The GNH Centre Bhutan (GNHCB), in partnership with the Sustainable Brands Thailand, hosted an exclusive Leadership Summit from 11-15 September 2017 on the theme, “Exploring Leadership for the Good Life”. It was designed for international business leaders to explore the integration of GNH values and practices into their organizations.

The 4-day event was held in Thimphu and Paro. The Summit was the first of its kind and was created as a result of Her Royal Highness Ashi Kezang Choden Wangchuk’s visit to Thailand in 2016.   Her Highness is the President and Patron of the GNH Centre Bhutan and was invited as the Key Note Speaker to the 2016 Sustainable Brands event in Thailand. The overall four day program introduced an overview of GNH in the Bhutanese context, GNH leadership, and how Bhutan has been able to integrate GNH values within the government and business sectors. The event also saw discussions and dialogue between national experts and the international participants.

Her Royal Highness Ashi Kezang Choden Wangchuck graced the event as the Key Note Speaker. In her statement, Her Royal Highness stated that, “a good life, I believe, begins with understanding the meaning of happiness and making it a serious goal in life.” Her Royal Highness added that, “one of the greatest obstacles in our serious pursuit of happiness is that it is not given due importance. Instead, we choose to go after dreams that have not only been taking us further and further away from happiness but have brought us to a state when sustainability has become society’s most important watchword and challenge.”

Programme participants included Chief Executive Officers and Presidents of business organizations such as B Grimm Group, the Health Promotion Foundation, Thai Listed Companies Association, Stock Exchange of Thailand, Tourism Authority of Thailand, and Sustainable Brands, among others.