The Wellbeing Action Group is hosted by our Member Lead, Isabel Odlin (Chief People Person at Hub), and we’re excited to share that in our next session we will be joined by Chris Marshall, behavioural scientist, applied psychologist, author, and founder of The Playfulness Institute, a not-for-profit dedicated to unlocking the power of playfulness to inspire human flourishing.

In this session, Chris will explore how playfulness serves as humanity’s most sophisticated adaptability mechanism and a key driver for organisational success. Far from being childish or frivolous, Chris shows that playfulness is our natural state of optimal functioning – one that fosters innovation, accelerates learning, reduces stress, and strengthens collaboration.

Drawing on cutting-edge research in neuroscience, psychology, and organisational behaviour, Chris will look at:

• Why traditional management approaches often suppress our natural capacity for playful engagement
• How playfulness creates psychological safety and fosters genuine innovation
• The remarkable benefits of playful workplaces, from enhanced resilience to improved problem-solving
• Practical strategies for cultivating playfulness in yourself and your organisation
• The architecture of play: building environments where playfulness naturally emerges

In a world of increasing complexity and rapid change, organisations that nurture playfulness don’t just perform better – they create spaces where people genuinely thrive. Join us to discover how embracing playfulness can transform your team’s capabilities while making the journey more meaningful and enjoyable.
This isn’t about adding games or forcing fun – it’s about removing barriers to our natural state of joyful, creative engagement with challenges. Learn how to build a workplace that doesn’t just drive results but enriches lives.

About Chris….
Chris’ research reveals playfulness as our most sophisticated adaptability mechanism, challenging the artificial divide between ‘serious work’ and ‘play’.

Through his experience in investment markets, competitive sport and working with teams and individuals, Chris demonstrates that playfulness is far more than an enjoyable pastime—it’s humanity’s evolutionary superpower for navigating complexity and change. His work shows how teams that maintain playfulness during disruption consistently outperform those who become rigid when facing uncertainty.

Chris is the author of “Decoding Change” (2022), which explores how our world is changing and why we’re entering a period of radical social transformation. His upcoming book “The Playful Advantage” takes the next step, revealing how we can build teams and organisations that thrive in a highly disruptive world by fostering environments where playfulness naturally emerges.