Happiness is the most important skill to master.
Declan Edwards is a thought leader in Positive Psychology and workplace wellbeing, dedicated to growing global happiness.
As the founder of BU Happiness College—an award-winning social enterprise—Declan and his team are making the science of happiness practical and accessible for people and organisations around the world. Through their work, they’ve helped thousands of individuals and workplaces build the skills that lead to greater wellbeing, resilience, and success.
Declan holds a Bachelor of Health from the University of Newcastle and a Master of Applied Positive Psychology from Central Queensland University. He combines this academic expertise with over a decade of hands-on experience to deliver evidence-based insights that are as practical as they are impactful.
An engaging and relatable speaker, Declan has delivered keynotes and workshops for organisations including the United Nations, TEDx, The Red Cross, and Westpac Rescue Helicopter. His work has been featured in top publications such as the Harvard Business Review, Psychology Today, and the ABC.
Known for his warm and playful speaking style, Declan’s presentations blend research, storytelling, and humour to inspire real change. Audiences consistently praise him for his ability to simplify complex ideas, foster human connection, and leave people feeling empowered with practical strategies they can apply immediately—both personally and professionally.
Declan’s mission is simple but powerful: to make the world a happier place, one person and one workplace at a time.
Talking Points
Keynote: The Happiness Advantage—Why Happiness Drives Success (Not the Other Way Around)
Synopsis:Keynote: The Happiness Advantage—Why Happiness Drives Success (Not the Other Way Around)
The traditional success formula is backwards. In this keynote, Declan Edwards shows how prioritising happiness leads to greater success, not the other way around. Through compelling stories and science, Declan highlights how happier people perform better, innovate more, and create lasting impact—whether in the workplace or on stage at a conference. This session empowers audiences to unlock peak performance through personal and collective wellbeing.
Key Takeaways:
* Understand the research behind how happiness fuels productivity, creativity, and innovation.
* Practical strategies for individuals and teams to boost happiness and performance sustainably.
* Reduce burnout, improve focus, and drive long-term success through positive psychology practices.
* Create a high-performing culture that values wellbeing—essential for any thriving organisation or future-focused event.
* Position your conference or workplace as a champion of sustainable success and human flourishing.
Keynote: The Happiness KPI—Measuring What Matters in the Modern Workplace
Synopsis:Keynote: The Happiness KPI—Measuring What Matters in the Modern Workplace
You can’t improve what you don’t measure. In this game-changing keynote, Declan Edwards explores why happiness is one of the most valuable metrics for modern workplaces and event communities. By treating happiness as a key performance indicator (KPI), organisations and conferences can create more engaged, productive, and meaningful experiences for attendees and employees alike.
Key Takeaways:
* Understand how measuring happiness leads to higher engagement, retention, and performance outcomes.
* Learn frameworks for assessing happiness that can be applied to workplace culture or event experiences.
* Equip leaders and organisers with data-driven insights to inform future strategies.
* Drive improved satisfaction, loyalty, and reputation—whether you’re building an employer brand or curating world-class events.
* Position your organisation or event as innovative, people-centric, and committed to genuine impact.
Keynote: The Ripple Effect of Happiness—How One Person Can Make a World of Difference
Synopsis:Keynote: The Ripple Effect of Happiness—How One Person Can Make a World of Difference
Happiness isn’t contained—it spreads. In this inspiring keynote, Declan Edwards shows how happiness creates a ripple effect through teams, organisations, and communities. Drawing from research and real-world examples, Declan empowers individuals to take ownership of their impact and inspires them to be a catalyst for positive change in their workplaces, events, and beyond.
Key Takeaways:
* Understand the science of how happiness spreads and creates lasting positive impact.
* Equip individuals with actions to positively influence their teams, events, and wider communities.
* Foster a culture of contribution, connection, and collective wellbeing.
* Strengthen engagement, morale, and collaboration within organisations or across event audiences.
* Demonstrate leadership in creating a more connected, compassionate, and human-centred workplace or event experience.
MC: Bringing Energy, Warmth, and Connection to Your Event
Synopsis:MC: Bringing Energy, Warmth, and Connection to Your Event
Declan Edwards is an experienced MC who brings warmth, energy, and human connection to any event. Whether facilitating a multi-day conference, panel discussions, or awards nights, Declan ensures your event flows smoothly and engages every attendee. Known for his humour, relatability, and ability to create a welcoming atmosphere, Declan leaves audiences feeling connected, inspired, and energised.
Key Takeaways:
* A professional and personable MC who keeps events engaging, on time, and on point.
* Seamless transitions between speakers, panels, and activities for maximum audience engagement.
* Creates a welcoming and inclusive space that encourages participation and connection.
* Enhances attendee experience and event impact, leaving a lasting positive impression.
* Positions your event as a high-quality, well-run experience that attendees will remember—and return to.
Masterclass: Humanistic Leadership for Happier Workplaces
Synopsis:Masterclass: Humanistic Leadership for Happier Workplaces
The future of leadership is human. This masterclass equips leaders with the emotional intelligence, empathy, and psychological safety skills they need to create thriving teams. Declan Edwards provides evidence-based tools that foster trust, wellbeing, and high performance—helping workplaces and leadership events cultivate stronger, more human-centric leaders.
Key Takeaways:
* Develop emotionally intelligent, empathetic leadership that builds trust and engagement.
* Foster psychological safety and inclusive cultures where teams can thrive.
* Improve leadership effectiveness, employee retention, and team performance.
* Strengthen your leadership pipeline and demonstrate your organisation’s commitment to human-centred leadership.
* Position your workplace or leadership event as a catalyst for developing future-ready, values-driven leaders.
Masterclass: Stress Management & Burnout Prevention—Thriving in High-Pressure Environments
Synopsis:Masterclass: Stress Management & Burnout Prevention—Thriving in High-Pressure Environments
In today’s fast-paced world, stress and burnout are major risks. This masterclass teaches participants how to identify warning signs early, implement preventative strategies, and recover from burnout effectively. Declan Edwards offers practical tools that empower individuals to sustain high performance without sacrificing wellbeing—whether in the workplace or during high-stakes events.
Key Takeaways:
Learn to spot early signs of stress and burnout in yourself and others.
Implement practical, evidence-based strategies to build resilience and prevent burnout.
Create a more supportive team culture that prioritises wellbeing.
Improve engagement, productivity, and retention by addressing wellbeing proactively.
Position your organisation or event as a leader in creating sustainable high-performance cultures.
Masterclass: Doing Your Best Work—Flow, Purpose, and Fulfilment in the Workplace
Synopsis:Masterclass: Doing Your Best Work—Flow, Purpose, and Fulfilment in the Workplace
People do their best work when they feel their best. In this transformative masterclass, Declan Edwards introduces the science of flow, purpose (ikigai), and gratitude to help participants unlock sustained high performance and deep fulfilment. Ideal for workplaces and professional development events seeking to foster purpose-driven, energised individuals.
Key Takeaways:
Understand flow theory and apply it to daily work for enhanced focus and productivity.
Reignite a sense of purpose and meaning (ikigai) in work and life.
Implement gratitude practices that boost wellbeing and emotional intelligence.
Improve creativity, performance, and confidence in individuals and teams.
Strengthen workplace cultures or event communities by fostering purpose, connection, and fulfilment.
Video
How To Be Happy: 3 Common Misconceptions and Their Solutions | Declan Edwards | TEDxCooks Hill
Happiness is a concept which means different things to different people, but what is "happiness" and how do we obtain it? This talk explores the notion of happiness, what it means, how we come by it and how across the world, happiness means different things. Declan Edwards is a happiness researcher, keynote speaker and author. He is an avid believer in the potential of people and has devoted his time, effort and business to equipping people with the strategies to manage their emotions and master their mindset.Declan Edwards | Conference Speaker & Happiness Expert
I could not recommend Declan enough. his outlook toward workplace happiness and pairing this with leadership workshops are second to none (out of my experiences). Declan is an empathetic, ye ... keep reading Camplify
Declan has a fun, engaging, intelligent and relatable delivery of evidence-based research on happiness that cannot fail to engage the audience. He is a breath of fresh air.
We had the immense privilege to have attended a recent work seminar where Declan was a keynote speaker. In a world where social media and phones are a large part of our life and often at conferences people still check their phones - I guarantee you no one in our room took their focus away from Declan. No phones. No drinks of water. No sleeping and waking up in a fright. Nothing. Just pure attention to what Declan was saying. He was phenomenal. Capital letters, bolded phenomenal.
Declan is a world-class facilitator. Warm, engaging and well-prepared. He delivered a wonderful workshop for our team recently which has brilliant. Had us smiling, laughing, and even more importantly, thinking critically, and connecting. Thanks again.
