Tom Stedall – Reflections 2025 The Spirit of Humanity Forum is a rare experience, and was notable to me as a forum not primarily from the head, but from the heart. The intention of those present, their experiences, their work, their sharing, the nascent landscape of Iceland, created a rawness, a space for inner opening. I will be forever grateful for the encounters of these few days. Tom Stedall Researcher, The Schumacher Institute, UK Luke Addison – Reflections 2025 “To look around the room and see people from different countries, ages, genders, spiritual/religious beliefs, all in one place and being very open, kind, genuine and authentic. Everywhere you look someone is smiling at you, asking if they can sit with you to eat dinner, or asking you questions about who you are. I think in such a short amount of time, we have created this incredible, sincere, authentic family.” Luke Addison Youth Leadership Team Coordinator, Spirit of Humanity Forum Linda Leogah Forkwa – Reflections 2025 “The breakout sessions, workshops and all of the activities causes some kind of deep introspection that I truly value in my line of work… …often when we work we get into this daily routine and lose ourselves. We forget who we are. Sometimes we need to go back and get in touch with ourselves, look into our beings and re-evaluate and assess what is going right or wrong.” Linda Leogah Forkwa Post-graduate student, SoH youth leadership circle Hyppolite Ntigurirwa – Reflections 2025 “It is a very wise decision to collaborate, the Spirit of Humanity Forum with the Well-Being Economy Forum, they have different methods, but really they are working for the same goal, same vision. Where humanity is at its best…. …The most important thing is not the journey to just ‘do’ but also to listen and to be. The call for doing the work inward and then doing the work outside is really important.” Hyppolite Ntigurirwa Artist, Peacebuilder and Founder, Be the Peace Arnar Sveinn Geirsson – Reflections 2025 “There are a lot of things that inspire me to be here, but mostly it’s the people that are here as well. Learning from everyone here that has come from different parts of the world, having different perspectives of what is happening and truly listening to how they are approaching their work or their journey they are on spiritually.” Arnar Sveinn Geirsson Human Resources Director at Teya Iceland Sister Jayanti – Reflection 2025 “When you don’t know, there can be fear. But when I am very secure in knowing myself, and there is a state of valuing the self and self-esteem, that is my own inner dignity that I am upholding. I am connected with myself and connected with my core values and following those values in my life I am very comfortable.” Sister Jayanti Kirpalani Additional Administrative Head, The Brahma Kumaris and UN Representative in Geneva Stewart Wallis – Reflections 2025 “The role that inner transformation plays in outer change is massive, because the President of Iceland said this yesterday, ‘You have to go in to go out.’ And I've seen that in my own life, without doing that work on yourself, without knowing what you believe, knowing what you value in life, knowing, connecting to love and spirit, you cannot do the work in the world you need to.” Stewart Wallis Chair, Wellbeing Economy Alliance (WEAll) Dr Youssef Mahmoud – Reflections 2025 “An experience like this is unique because this is not an ashram where you go and meditate. This is asking people how they can transform themselves from inside out in order to shoulder their part of responsibility at this critical moment for humanity's transition to usher, a different world where a world that has been cleansed, healed from the illusion of separation.” Dr Youssef Mahmoud Dr Youssef Mahmoud, Senior Adviser, International Peace Institute, New York, former Under-Secretary-General, United Nations Baroness Patricia Scotland – Reflections 2025 “It was really extraordinary that the President of Iceland, in making her commitment to be involved with both these initiatives, made them collaborate and come together… …I was really impressed with the President, her determination, her openness and her Knights of Love.” Baroness Patricia Scotland KC Former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Dr Jude Currivan – Reflections 2025 “It really reinforced in my heart and soul the power of listening, the power of silence, the power of being” Dr Jude Currivan Cosmologist, author and film-maker and co-founder of WholeWorld-View Dr Imad Karam – Reflection 2025 “I am being driven by this need for human dignity. At the bottom of it all, we're all human, we also share dignity. And where dignity lacks, you will find conflict and inequality and injustice.” Dr Imad Karam Executive director of Initiatives of Change International Prof Dr Mike Hardy – Reflections “I was delighted when the organisers looked at the theme of ‘Inner Wisdom’, the theme of acting with courage and acting with compassion, because they resonate so strongly with the lived experience that we all have.” Prof Dr Mike Hardy Professor and Chair of Intercultural Relations, Coventry University Dr Thomas Legrand “Only a profound change of minds and hearts can pave the way for peace and regeneration.” Dr Thomas Legrand Author of Politics of Being, Lead of UNDP Conscious Food Systems Alliance Claude Turmes "For me it was a meeting of hope, because it is important that we do not only have people who are thinking about solutions, but also an inclusive strategy to get everybody to embrace the change that we need to make. We need to touch the heart of the people, we cannot only use intellectual arguments. To speak heart to heart is much more promising than just speaking from one intellect to the other." Claude Turmes Minister of Energy, Government of Luxembourg, Luxembourg Olivier Onghena-‘t Hooft "What a success this Forum has been! This format works much better than the ‘classical’ congress style: - much more interaction with many more people, on a more profound level, - staying together in the same hotel and having evening programs, - breakfast, lunch and dinner together enhances exchanges, - the morning meditation is a very important component, - the possibility to go to your room for a nap, or do some work, or brush your teeth, - meeting in rooms with views and air instead of a dark auditorium." Olivier Onghena-'t Hooft Founder & Executive Chairman, GINPI, Belgium Diego Galafassi "A passage, a portal, a profound gathering beyond appearances. I am thankful to have been part of the Forum this year and full of joy and reverence for what is emerging with it." Diego Galafassi Founder & Film director, Hum Interactive Studios, Sweden/Brazil Ila Malhotra Gregory "What has been so powerful is how embodied the experience has been. To move past the language of ‘spirit’, ‘love’, ‘crisis or ‘healing’, into the wisdom that is held in our collective body, or ’social body’ which is a word I learned. My thoughts are now how I integrate this outside a container like this. How we bring the essence of an experience like this into the world. That felt really powerful, to move beyond, to dissolve that barrier, and let something new grow." Ila Malhotra Gregory Speaker, facilitator, weaver, YouthxYouth, United Kingdom Peggy Dulany “One of the most wonderful things is the diversity of people who are brought together. Peoples background, peoples level of doing inner work, the type of work that they have done, what they are doing out there in the world. Many people were activists, trying to manifest change in the world, others were in a more reflective place. It is that combination, the inner work for outer change that appeals to me the most. I had a fantastic experience. I now want reflect on: How can we together take this out into the world to many more people?” Peggy Dulany Board Chair and Founder, The Synergos Institute, USA Henri van Eeghen "It was an absolute pleasure. The whole setup was excellent and very interactive. It gave me a great opportunity to connect deeper to self and I had the opportunity to meet a whole number of new people. Grateful, I am looking forward to participate further in the events." Henri van Eeghen CEO ,KIT Royal Tropical Institute, The Netherlands Miriam Coleman "The Forum asked us to contemplate how leading with Authenticity and Love can be the conduit towards peace. Over three days evolved a deep and meaningful connection to self and others. Our inner contemplation drawing on the mind, body and spirit, brought forth a realisation that to move from crisis to peace requires a higher consciousness than what currently exists globally. The Forum illuminated the path to a place of higher consciousness, for it is in this place peace can be found, that is the legacy and gift of this wonderful global gathering." Miriam Coleman Founder, Mountain View Consulting, Australia Stewart Wallis "On top of connecting to some wonderful people and starting both new friendships and work partnerships, the Forum was transformational for me in several ways. For the first time in my 75 years, I discovered I had a sixth sense - my body! It was a total revelation to start to learn how to listen to my body. It gave me critical new insights into my relationship with my amazing wife and I also gained new clarity on how to promote the shift to a Wellbeing Economic System. It was a joyful, inspiring and crucially important event for me." Stewart Wallis Chair, Wellbeing Economy Alliance (WEAll), United Kingdom Martin Frick – Reflection "It was an extraordinary experience, heartwarming and heart opening in a way I did not expect. There were many special moments like when I found myself in a conversation with a person from the other side of the globe and her story sounded so very much like my own story that at one point we just cracked up laughing and hugged because it was so unbelievable. You go away with more compassion, more understanding, less fear and with courage just to do what you know is right and needs to be done." Dr Martin Frick Director, United Nations World Food Programme, Global Office, Germany Noor Balfaqeeh "The Noor that stepped into this space is totally different. Now I am more open, more present and I have very high hopes that we together can do something about humanity. The title 'Spirit of Humanity' is very profound. I experience that we are all one. It is just a matter of choice to feel the other, to be close to others and by doing so we will create a positive change." Noor Balfaqeeh Corporate Affairs and Communications senior manager, Unilever, Saudi Arabia Einat Bronstein "My time in Iceland and especially in the gathering of the Forum, was absolutely magical and transformative. I am deeply grateful for being included in the retreat and for the opportunity to get to know so many wonderful people. The experience was characterised by grace, humility and an incredible commitment to do good, whatever that means. I will be happy to contribute to the Forum in the future, in any way that I can." Einat Bronstein International Lead Trainer of IFS (Internal Family Systems), Co-founder and co-director of the Israeli Institute of IFS, Israel Axel Gegenschatz – Reflection “Link ‘Leading with authenticity of love’ to yourself and learn how you can continue to develop your will to change and break your limitations in order to act like a multiplier in many aspects where we need to change as a society. From the Forum I bring confidence, responsibility, inner work that can work outside and a sense of belonging to a network of support.” Axel Gegenschatz Board Director, Advisor & Investor Former CEO of Natura & Co Argentina Martin Doblmeier – Reflection ”The common theme that unites us all today is an understanding that the world cannot continue on its present course. What is needed is bold, enlightened and selfless leadership with the courage to forge a new path in both the social and political spheres. But the great obstacle today is the painful erosion of trust in leadership and governance.” Martin Doblmeier Founder and President of Journey Films Alan Gegenchatz – Reflection ”I fully agree that we need more well being and that love is the force for fixing it.” Alan Gegenchatz Owner and founder, Outobox AG Ltd Kelly Burks – Reflection ”Love, compassion and humanist consideration - caring for others - from local community leaders all the way up to the leadership of nations is a key element in moving towards a Loving World. We all have to take responsibility and work together to change our world.” Kelly Burks Explorer, poet, writer, photographer, designer, consultant, young offender counsellor and film-maker Four Arrows, aka Dr Don Trent Jacobs – Reflection ”Loving the world must begin with loving all life forms fearlessly.” Four Arrows, aka Dr Don Trent Jacobs College professor, writer and activist for Native American rights Cornelis (Cees) J. Hoogendijk – Reflection ”We spend a major part of our time in some organisation, which serves consciously or unconsciously as an influencing context. The more constructive, appreciation, connectedness and love we experience in our work, the more we will spread it in our lives, families and networks.” Cornelis (Cees) J. Hoogendijk Co-creator of Learning Organizations - OrgPanoptics & AI Academy Judith Nelson – Reflection ”The ability to lead, love, and help others, starts within each of us. Just as we should put on our own oxygen mask before helping others, a good leader needs the skills, time, and space to look after themselves and plan for a better world and future.” Judith Nelson Physiotherapist, Journalist and Heartfulness Meditation Trainer Hester O Connor – Reflection ”As we emerge from the Global pandemic, this is a crucial time for leaders to embrace the importance of what it means to have the courage to soften and to face the changes we need to make in order to build a more humane and compassionate world for ourselves, for colleagues and for our communities. It is a time to listen and live from within the beauty of our own hearts.” Hester O Connor Clinical Psychologist, Heartfulness Meditation Trainer Richard Dunne – Reflection ”Now more than ever, we need to learn to create a loving world, a world in harmony, where well-being for all is our goal, and we seek to heal ourselves and our world in the process.” Richard Dunne Founder and Director of Education at The Harmony Project Michael West – Reflection ”To contribute to a transformed world requires we all commit to nurturing loving environments, compassionate cultures and leadership, and cultivating an experienced sense of our interconnection with all.” Michael West CBE Senior Fellow at The King’s Fund, London and Professor at Lancaster University Dr Miriam Subirana – Reflection ”Let us explore, share and co-create practices that enable us to develop as creative, autonomous, emotionally and spiritually mature people, to become leaders that embrace in the joy of caring.” Dr Miriam Subirana Meditation teacher, Author and Professor at Ramon Llull-Blanquerna University Anne Baring – Reflection “Love is the pulse of the cosmos and the pulse of our own deepest nature. We are all connected to each other, to the earth and the cosmos through our participation in a miraculous way of life.” Anne Baring Jungian Analyst, Historian and Author David Cadman – Reflection "If we take love seriously … our whole being is transformed, and our attention is centred on our ways in which we relate lovingly to each other, to the earth and to the cosmos.” Prof David Cadman Quaker Writer, Professor of Practice at the University of Wales Trinity St. David Karen Björk Eyþórsdóttir – Reflection "The only thing you have power over is yourself. So, if you dislike something, like greed, judgement or prejudice in the world, then it is your responsibility to adopt something different. To adopt the values you would like to see more of in the world." Karen Björk Eyþórsdóttir Programme Director of Sustainability, City of Reyjavík Prof Kristín Vala Ragnarsdóttir – Reflection "Love can be cultivated through inner work, and it will always come back to you. People around you will respond. If you make your kindness visible, that builds trust. Building trust leads to love and compassion, and listening is a very important way to build trust." Prof Kristín Vala Ragnarsdóttir Professor of Sustainability Science University of Iceland Katie Weintraub – Reflection "We need to put humanity at the core of leadership - we can have all the technical solutions in the world, but if we don’t have the personal evolution in the centre of our leadership we cannot go forward… love must be in the centre." Katie Weintraub Partnerships co-ordinator, Sinal do Vale Pops Mohamed – Reflection ”Love one another, touch someone’s hand, head or shoulder and just tell him that you love him.” Pops Mohamed South African multi-instrumentalist, jazz musician and producer Thais Corral – Reflection "It is now the time to be the best version of who we can be. We already know it, but we have to re-learn what it means to love and express it." Thais Corral Founder of Sinal do Vale Father Dr Anselm Adodo – Reflection "Leadership is self-knowledge. A true leader leads with humility, love and selflessness… we need to revive the spirit of co-operation. In Africa, we say that one rich man in a village is a poor man… but when he shares his wealth with everybody, he is a wealthy man … because he does not need to build high walls to protect himself out of fear" Father Dr Anselm Adodo Founder of Pax Herbals, initiator of Pan-African Action Research Network for African Indigenous Knowledge in Nigeria H.E. Haifa Najjar – Reflection "We need to go beyond the academic understanding of leadership - leadership is about giving, generosity, love and about sharing a part of yourself." H.E. Haifa Najjar Senator in the Jordanian Parliament, Superintendent of Ahliya and Mutran International Schools Dr Vinya Ariyaratne – Reflection "Inner transformation is fundamentally important to us as leaders who is dedicated to creating outer transformation in our societies- if we are to overcome the unprecedented challenges we face in the world today we need to create a world where we share and care for each other … let’s create outer peace by creating peace within ourselves." Dr Vinya Ariyaratne President of Sarvodaya, the largest Community Development organisation in Sri Lanka Jean-François Clervoy – Reflection "The Earth does not need to be saved. She just needs to be loved." Jean-François Clervoy CNES and ESA astronaut Dr Rama Mani ”The paramount purpose of leadership and governance is to secure the well being of all life. The time has come for the power of love to replace the love of power.” Dr Rama Mani Founder of Theatre of Transformation Academy, Co-founder Home for Humanity Ragnheiður Gröndal – Reflection "I strongly believe that well-being starts inside. And we must change on the inside to change the outside." Ragnheiður Gröndal Singer and Composer Ranara Alhoundova – Reflection "Music creates a bridge for people to move out of thinking and into Presence. In my experience, the more powerful communication and connection with the essence of each person happen through the live improvisation. I suppose this is because an improvisation is music created in the present moment." Ranara Alhoundova Pianist and composer Nicole Schwab – Reflection ”Our rhythms are so fast and demanding. They are disconnected with the rhythm of nature.” Nicole Schwab Co-Director, Nature-based Solutions, World Economic Forum Zhang Lanying – Reflection ”If everyone cultivates themselves we can change the systems from a spiritual level - when you nurture the invisible you can change the visible.” Zhang Lanying Executive Deputy Dean of the Institute of Rural Reconstruction of China, Southwest University, Chongqing Óttarr Proppé – Reflection ”It is important to find the balance of listening to the public and listening to the experts.” Óttarr Proppé fr Minister of Health, Iceland; musician, actor and bookseller Dr Kelly James Clark – Reflection "Almost all love is local. Reach out to others, bring well-being to our neighbours, our communities." Dr Kelly James Clark Professor of Philosophy at Ibn Haldun University, Istanbul Dr Thomas Bruhn – Reflection "I empathize with leaders who often experience substantial pressures and dependencies in their daily responsibilities and hope that the Forum can strengthen all participants in their capacity to live and lead in accordance with their aspirations." Dr Thomas Bruhn Research Group Leader, Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS) Prof Ursula King – Reflection "We need to learn to love - to expand love into developing energies we have within us which we can draw from and share with each other… we have to unite and relate to each other to develop our humanity in much fuller ways.” Prof Ursula King Professor of Theology and Religious Studies Ella Gregory – Reflection "Moving towards a loving world requires each of us to embody love, peace and compassion. This can be encouraged by leaders who embody these values and lead by example, creating effective action and building a kinder world. Leadership and governance can be beautiful things, inspiring all to live fully and create a socially and environmentally just world." Ella Gregory High School Graduate, UK Ines Sanguinetti – Reflection "When I established “Crear vale la pena”, I realized that we were trying to make room to work on vulnerability, a vulnerability we tend to see in the less favoured social classes, but which is a kind of vulnerability that is also present in our societies at large." Ines Sanguinetti Co-founder and President, Fundación Crear Vale la Pena Amin Khosravi – Reflection "A fundamental part of what we do is based around empathy…the first step is really just listening, listening to other people and be prepared to be changed by those experiences." Amin Khosravi Urbanist, Co-founder urbz Geneva Karam Jaber – Reflection "Well-being all comes from the mind and the heart. When a person has a calm mind they live peacefully... To be kindhearted, not give with the expectation to get something back, not being sentimental, but even just a sincere smile can draw a smile on your face... To be kind, good and peaceful. ." Karam Jaber Secondary School student, Lebanon Ásmundur Einar Daðason – Reflection "When you involve young people, you don't lose power, you will make things better." Ásmundur Einar Daðason Minister of Social Affairs and Children, Iceland Myrian Castello – Reflection "Living together as one and spreading and sharing love, and knowing that...the world is on fire, but we still have time, and I have a lot of hope. And I want to call you all to do that, to leave no one behind, to spread love and dreams and do our best so we can prevail." Myrian Castello Co-Founder, Dream Factory and Right to Dream Movement Mohammed Mohammed – Reflection "Our world needs love more than anything else. Love that is transcendent, love that is inclusive, love that is accompanied by forgiveness, love that is unconditional." Mohammed Mohammed Senior Programme Officer, the Fetzer Institute Prof Tania Singer – Reflection "Being a social neuroscientist and psychologist also working cross-disciplinary together with economists, educators, politicians and health-care providers, I am repeatedly astonished by the fact that in all these large-scale systems we have created, LOVE is somehow a taboo. We do not do research and do not like to speak about it publicly neither. However, it is the basis for humanity." Prof Tania Singer scientific head of the Max Planck Social Neuroscience Research Group Kamlesh Patel – Reflection “We are not fully aware of what we are not doing. We are not fully aware of the consequences of not playing our part. When this awareness comes, then the world will change.” Kamlesh Patel Founder, Heartfulness The Most Revd Dr Thabo C. Makgoba – Reflection "Indeed, the world needs to hear about well-being and how we can participate, through our love, to create that well-being." The Most Revd Dr Thabo C. Makgoba the Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town Madeleine von Holzen – Reflection "I was very impressed with what Gabriela was saying. I think it is a big issue... When working with high ambition and wanting to provide quality, one can end up working a lot and get people to work a lot. I think it is a big discussion." Madeleine von Holzen Chief editor, 'Le Temps'; Editorial director, 'Heidi.news' Gabriela Michetti – Reflection "We must be aware when we do our work and carry out the responsibilities that it is very important to take care of ourselves. You may nourish your soul, but if you do not look after your body it will create a problem. Lack of well-being will have an impact on others. Looking after the self is fundamental.” Gabriela Michetti Former Vice President of Argentina, President, Ser Consultancy John, Lord Alderdice – Reflection "A scientific way of thinking can help me understand how the world is made up and what has happened in life, but it cannot tell me how I ought to relate with my fellows." John, Lord Alderdice House of Lords, UK Peggy Dulany – Reflection "How does love support our differences? Building trust through open listening. I do need to be authentic to what I believe, but also be able to listen deeply to where others are coming from. It is critical (when our views are challenged) to be able to step back and listen and not fall into reaction. To be able to meet as human beings, to develop a sense of appreciation for the other person and then build on that.” Peggy Dulany Founder and Chair, Synergos Sister Jayanti – Reflection "Spirituality says that everything begins inside, and then it begins to manifest outside…Learning to love myself is not a sign of ego, but a sign of spiritual development. And when I can begin to love myself, I can start loving others unconditionally also." Sister Jayanti Additional Administrative Head and European Director, Brahma Kumaris Yves Daccord – Reflection "We have to be curious. It opens our hearts to others. Anger doesn't allow us to be curious. Curiosity helps us establish a common language rather than an attitude where we don't want to know." Yves Daccord Executive Chairman Edgelands Institute @ Harvard, former CEO of the International Red Cross Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir – Reflection "We rarely use the words happiness and love in politics... but why are we in politics? What do we want to achieve in politics if not love and happiness." Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir fr. Foreign Minister of Iceland
