Information for Happier Lives Institute

Table of contents

Basic information

Item Value
Country United Kingdom
Facebook username happierlivesinstitute
YouTube username @happierlivesinstitute
Twitter username @HappierLivesIns
Website https://www.happierlivesinstitute.org/
Team page https://www.happierlivesinstitute.org/about/meet-the-team/
Launch date 2019-06-01
Hosting organization Player Philanthropy Fund
Last recorded date when we made major data updates for this org 2025-04-20
Donations List Website (data still preliminary)

Positions count by year

Hover over a name to see the position and date range. This table only includes positions where at least the start date is known. The positions count can count the same person multiple times if they held different positions; similarly, the list of staff may include the same person multiple times if they held more than one position during a single year. For each year, a person is included if they were at the organization for any part of the year; this means the actual staff count at any point during the year can be lower (or higher, if some staff held multiple positions in a single year).

Year Positions count Researchers General staff Associates Board members Advisors
2018 6 ​Jasper Synowski, Florian Onur Kuhlmeier, Lucia Coulter, Lucia Coulter Nikita Patel​ Barry Grimes​
2019 12 ​Jasper Synowski, Florian Onur Kuhlmeier, Joel McGuire, Justus Baumann​, Lucia Coulter, Lucia Coulter Clare Donaldson, Michael Plant, Nikita Patel​, Peter Brietbart Barry Grimes​, Joey Savoie
2020 36 ​Jasper Synowski, ​Jasper Synowski, Brendan Eappen, Carmen Csilla Medina, Derek Foster, Florian Onur Kuhlmeier, Jide Alaga, Joel McGuire, Justus Baumann​, Kaleem Ahmid, Lucia Coulter, Lucia Coulter, Miles "Milo" King, Sonia Vallentin, Stephan Tegtmeier, Teis Rasmussen, Ulf Johansson ​Amanda Mai, ​Marcin Kowrygo, Caitlin Walker, Caitlin Walker, Clare Donaldson, Eemaan Thind, Ethan Bialick, Justus Arndt, Michael Plant, Paul Davies, Peter Brietbart, Robin van Dalen, Sid Sharma, Tatjana Visak, Vanessa See Barry Grimes​, Joey Savoie, Karolina Sarek, Tatjana Višak
2021 29 ​Jasper Synowski, Brendan Eappen, Carmen Csilla Medina, Derek Foster, Florian Onur Kuhlmeier, Jide Alaga, Joel McGuire, Kaleem Ahmid, Samuel Dupret, Sonia Vallentin, Stephan Tegtmeier, Teis Rasmussen, Ulf Johansson ​Amanda Mai, ​Marcin Kowrygo, Barry Grimes​, Clare Donaldson, Eemaan Thind, Ethan Bialick, Justus Arndt, Michael Plant, Paul Davies, Peter Brietbart, Robin van Dalen, Tatjana Visak Barry Grimes​, Joey Savoie, Karolina Sarek, Tatjana Višak
2022 8 Joel McGuire, Samuel Dupret Barry Grimes​, Caspar Kaiser, Michael Plant, Peter Brietbart Karolina Sarek, Tatjana Višak
2023 12 Joel McGuire, Samuel Dupret Barry Grimes​, Caspar Kaiser, Caspar Kaiser, Lara Watson​, Michael Plant, Peter Brietbart, Peter Brietbart Karolina Sarek, Peter Singer, Tatjana Višak
2024 24 Ben Stewart, Joel McGuire, Samuel Dupret Alexandra Shearn, Alexandra Shearn, Caspar Kaiser, Lara Watson​, Michael Plant, Peter Brietbart Andrew Fisher, Frances Kissling, Luchuo Englebert Bain, Luciana Vilar, Richard Layard Crick Lund, Frances Chen, Julian Jamison, Karolina Sarek, Mark Fabian, Peter Singer, Sam Bernecker, Sara McLennan, Tatjana Višak, Victoria Baranov
2025 24 Ben Stewart, Joel McGuire, Samuel Dupret, Samuel Dupret Úna Harty, Alexandra Shearn, Caspar Kaiser, Julie Dickin, Michael Plant Andrew Fisher, Frances Kissling, Luchuo Englebert Bain, Luciana Vilar, Richard Layard Crick Lund, Frances Chen, Julian Jamison, Karolina Sarek, Mark Fabian, Peter Singer, Sam Bernecker, Sara McLennan, Tatjana Višak, Victoria Baranov

Number of full-time staff at the beginning each year

The following table lists some dates and people who were at the organization on the given date (namely, the start of the year). The table may not list every person who worked for the organization (e.g. they could have joined and left in the middle of a single year). This table excludes associates, interns, advisors, and board members.

Date Staff count Staff
2019-01-01 5 ​Jasper Synowski, Florian Onur Kuhlmeier, Lucia Coulter, Lucia Coulter, Nikita Patel​
2020-01-01 19 ​Jasper Synowski, ​Jasper Synowski, ​Marcin Kowrygo, Brendan Eappen, Clare Donaldson, Derek Foster, Eemaan Thind, Ethan Bialick, Florian Onur Kuhlmeier, Jide Alaga, Joel McGuire, Justus Baumann​, Lucia Coulter, Lucia Coulter, Michael Plant, Peter Brietbart, Sonia Vallentin, Ulf Johansson, Vanessa See
2021-01-01 23 ​Amanda Mai, ​Jasper Synowski, ​Marcin Kowrygo, Brendan Eappen, Carmen Csilla Medina, Clare Donaldson, Derek Foster, Eemaan Thind, Ethan Bialick, Florian Onur Kuhlmeier, Jide Alaga, Joel McGuire, Justus Arndt, Kaleem Ahmid, Michael Plant, Paul Davies, Peter Brietbart, Robin van Dalen, Sonia Vallentin, Stephan Tegtmeier, Tatjana Visak, Teis Rasmussen, Ulf Johansson
2022-01-01 5 Barry Grimes​, Joel McGuire, Michael Plant, Peter Brietbart, Samuel Dupret
2023-01-01 6 Barry Grimes​, Caspar Kaiser, Joel McGuire, Michael Plant, Peter Brietbart, Samuel Dupret
2024-01-01 6 Caspar Kaiser, Joel McGuire, Lara Watson​, Michael Plant, Peter Brietbart, Samuel Dupret
2025-01-01 6 Alexandra Shearn, Ben Stewart, Caspar Kaiser, Joel McGuire, Michael Plant, Samuel Dupret

Full history of additions and subtractions

This table shows the full change history of positions. Each row corresponds to at least one addition or removal of a position. Additions are in green and subtractions are in red. If a position name changed, it is listed simultaneously as an addition (of the new name) and removal (of the old name) and colored yellow. Additionally there are faded variants of each color for visited links.

Date Number of positions Number of positions added Number of positions removed Positions added Positions removed
2018-11-01 6 6 0 Barry Grimes​, Florian Onur Kuhlmeier, Lucia Coulter, Lucia Coulter, Nikita Patel​, ​Jasper Synowski
2019-04-01 7 1 0 Justus Baumann​
2019-06-01 10 3 0 Joey Savoie, Michael Plant, Peter Brietbart
2019-09-01 11 1 0 Clare Donaldson
2019-12-01 12 1 0 Joel McGuire
2020-01-01 23 14 -3 Brendan Eappen, Derek Foster, Derek Foster, Eemaan Thind, Ethan Bialick, Jide Alaga, Jide Alaga, Karolina Sarek, Sonia Vallentin, Tatjana Višak, Ulf Johansson, Vanessa See, ​Jasper Synowski, ​Marcin Kowrygo Derek Foster, Jide Alaga, Nikita Patel​
2020-02-01 25 3 -1 Caitlin Walker, Caitlin Walker, Sid Sharma Justus Baumann​
2020-03-01 26 1 0 Miles "Milo" King
2020-05-01 24 0 -2 Lucia Coulter, Lucia Coulter
2020-07-01 24 2 -2 Carmen Csilla Medina, Kaleem Ahmid Miles "Milo" King, Sid Sharma
2020-08-12 23 0 -1 Vanessa See
2020-09-19 30 7 0 Justus Arndt, Paul Davies, Robin van Dalen, Stephan Tegtmeier, Tatjana Visak, Teis Rasmussen, ​Amanda Mai
2020-11-01 29 0 -1 ​Jasper Synowski
2020-12-01 27 0 -2 Caitlin Walker, Caitlin Walker
2021-03-01 19 0 -8 Florian Onur Kuhlmeier, Justus Arndt, Paul Davies, Robin van Dalen, Stephan Tegtmeier, Tatjana Visak, Teis Rasmussen, ​Amanda Mai
2021-05-01 18 0 -1 Kaleem Ahmid
2021-07-01 17 0 -1 Barry Grimes​
2021-08-01 17 1 -1 Barry Grimes​ Carmen Csilla Medina
2021-09-01 16 0 -1 Clare Donaldson
2021-10-01 17 1 0 Samuel Dupret
2021-10-25 8 0 -9 Brendan Eappen, Derek Foster, Eemaan Thind, Ethan Bialick, Jide Alaga, Sonia Vallentin, Ulf Johansson, ​Jasper Synowski, ​Marcin Kowrygo
2021-12-01 7 0 -1 Joey Savoie
2022-05-26 8 1 0 Caspar Kaiser
2023-02-01 7 0 -1 Barry Grimes​
2023-02-03 8 1 0 Peter Singer
2023-08-01 9 1 0 Lara Watson​
2023-08-28 8 0 -1 Caspar Kaiser
2023-09-01 8 1 -1 Peter Brietbart Peter Brietbart
2023-09-30 9 1 0 Caspar Kaiser
2024-01-04 10 1 0 Julian Jamison
2024-03-01 11 1 0 Ben Stewart
2024-04-01 12 1 0 Alexandra Shearn
2024-07-29 16 4 0 Crick Lund, Frances Chen, Sara McLennan, Victoria Baranov
2024-08-01 16 1 -1 Alexandra Shearn Alexandra Shearn
2024-09-01 14 0 -2 Lara Watson​, Peter Brietbart
2024-10-07 15 1 0 Mark Fabian
2024-12-31 21 6 0 Andrew Fisher, Frances Kissling, Luchuo Englebert Bain, Luciana Vilar, Richard Layard, Sam Bernecker
2025-01-28 20 0 -1 Karolina Sarek
2025-02-01 22 3 -1 Julie Dickin, Samuel Dupret, Úna Harty Samuel Dupret

List of people (64 positions)

Person Title Start date End date Employment type Source Notes
Michael Plant Founder and Director 2019-06-01 [1], [2], [3]
Alexandra Shearn Chief Operating Officer 2024-08-01 full-time [4], [2]
Julie Dickin Marketing Consultant (Senior Marketing & Fundraising Manager) 2025-02-01 [4], [2]
Úna Harty Marketing Consultant (Senior Marketing & Fundraising Manager) 2025-02-01 [5], [2]
Joel McGuire Lead Researcher 2019-12-01 full-time [6], [2], [6]
Samuel Dupret Research Manager 2025-02-01 full-time [7], [2]
Ben Stewart Research Analyst 2024-03-01 full-time [8], [2]
Caspar Kaiser Chair 2023-09-30 board member [9], [2]
Frances Kissling Board Member 2024-12-31 board member [10], [2]
Richard Layard Board Member 2024-12-31 board member [10], [2]
Luchuo Englebert Bain Board Member 2024-12-31 board member [10], [2]
Andrew Fisher Board Member 2024-12-31 board member [10], [2]
Luciana Vilar Board Member 2024-12-31 board member [10], [2]
Sam Bernecker Advisor 2024-12-31 advisor [10], [2]
Julian Jamison Advisor 2024-01-04 advisor [11], [2]
Peter Singer Advisor 2023-02-03 advisor [12], [2]
Tatjana Višak Advisor 2020-01-01 advisor [1], [2]
Victoria Baranov Advisor 2024-07-29 advisor [13], [2]
Sara McLennan Advisor 2024-07-29 advisor [13], [2]
Mark Fabian Advisor 2024-10-07 advisor [14], [2]
Crick Lund Advisor 2024-07-29 advisor [13], [2]
Frances Chen Advisor 2024-07-29 advisor [13], [2]
Alexandra Shearn Operations Manager 2024-04-01 2024-08-01 [4]
Samuel Dupret Research Analyst 2021-10-01 2025-02-01 [7]
Caspar Kaiser Trustee 2022-05-26 2023-08-28 board member [15], [16]
Nikita Patel​ Website Manager 2018-11-01 2020-01-01 volunteer [1], [17]
Sid Sharma Intern 2020-02-01 2020-07-01 intern [18]
Caitlin Walker Intern 2020-02-01 2020-12-01 intern [19]
​Jasper Synowski Research Volunteer 2018-11-01 2020-11-01 volunteer [20], [21]
Lucia Coulter Volunteer Researcher 2018-11-01 2020-05-01 volunteer [20], [22]
Justus Baumann​ Research and Community Manager 2019-04-01 2020-02-01 [1], [23]
Lara Watson​ Communications Manager 2023-08-01 2024-09-01 full-time [24]
Kaleem Ahmid Researcher 2020-07-01 2021-05-01 full-time [13], [25]
Jide Alaga Research contributor 2020-01-01 2020-01-01 volunteer [26]
Lucia Coulter Volunteer Researcher 2018-11-01 2020-05-01 volunteer [27], [28]
Derek Foster Research contributor 2020-01-01 2020-01-01 volunteer [26]
Miles "Milo" King Volunteer Research Assistant 2020-03-01 2020-07-01 part-time [29], [26]
Florian Onur Kuhlmeier Research Volunteer 2018-11-01 2021-03-01 [30]
Carmen Csilla Medina Research Volunteer 2020-07-01 2021-08-01 [31]
Caitlin Walker Intern 2020-02-01 2020-12-01 intern [20], [32]
Vanessa See Contributor 2020-01-01 2020-08-12 [1], [20]
Joey Savoie Advisor 2019-06-01 2021-12-01 advisor [33]
Clare Donaldson Chief Operating Officer 2019-09-01 2021-09-01 [1], [34]
Barry Grimes​ Communications Manager 2021-08-01 2023-02-01 volunteer [35]
Barry Grimes​ Advisor & Trustee 2018-11-01 2021-07-01 volunteer [35]
Brendan Eappen Researcher 2020-01-01 2021-10-25 [1], [36]
Derek Foster Researcher 2020-01-01 2021-10-25 [1], [36]
​Jasper Synowski Researcher 2020-01-01 2021-10-25 [1], [36]
Sonia Vallentin Researcher Volunteer 2020-01-01 2021-10-25 [1], [36]
​Marcin Kowrygo Contributor 2020-01-01 2021-10-25 [1], [36]
Eemaan Thind Contributor 2020-01-01 2021-10-25 [1], [36]
Ulf Johansson Researcher 2020-01-01 2021-10-25 [1], [36]
Ethan Bialick Contributor 2020-01-01 2021-10-25 [1], [36]
Jide Alaga Researcher 2020-01-01 2021-10-25 [1], [36]
​Amanda Mai Contributor 2020-09-19 2021-03-01 [37], [38]
Justus Arndt General Project Manager 2020-09-19 2021-03-01 [37], [38]
Karolina Sarek Advisor 2020-01-01 2025-01-28 advisor [20], [39]
Paul Davies Contributor 2020-09-19 2021-03-01 [37], [38]
Peter Brietbart Chair 2019-06-01 2023-09-01 board member [40]
Peter Brietbart Managing Director 2023-09-01 2024-09-01 full-time [40]
Robin van Dalen Contributor 2020-09-19 2021-03-01 [37], [38]
Tatjana Visak Contributor 2020-09-19 2021-03-01 [37], [38]
Stephan Tegtmeier Personal Happiness Interventions Researcher 2020-09-19 2021-03-01 [37], [38]
Teis Rasmussen Careers Researcher 2020-09-19 2021-03-01 [37], [38]

Products (0 products)

Name Creation date Description

Organization documents (0 documents)

Title Publication date Author Publisher Affected organizations Affected people Document scope Cause area Notes

Documents (0 documents)

Title Publication date Author Publisher Affected organizations Affected people Affected agendas Notes

Similar organizations

Organization Number of people in common List of people in common
Ambitious Impact 3 Joey Savoie, Brendan Eappen, Karolina Sarek
Global Priorities Institute 2 Julian Jamison, Peter Singer
Charity Entrepreneurship 2 Joey Savoie, Karolina Sarek
Centre for the Study of Existential Risk 1 Peter Singer
Animal Charity Evaluators 1 Peter Singer
Giving Multiplier 1 Peter Singer
High Impact Athletes 1 Peter Singer
High Impact Medicine 1 Lucia Coulter
Centre for the Governance of AI 1 Jide Alaga
Rethink Priorities 1 Derek Foster
80,000 Hours 1 Joey Savoie
Animal Advocacy Careers 1 Joey Savoie
Centre for Exploratory Altruism Research 1 Joey Savoie
Charity Science Health 1 Joey Savoie
Suvita 1 Joey Savoie
Probably Good 1 Joey Savoie
Centre for Effective Altruism 1 Karolina Sarek
Effective Altruism Funds 1 Karolina Sarek
Fish Welfare Initiative 1 Karolina Sarek
Institute for Law and AI 1 Karolina Sarek