Dr. Julia Kim is the Program Director of the Gross National Happiness Centre Bhutan. She joined the GNH Centre in 2013, after serving as a member of the International Expert Working Group for a New Development Paradigm (convened by the Royal Government of Bhutan). Julia brings a background in programs, policy, and research in the fields of global health and sustainable development, and holds degrees from Cornell University, the University of Manitoba, Tufts University, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Prior to coming to Bhutan, she lived in New York and worked extensively in Africa, and Asia with NGOs, academia and UN agencies (UNDP and UNICEF).

At a time of growing social, economic, political and environmental crisis, many in the world are now seriously questioning the current development paradigm and seeking innovative and life-affirming alternatives. The profound wisdom of Bhutan’s Kings in articulating GNH - a holistic, sustainable and inclusive development process aimed at human happiness and the wellbeing of all life - is more compelling than ever. The Centre offers GNH programs in Bhutan and internationally, that aim to put this transformative wisdom into practice in daily life and across many fields - including youth empowerment, leadership development, organizational change, education, and business. Together with the Presencing Institute and GIZ/BMZ Global Leadership Academy, The GNH Centre Bhutan has co-hosted three “Global Wellbeing and GNH Labs” across a range of countries including Brazil, Germany, Costa Rica, and Bhutan (www.gnhcentrebhutan.org).