Dr Mark Williamson
Dr Mark Williamson in the co-founder and Director of Action for Happiness - a charity that promotes a happier and more caring society.
Website: Action for Happiness
Instagram: @actionhappiness
LinkedIn: markwilliamson
Biography
‘Mark is one of those gentle, super-smart people who quietly changes the world’ - Professor Sir Geoff Mulgan
Dr Mark Williamson is the co-founder and Director of Action for Happiness, taking it from a concept on paper in 2010 to a thriving, global mass movement with over 800,000 members across 100+ countries. It is now the world’s largest (non-commercial) community promoting wellbeing.
In 2010 Mark gave up the corporate world and changed direction to focus on happiness and wellbeing. Since then, he has met and collaborated with many of the world’s leading happiness experts and teachers, including The Dalai Lama. He has hosted live events with over 100 influential speakers with upwards of 400,000 attendees taking part and has made countless television and radio appearances across the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Sky News. Mark has also been interviewed and quoted in mainstream publications including The Times, Independent, Guardian, Telegraph, Mirror, Forbes and more.
Prior to Action for Happiness, Mark’s experience ranged across commercial and non-profit organisations, from start-ups to large multinationals. He was Director of Innovation at the Carbon Trust and Senior Manager at Accenture. He has a PhD in Engineering from the University of Bristol and an MBA from IMD business school in Switzerland, where he received the President’s Award.
In 2022 Mark was awarded an additional Honorary Doctorate in recognition of his work with Action for Happiness.
Mark lives in Kingston and his favourite happiness-boosting actions include spending time with family, road cycling, mindfulness and playing guitar in a local band.
Books
MAKE LIFE HAPPIER
Mark’s first book - MAKE LIFE HAPPIER - will be published by Leap books in April 2026.
‘A powerful, practical guide to a life worth living’ - Dan Goleman
‘A wise, practical and deeply humane guide to living better and helping others do the same’ - Sir Anthony Seldon
‘Engaging, wise, warm-hearted and transformative’ - Prof. Paul Gilbert
‘A wise and compassionate guide to help you care for yourself and for others’ - Julia Samuel
‘Life changing.’ - Mo Gawdat