Chris Germer, PhD is a clinical psychologist and lecturer on psychiatry (part-time) at Harvard Medical School. He co-developed the Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) program with Kristin Neff in 2010 and MSC has since been taught to over 100,000 people worldwide.

They co-authored two books on MSC: The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook and Teaching the Mindful Self-Compassion Program. Chris spends most of his time lecturing and leading workshops around the world on mindfulness and self-compassion.

He is also the author of The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion, he co-edited two influential volumes on therapy (Mindfulness and Psychotherapy and Wisdom and Compassion in Psychotherapy), and he maintains a small private practice in Arlington, Massachusetts, USA.

David Treleaven, PhD, is a writer, educator, and trauma professional working at the intersection of mindfulness and trauma.

He is the author of the acclaimed book Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness and founder of the Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness (TSM) Community; a group of practitioners committed to setting a standard of care through mindfulness-based practices, interventions, and programs.

David focuses on offering mindfulness providers with the knowledge and tools they require to meet the needs of those struggling with trauma. Through workshops, keynotes, podcasts, and online education, he is closely engaged with current empirical research to inform best practices.

His work has been adopted into multiple mindfulness teacher training programs around the world, including UCLA’s Mindful Awareness Research Center, the Engaged Mindfulness Institute, and Bangor University’s MA in Mindfulness program in the UK.

Helle Laursen, MA, is a Certified Mindful Self-Compassion Teacher and has over 20 years of experience supporting people on sick leave due to mental health issues. Al this time, she has been a dedicated student of Heartfulness Meditation and a Meditation Trainer.

She teaches open MSC courses online and in-person, in Denmark as well as internationally. She also teaches for Center for MSC in the US, where she is a Teacher Trainer and Supervisor of the MSC program, as well as teaching the live online MSC program regularly.

Before that, she was a Leading Mentor Coach in the largest Coach Training Institute in Denmark for over 10 years. Next to that, she was also holding a position of Head of Project for a regional based 12-week program for those on sick leave from their jobs, due to mental health issues (like stress, depression or anxiety).

Helle works with varied groups, primarily with social workers, teachers, psychologists, therapists, nurses, and doctors. She is committed to bringing compassionate awareness into everyday life in a lighthearted way so that life can be even more enjoyable, rich, and meaningful.

Dr. Kristin Neff is the pioneering researcher in the field of self-compassion. Over 20 years ago, Neff pioneered the study of self-compassion, developing a theory and measurement scale that shaped the field.

Since Neff’s groundbreaking research in 2003, over 5,000 studies have explored the topic. Neff’s work has been featured in global media, such as The New York Times, TED, and The Guardian, and is translated into 20+ languages. Her books and workbooks have inspired countless people worldwide to embrace compassion as a life skill.

Neff’s key idea on self-compassion is simple: treat yourself with the same kindness you’d offer a good friend. While it’s easy to support others, we often struggle to show ourselves the same compassion and acceptance. Self-compassion is about turning that kindness inward.

Laura Bassi is a Certified Mindful Self-Compassion Teacher and Regional Coordinator for Italy. She has been practicing meditation for 12 years.

She has been working as a physiotherapist in Ferrara for 13 years. Science disseminator and curator of the Fisiocamera YouTube channel.

Lisanne is a writer and digital strategist specialised in psychology and health. She focuses on bringing authenticity and science-backed insights to mental well-being and mindfulness.

At Self-Compassion Academy, she transforms evidence-based research and complex mindfulness concepts into accessible, easy-to-understand resources.

With more than a decade of experience in digital journalism, writing, and online strategy, Lisanne has developed a distinctive voice that blends scientific research, expert interviews, and personal storytelling.

Through her writing, she bridges the gap between psychological expertise and genuine human experience.

Mila de Koning has been delivering mindfulness and self-compassion courses, workshops and coaching to different audiences since 2006. She worked for years in healthcare, within the mental health sector in various positions, including as a nurse, sociotherapist, teacher and prevention worker.

Since 2011, she has focused entirely on mindfulness and self-compassion. Within the VU Medical Centre she founded the Mindfulness Expertise Centre with the aim of bringing mindfulness and self-compassion to healthcare.

Together with Marga Gooren, Mila wrote the book Heart tor the Doctor, working with self-compassion in 2020 and together they are teaching self-compassion and mindfulness to doctors and other healthcare workers.

Mila is founder of the Self Compassion Academy and De Mindfulness Academie and Lead Teacher of the mindfulness and self-compassion teacher training. The Self Compassion Academy is the European partner of the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion (San Diego, U.S.A).

Mila: ‘After so many years of teaching mindfulness and self-compassion, I still teach with a lot of passion and pleasure. Passing on mindfulness and self-compassion is something I do with my heart and soul. I truly believe that compassion is a force that can change the world.’

Natalie Bell is a Certified Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) Teacher, longtime mindfulness practitioner and certified teacher, and faculty advisor with the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion. As the Director of Program Development for CMSC, she co-developed the programs Self-Compassion for Healthcare Communities, Fierce Self-Compassion, and Self-Compassion for Shame with Drs. Kristin Neff and Chris Germer. Natalie brings over three decades of contemplative practice and a professional background in neuropsychology and physical therapy, including 17 years as a hospital-based clinician, Director of Rehabilitation, and medical device specialist.

She founded Mindful Wellness, where she trains individuals and organizations to cultivate embodied presence and inner leadership through mindfulness and self-compassion. A teacher at heart, Natalie is known for her warm and empowering approach to self-compassion and her deep commitment to making these transformative practices accessible and meaningful in everyday life. She finds joy in freeform dance, body surfing, heartfelt connections, and savoring the beauty of the natural world.

Rob Brandsma is the developer of the Mindfulness Trainer Course and still enjoys teaching the course. He is particularly interested in harnessing mindfulness and compassion in the many domains of everyday life and, in particular, healthcare.

He is the author of a number of public books on mindfulness for the general public, such as Better Now and Everyday More Mindfulness. In the field of the trainer profession, he published the trilogy Mindfulness Basic Book, Mindfulness Practice Book and Mindfulness Training Book. The Practice Book was published in an international edition under the title The Mindfulness Teaching Guide.

With great interest, he follows the advancing scientific understanding of mindfulness and also bases his work and the development of new mindfulness-based interventions on it.

Speaking about his passion for mindfulness and compassion, he says: ‘Mindfulness enables me to cope better with challenges and obstacles and to realise more often that the here and now is (almost) always the best place to be. It enriches my life with insight, wonder, and mildness. It is a gift to be able to bring this into my work too.’

Rob previously worked as a prevention officer in addiction services, as director of a health education organisation, and in his own psychological treatment practice. He is a non-practising GZ psychologist, remedial educationalist and psychologist NIP.

Sarah-Anne Schumann, MD, MPH is a Family and Lifestyle Medicine physician, mindfulness teacher, health and wellbeing coach, and advanced teacher of therapeutic yoga. She graduated from Harvard College, Harvard Medical School, and the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. She previously served on the medical school faculty at the University of Chicago and the University of Oklahoma–Tulsa,.

She is a Certified Health and Wellbeing Coach through Wellcoaches and has completed extensive mindfulness teacher training, including Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) teacher training at Brown University, the Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program (MMTCP) through the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley, and Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) teacher training through the Self-Compassion Academy.

Through MettaMD, Dr. Schumann teaches mindfulness, therapeutic yoga, and healthy lifestyle practices to individuals and groups, both in person and online. Her work integrates evidence-based medicine with compassion-centered practice, helping people cultivate resilience, purpose, and a kinder relationship with themselves and others.