Reflections on the IPPA World Congress 2025

I recently had the privilege of attending the International Positive Psychology Association (IPPA) World Congress in Brisbane, and I’ve been sitting with the many inspiring ideas, conversations, and experiences that filled the conference. It was more than just a conference—it was an opportunity to co-create positive resonance, a concept beautifully highlighted by Barbara L. Fredrickson. Barbara also spoke about positivity as a communal health behaviour, something that doesn’t just uplift individuals but ripples outward to benefit entire communities. Throughout the Congress, it felt as though we were all nourished by a rich "diet" of positive emotions that left me feeling hopeful, connected, and energised.

One idea that particularly resonated with me came from Michael F. Steger, echoed by Jessica Taylor: the notion that we are all co-creators of the systems in which we live and work. This deeply aligns with my work supporting leaders and teams in early childhood education. In every organisation, every classroom, every team, we each play a role in shaping the system—and when we do so with intention and care, we create environments where people can truly thrive.

I was especially heartened to see early childhood education take the spotlight in a session with Penny Levickis and Audrey Mu, who explored how children understand wellbeing and how central relationships are to their sense of flourishing. It was a powerful reminder of the importance of embedding wellbeing into early learning environments—not as an add-on, but as a core value.

The Congress was also rich with interactive, thought-provoking sessions. I particularly enjoyed diving into discussions on leadership and meaningful work with Andrew Soren, Mike Steger, and Rob Baker, and exploring the transformative power of play through The Playful Coach with Sarah Creevey. These sessions were not only engaging but left me with practical insights to bring back to my own practice.

I found the session on reflective practice with Christian van Nieuwerburgh especially valuable. His emphasis on awareness, intentionality, openness, and compassion offered a helpful framework for both personal reflection and professional growth and useful coaching foundations also.

Another highlight was hearing from Dr. Suzy Green, who used a simple yet profound metaphor: to bring about flourishing, we must nurture both the "seed" (the individual) and the "soil" (the system or environment). It's a concept that perfectly captures the balance needed to support wellbeing at both personal and organisational levels. Sean O’Connor’s exploration of complex adaptive systems and emergent operating rhythms added yet another layer to this systemic perspective, highlighting the dynamic nature of human systems.

As the Congress drew to a close, Mike Steger left us with a powerful call to action: to start conversations, ask bold questions, and create movements that can help redistribute wellbeing more equitably across society. Initiatives like the Wellbeing Economy Alliance (WEAll) serve as an inspiring example of what’s possible when we come together with shared purpose.

More than anything, the IPPA World Congress reminded me of the importance of connection, community, and collective action in advancing wellbeing. I left feeling both uplifted and energised—ready to continue the conversation and carry these insights into my own work.

What conversations are you starting? What systems are you helping to shape?