Will Watt - Founder
State of Life
Key note speaker
Will Watt is the founder of State of Life, a platform designed to make social impact measurement accessible and practical. Launched in early 2020 with support from leaders including David Knott (Office for Civil Society) and Lord Gus O’Donnell, the initiative gained traction during the COVID-19 pandemic by helping organisations clearly demonstrate their impact in times of crisis.
Before founding State of Life, Will spent six years publishing the iconic British satire magazine Viz, where he oversaw landmark editions including the first hardback ‘Profanisaurus’ and the magazine’s 25th anniversary issue. This creative background informs his distinctive leadership style – direct, pragmatic, and focused on clarity over complexity.
Will’s approach is rooted in wellbeing economics, with a focus on clarity and usability over complexity. His leadership style is direct and pragmatic, aiming to simplify impact measurement without compromising rigour. In 2021, State of Life received formal endorsement through HM Treasury’s Green Book supplementary guidance, recognising its methodology at the highest level of UK policy evaluation.
Today, under Will’s leadership, State of Life continues to grow as a trusted resource across sectors, equipping individuals and organisations with the tools to evidence the value of their work.
