impact we can create together.
Stackforce AI infers this person is a Happiness and Wellbeing Consultant with a focus on organizational culture and employee engagement.
Experience: 2 yrs 9 mos
Skills
- Coaching
- Consulting
- Employee Engagement
- Guest Lecturing
- Research
- Positive Psychology
- Learning Management
- Culture Change
- Project Management
- Employee Training
Career Highlights
- Founded BU Happiness College to promote happiness skills.
- Helped individuals become 57% happier in 12 months.
- Recognized as Social Enterprise of the Year in 2020.
Work Experience
CQUniversity
Guest Lecturer (6 mos)
The Culture Institute of Australia
Resident Happiness Expert (1 yr 8 mos)
NGM Group
Learning, Leadership, and Culture Specialist (5 mos)
🎧 The 'How to Be Happy' Podcast
Podcast Host (1 yr 9 mos)
Bond University
Guest Lecturer (2 yrs 9 mos)
hyp - Hunter Young Professionals
Board Director (1 yr)
BU Happiness College
Founder & CEO (8 yrs 11 mos)
Education
Master's degree at CQUniversity
Graduate Certificate in Positive Psychology at CQUniversity
Bachler of Health at University of Newcastle
Diploma of Fitness at Australian Institue of Personal Trainer
