Patrick J. Kennedy

Patrick J. Kennedy

Founder, Kennedy Forum

Patrick J. Kennedy is one of the world’s leading voices on mental health and addiction. He works to align government leaders, philanthropists, the private sector, and advocates in order to transform our health care system to finally treat illnesses of the brain on par with illnesses of the body. During his 16 years in the U.S. House of Representatives, serving Rhode Island’s First Congressional District, Patrick J. Kennedy fought to end discrimination against those with mental illness, addiction, and other brain diseases. He is best known as the lead sponsor of the landmark Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (Federal Parity Law), which was passed with bi-partisan support and signed into law in 2008. This law provides millions of Americans, previously denied care, with access to mental health and addiction treatment by requiring insurance companies to cover treatment for mental health and substance use disorders no more restrictively than treatment for illnesses of the body, such as diabetes and cancer.  


The Speakers

Meet the thought leaders and innovators shaping the future of the well-being economy.



Beatrice of York

Founder, By-Eq Limited and Trustee & Co-Founder, The Big Change Charitable Trust


Omar Ben Yedder

Group Publisher and MD, IC Publications


Amanda Xu

Practitioner, OCTAVE Living


Will.i.am

Founder, FYI


Frederic Werner

Chief Strategy and Ops, AI for Good, ITU


Sam Warach

Founder, NextStep Health and Angel Investor


Kaye Vitug

Co-Founder and Co-CEO, Unlocking Eve


Adela Villanueva

Co-Founder and Managing Partner, TIO (The Impact Office)