There is no change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.
- Margaret J. Wheatley

OUR TEAM.

PAUL ROGERS 
CO-FOUNDER & DIRECTOR

Paul in four words: Committed, Strategic, Enthusiastic and Engaged.
How Paul defines happiness: Having the opportunity to travel and contribute to the well-being of others.
Why Paul is a part of Planet Happiness: Because it's a refreshing and innovative approach to tourism planning that just might change the world!

LAURA MUSIKANSKI
CO-FOUNDER

Laura in four words: Change Agent, Visionary, Entrepreneur and Creative.
How Laura defines happiness: Happiness is the purpose of life and government. 
Why Laura is a part of Planet Happiness: The Happiness Movement is an extension of the Sustainability Movement - a new unfolding of meeting human needs.

KEN SCOTT
​​PUBLIC RELATIONS LEAD

Ken in four words: Reliable, Strategic, Responsible, Ready.
How Ken defines happiness: Happiness is a state of contentedness with hope that the future will be better than the present.
Why Ken is a part of Planet Happiness: To help add a robust and measurable well-being component that measures the quality of our lives in more ways than GDP and wealth -- which are very important, but ultimately are still stepping stones to happiness.

MARJORIE VAN STRIEN
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT LEAD

Marjorie in four words: Respectful, Passionate, Collaborative, Responsible.
How Marjorie defines happiness: Everyone defines their own happiness. I find happiness in contributing to inclusive and sustainable development and spending quality time with my family, especially going on adventures with them in the outdoors.
Why Marjorie is a part of Planet Happiness: Any development of tourism should be for the local community first. This is often overlooked, as the objective is to create positive experiences for visitors. Without community backing, the visitor experience will only be a fraction of its potential. Destinations may want to engage with the community to have an open dialogue, share ideas, or even co-create and co-manage tourism. How can this be facilitated effectively and efficiently? Planet Happiness bridges that gap.

MICHAEL GOLDSMITH
COUNTRY MANAGER, USA

Michael in four words:  Intrepid explorer & global citizen.
How Michael defines happiness:  Happiness is being at the beach with family and friends, swimming in the ocean, exploring this amazing planet, and learning from the fascinating people who inhabit it.
Why Michael is a part of Planet Happiness:  Planet Happiness allows me to engage and learn with a group of modern explorers who share a desire to create something beneficial for communities all over the planet, while connecting with people across borders, oceans, languages, religions, and cultures.
 

DAISY WANG
CHIEF COUNTRY MANAGER, CHINA

Daisy  in four words: Curious, Creative, Passionate, Determined.
How Daisy defines happiness: A genuine smile on the face for both satisfaction and hope.
Why Daisy is a part of Planet Happiness: I’m from and based in China, the world’s largest heritage country and largest community to work hard for happiness. My expertise in tourism and strategic marketing takes me all around my country, working with governments and brands, for the shared goal of holistic development through tourism. It caught my eye when I first learned the mission of Tourism Beyond GDP from Planet Happiness,and liked it even more after getting to know more. And that is basically why I’m on board.
THAIS ANDRADE COLICCHIO

COUNTRY MANAGER, BRAZIL 
Thais in four words: collaboration-boost, challenge-driven, value of experiences and outdoors.
How Thais defines happiness: for me happiness is about a continuous exchange between people and their environment,
in which both personal and community needs and wishes are valued and met. It is about the simple things, and yet so complex, but definitely is something worth to explore. 
Why Thais is part of Planet Happiness: I believe it is a purpose driven opportunity, for taking and giving as much as possible.
My goal is to make a positive impact both local and global in helping expanding peoples boundaries of their happiness!
MONICA MOLINA

COUNTRY MANAGER, SPAIN
Mònica in four words: Passionate, Committed, Critical, Ethical.
How Monica defines happiness: Happiness is connecting with places and people when you travel, while enjoying the diversity and richness that our planet offers us.
Why Monica is a part of Planet Happiness: I firmly believe in the possibility that each and every one of us has to be agents of change in the development of the tourism industry.  The sustainability of tourist activity is directly linked to people and their experience, both as residents and tourists.  Happiness is a main aspect to guarantee the good health of a tourist destination and this is reason enough to help achieve this milestone.

RICHELLE VILLAR
DATA STORY LEAD

Richelle in four words: Curious, Creative, Organised, Loyal.
How Richelle defines happiness: Happiness is the feeling after a good meal. Or during a good meal.  It's also seeing joy in other people when their faces light up doing or talking about something they love. 
Why Richelle is part of Planet Happiness: I am part of Planet Happiness because I understand the negative aspects caused by tourism, especially in popular touristic places like the Cultural Heritage Sites (or any tourism site). I also believe that wellbeing is a key factor that our current economic led society has completely overlooked, but actually an integral part of human existence.

Roman Russo
SOCIAL MEDIA LEAD

Roman in four words: Relentless Optimist, Extrovert, & Dreamer.
How Roman defines happiness: Happiness is the difference between what we want and what we have. If we are never satisfied with what we have, we will never be happy, no matter how much we have. On the other hand, we can be happy today and forever by focusing on whatever we have right now, thinking that it is enough.
Why Roman is part of Planet Happiness: We are all here to make a difference. Often this starts as a personal transformation (e.g. self-growth), transforming into a personal quest to teach others (e.g. coaching or corporate training), eventually leading to a global effort to improve humankind as a whole (e.g. political or macroeconomic intervention). For me, being part of the Plan Happiness team is the latter option.   ​

LEIRE CERDAN 
PARTNER, SPAIN

Leire in four words: I am vin and van, no one and everything.
How Leire defines happiness: The purpose of life
Why Liere is part of Planet Happiness: Planet Happiness can make a great contribution to progress towards happier societies worldwide. I am working by means of the Spanish organization El Buen Vivir to the same goal so I want to join forces with the wonderful Planet Happiness team.

CHERISE ADDINSALL
PROJECT MANAGER, VANUATU

Cherise in four words: Passionate, Caring, Determined, Visionary.
How Cherise define happiness: Happiness is deep and meaningful connections through family, friends and community. Its experiencing genuine inclusiveness and equitable decision making. A feeling of Interconnectedness with our life support systems and applying processes that restore, renew or revitalize our ecosystems 
Why Cherise is a part of Planet Happiness: For a long time now I’ve been driven by a desire to see tourism actually meaningfully contribute to improving the lives of indigenous people and not just another efficient form of colonialism. Planet happiness offers a tool to support the genuine inclusiveness of community in the planning and management of tourism. While at the same time acknowledging the vital role of culture, community and environment in destination management. At the very core it’s a feeling that you’re contributing to improve the lives of those around you and leaving no one behind.

HUIJIE SUN 
DESTINATION MANAGER, CHINA

Sun in four words: Kind, Conscientious, Fun-loving, Curious.
How Sun defines happiness: To be loved, be cared about，be respected，have opportunities to realize the ideal life，physically and mentally satisfied.
Why Sun is part of Planet Happiness: I’m interested in the revitalization and sustainable development of ancient towns. Planet Happiness focuses on the well-being and sustainability of heritage site communities.
I‘m keen to support the project with my bilingual  skills, social network and professional knowledge.

OUR AMBASSADORS.

ANNA DROZDOWSKA
AMBASSADOR & STRATEGIC ADVISOR

Anna in four words: Culinary and cultural tourism passionate.
How Anna defines happiness: State of mind that allows you to see the full glass.
Why Anna is part of Planet Happiness: My vision of tourism is putting a spotlight on local people as they are the heart and soul of each destination. Planet Happiness is also putting people first – shifting a focus from GDP to the well -being of the host communities. We simply share the same values!

IVANA DAMNJANOVIC
AMBASSADOR 

Ivana in four words: Sustainable tourism devoted supporter.
How Ivana defines happiness: Happiness is a multifaceted universal notion, attainable only if all elements of the complex milieu of life are thriving.  It depends on a deep understanding of the general interconnectedness between individual and universal realms of being.
Why Ivana is a part of Planet Happiness: Updating I hope that my involvement in Planet Happiness will help achieve the world of thriving nature and communities through sustainable tourism. We all need to contribute - one step at a time.

PANKAJ MANCHANDA
​AMBASSADOR

Pankaj in four words: Passionate, Curious, Proactive, Accountable.
How Pankaj defines happiness: One is happy if one is content with oneself. I have seen people are most happy if they have a sense of pride and belonging to their family - community, culture and heritage.  It is the simplicity in living, which is where happiness thrives.
Why Pankaj is a part of Planet Happiness: Planet Happiness' mandate to apply AI Intelligence systems and help provide data driven linkages to evolve a destination in alignment with UN-SDGs makes it a very powerful data driven tool for all stakeholders across the value chain.  The 'Destination Report Cards' offered by this platform are the way forward, having the potential to be adopted and scaled across the globe, and are the key to help destinations preserve their heritage while becoming more sustainable and resilient. 

DR. NATARAJAN ISHWARAN
​AMBASSADOR

Ish in four words: Pragmatic, Engaged, Experimenting, Hopeful.
How Ish defines happiness: Striving for the betterment of self and others while appreciating and being content with the good things you already have.
Why Ish is a part of Planet Happiness: Because Paul asked for my involvement and I am very keen to explore what happiness for the planet means.
ANDREW JONES

AMBASSADOR​
Andrew in four words: Honest (Integrity), Trustworthy (Responsible), Respectful (of others), Caring (for others).
How Andrew defines happiness? Happiness for me is maintaining a balance in my life, through nurturing my body, mind and spirit. It is also about creating a fulfilling life by sharing knowledge and experiences, and caring for others through my vocational interests and community service.  
Why Andrew is a part of Planet Happiness? When I founded my company, one of the the criteria was that whatever we did had to be fun, enjoyable (aka Happiness). My concept was to marry my vocation with my community service work, into a sustainable business model, and use this as a catalyst for responsible and sustainable community development. On a visit to Bhutan I learnt about Gross National Happiness (GNH) and to measure success through Happiness. When Paul Rogers introduced me to the vision and mission of Planet Happiness it resonated with me, and aligned with my own. I am Happy to support these endeavours for the greater good of our global communities.
STEVE NOAKES

AMBASSADOR ​
Steve in four words: Australian, Motivated, Adaptable, Ethical.
How Steve defines happiness: It's about human well-being and quality of life and includes our capacity to maintain physical and mental health, live and work in healthy, livable communities, continue to learn about the magic of this world and be responsible stewards of our natural and cultural environments.
Why Steve is a part of Planet Happiness: For it's noble objectives to enhance destination well-being and safeguard our global heritage with some very cool big data collection and analytical tools.
BJØRN Z. EKELUND

AMBASSADOR
Bjørn in four words: Entrepreneur, Psychologist, Global Mindset, Innovative.
How Bjørn defines happiness: Combination of well-being & welfare / Happiness + Satisfaction + welfare
Why Bjørn is a part of Planet Happiness: I am a member of Planet Happiness because individual well-being in community development is my main project in order to reduce economic criteria as overall goals for society.
BRYAN T. MULLIS

AMBASSADOR
Bryan in four words: Global Citizen and Nature Lover
How Bryan defines happiness: The true secret of happiness for me lies in making a meaningful difference in the world through my work without compromising my ability to relish quality time with family and friends and the details of daily life.
Why Bryan is part of Planet Happiness: My personal mission is to empower community-led tourism that makes net positive contributions to the well-being of visitors, residents, host
communities, and the environment to help them thrive. Planet Happiness plays an integral role in enabling communities to measure happiness.
PROFESSOR LARRY DWYER

AMBASSADOR​
Larry in four words: Easy Going, Optimistic, Realistic, Humanist
How Larry defines happiness: Happiness is one element of overall human well-being.
Why Larry is a part of Planet Happiness: Just wanting to stand up and be counted for as a critic of 'business as usual' with its inevitable spiral of resource exploitation and reduced well-being for all life on planet Earth.

Planet Happiness is a project of the ​Happiness Alliance, a 501(c)3 nonprofit registered in the United States.

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​The Planet Happiness name is copyrighted by Happiness Alliance, Laura Musikanski & Paul Rogers © 2018

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