Speakers 2025
Curating Collaboration & Knowledge Sharing
At The Watercooler Event, we bring together visionary leaders from a wide variety of industry sectors to inspire, educate, and empower you. We facilitate game-changing conversations and create connections that will deliver:
- Actionable insights from seasoned experts
- Solutions to business challenges
- Insights into trends and opportunities
- Inspiration to accelerate change
Join us for an unforgettable experience where knowledge meets opportunity.
If you would like to get involved, please complete this form.
Dr Nick Zygouris
Chief Clinical Officer
IPRS
IPRS
Dr Nick Zygouris is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist with extensive experience in mental health, workplace wellbeing, and clinical leadership. He has worked across NHS, private, and corporate settings and currently serves as Chief Clinical Officer at Handl Group. In this role, he leads the clinical governance and delivery of the mental health services. Nick has led the design and evaluation of mental health programmes for national organisations and advises on selecting effective and ethical support providers. He combines clinical insight with practical knowledge to help organisations make informed decisions about employee wellbeing and mental health provision.
Laura Cooper
Laura Cooper, Head of Organisational Development
Bellway Homes
Bellway Homes
Emily Abbam
Head of DE&I
Rapport Guest Services
Rapport Guest Services
Emily Abbam is Rapport’s Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Having previously gained management experience working for a luxury five-star hotel group, Emily joined Rapport in 2019 as part of the L&D team. She believes in the importance of putting DEI at the heart of everything Rapport stand for, providing opportunities to educate, share diverse views and opinions, whilst giving back to the community. Emily set up and chaired EmbRace You, the Race and Ethnicity Network, and has since developed Rapport’s ERGs to seven networks, including a diverse calendar of events and initiatives. Emily also brings with her a wealth of experience from working in a special needs school, being Family Link Respite Carers for Haringey Council, and undertaking Camp America where she supported young adults with severe learning and physical disabilities.
Gary Acheson
Head of L&D
Rapport
Rapport
Gary Acheson has been Head of Learning & Development at Rapport Guest Services since 2021. He is an energetic and optimistic HR and learning executive with over 20 years’ international experience in corporate support services and luxury hotels. His key achievement is investing in organisational design and developing change projects focused on people, talent, capability, performance and service, which as a consequence achieve results.
Rob Baker
Founder and Chief Positive Deviant
Tailored Thinking
Tailored Thinking
Rob Baker is the founder and Chief Positive Deviant of Tailored Thinking, a pioneering and award-winning, evidence-based positive psychology, wellbeing and HR consultancy. He specialises in bringing positive psychology to life within organisations. Rob was named #8 Most Influential Thinker by HR Magazine in 2023, is a TEDX speaker, author of ‘Personalisation at Work’ and Chartered Fellow of the CIPD and the Australian HR Institute. He has written for the likes of Harvard Business Review and Work magazine and is world-leading when it comes to enabling and encouraging job crafting and personalised people experience.
Claire Blomley
Senior Benefits Manager
Teva
Teva
Claire Burgess
Head of Health & Wellbeing
Unipart Group
Unipart Group
Claire Burgess is Head of Health and Wellbeing at Unipart Group, where she is responsible for the strategy and delivery of Unipart’s workplace wellbeing programme. Claire works collaboratively with her key stakeholders to ensure the wellbeing programme is holistic. As the Lead for Unipart’s network of circa 200 MHFAiders and 50 Wellbeing champions, data insights are used to tailor lifestyle programmes to address risks identified in the local workforce, as one size does not fit all. With over 20 years’ experience as a generalist HR practitioner, Claire combines her human centric approach with her passion for Workplace Wellbeing and actively champions the need for improved mental health awareness. She supports the social movement to breakdown the stigma associated with Mental Health by improving the conversation, education and support available inside of the workplace. 
Nerissa Caesar
Wellbeing & Benefits Specialist
Westminster City Council
Westminster City Council
Lina Chauhan
Musculoskeletal & Ergonomic Specialist - BA Health Services
British Airways
British Airways
Katie Compton
HR Project Officer
University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham
Katie Compton is an HR Project Officer specialising in staff benefits and Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) at the University of Birmingham. With a focus on fostering employee engagement, Katie is dedicated to sourcing and promoting a range of staff benefits, creating well-being initiatives, and organising educational events centred on employee savings and wellness. Key highlights of Katie’s work Katie’s include building an engaged and motivated community around staff benefits, the inception of the Annual Staff Benefits Fair which, due to its success, is now an annual event and proactively scoping out new and exciting new benefit offerings. Katie is dedicated in her mission to ensure colleagues make the most of their employment at the university by accessing and utilizing the array of benefits available. Before joining the University of Birmingham, Katie served as a civilian for over 15 years with West Midlands Police, excelling in roles related to road traffic matters.
Kristina Adey-Davies
Head of Wellbeing & Inclusion - Global
Freshfields
Freshfields
As a business psychologist and coach, specialising in behavioural change, wellbeing, diversity and inclusion, Kristina Adey-Davies has several years of experience driving change, developing and implementing inclusive business strategies and practices. She has a focus on harnessing the latest neuroscience to bring about change across the professional services, financial services and technology industries. Kristina's current role as Global Head of Wellbeing and Inclusion Global at Freshfields, focusses on driving change, through developing wellbeing and inclusion interventions across their global network. She has a particular interest in applying neuroscience and strengths-based approaches to develop more balanced, collaborative and healthy work cultures that drive and sustain high performance. A keen business psychologist, Kristina has an MSc in Occupational and Business Psychology and an MBA.
Ann Marie Aguilar
Senior Vice President; EMEA Region
International WELL Building Institute
International WELL Building Institute
Ciprian Arhire
Global Head of People Transformation, Programmes & Analytics
Entain Group
Entain Group
Biography to follow.
Phil Askham
Head of Organisational Change & Employee Experience
Montfort Communications
Montfort Communications
Phil Askham has over 20 years’ experience helping global corporates and public bodies become more productive, purposeful and fulfilling workplaces. He is expert in employee engagement, culture development and organisational change. He knows from experience that improving employee engagement is the outcome of success on many fronts - compelling purpose, clear strategy, trusted leadership and respected line management. Effective internal communication brings everything together, helping leaders explain decisions, crystallising calls to action, embedding changes in ways of working, and fostering a sense of belonging. As a former Global Head of Employee Communications at HSBC, Phil played a major part in strengthening the firm’s risk culture. He also helped propel O2 to become the UK’s number one mobile provider by transforming its employee experience.
Lisa Aslam
Principal Benefits Manager, Total Rewards
Workday
Workday
Lisa Aslam is the Principal Benefits Manager for the EMEA region at Workday, a leading enterprise platform that helps organizations manage their most important assets – their people and money. Lisa has led many of the global benefit programs at Workday, positively impacting the lives of employees and their families. She is passionate about designing inclusive, sustainable solutions and collaborating with innovative vendors to help shape the future of employee benefits.
Conrad Betton
Head of Health, Corporate & Performance
Technogym UK
Technogym UK
Conrad Betton leads the Health, Corporate and Performance at Technogym, heading up a team to deploy solutions across many industry sectors and company sizes. He has worked on a number of projects across the corporate sector is therefore perfectly placed to give practical first-hand insight of the opportunities as well as challenges to avoid in deploying solutions for corporate wellbeing.
Dame Carol Black GBE
Independent Adviser & Chair
Centre for Ageing Better
Centre for Ageing Better
Professor Dame Carol Black GBE is currently the Government’s independent advisor on drug misuse. She is also Chair of the British Library, the Centre for Ageing Better, and Think Ahead, the Government’s fast-stream training programme for Mental Health Social Workers. She is a member of RAND Europe’s Council of Advisers and Commonwealth Secretary- General’s Special Envoy on Ageing Well. In 2019, she completed a seven-year term as Principal of Newnham College in Cambridge University, where she was a Deputy Vice-Chancellor. She is a past President of the Royal College of Physicians of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges past Chair of the Nuffield Trust for Health Policy and a previous trustee of the National Portrait Gallery.
Thomas Blakey
Group Health & Wellbeing Manager
National Grid
National Grid
As the UK Health and Wellbeing Manager at National Grid, Thomas Blakey leads the support for their diverse workforce driving the UK energy transition, and collaborates with the wider group health and wellbeing team on their health and wellbeing proposition across the US region of the business.
Jason Bloomfield
Global Head of People Change & Experience Design
Ericsson
Ericsson
Jason Bloomfield joined Ericsson in 2022 as its Global Head of People Change & Experience Design, focused on transforming the employee experience for its workforce of 100,000 around the globe. His experience includes digital transformation, driving new customer centric journeys, multi-billion-dollar merger & acquisition integrations, accelerating sustainability and spearheading new ways of working. Jason has a 20+ year track record of strategic impact and meaningful innovation across geographies and industries alike. He is a hands-on leader who inspires those around him towards a shared sense of purpose, vision and outcome. Jason’s expertise has garnered industry recognition and speaking invitations on both sides of the Atlantic; expertise he’s also shared with not-for-profits as a member of their Board of Directors.
Jacqueline Brassey
Co-Director Healthy Workforces & Director of Research Science
McKinsey Health Institute
McKinsey Health Institute
Paula Brockwell
Founder
The Employee Experience Project
The Employee Experience Project
Paula Brockwell C.Psychol, the Founder of the Employee Experience Project is on a mission to take the overwhelm, isolation and frustration out of culture change for HR leaders. Making it manageable, mainstream, and ultimately more effective in creating a business where people can thrive and deliver. With over 20 years’ experience in supporting clients with fostering great behaviours in their business and a grounding as a Chartered Occupational Psychologist, she has an in-depth, practical and evidence-based understanding of what drives healthy organisational systems.
Luke Bullen
VP, UK & Ireland
Wellhub
Wellhub
Luke Bullen is a VP at Wellhub (until recently, Gympass), one of the world's fastest-growing companies. They work with the world's leading companies to improve employees' wellbeing - by providing unlimited and highly flexible access to 000s of gyms and studios, including Nuffield, Barry's and Fitness First, plus wellbeing apps like Calm, Headspace, and Strava. They then prove, with data, that they're helping to reduce health problems, support employees with the cost of living, and increase engagement and productivity.
Colin Campbell
Sales Director
Top 1% Podcast Host
Top 1% Podcast Host
Jane Clifford
People Director
Brewers
Brewers
Dr Caitlin Chasser
Sleep specialist & GP
Dr. Caitlin Chasser is a GP, senior sleep consultant, and co-founder of The Sleep Project. A specialist in women’s health, hormonal medicine, CBT-I and holistic sleep health, she translates complex science into actionable strategies that enhance performance and well-being. With 20+ years of clinical - and personal - experience, Caitlin has researched, designed and delivered evidence-based sleep programs for individuals and Global organisations, tackling insomnia and optimising workplace health. As an Adjunct Professor at IE Business School, she educates future leaders on the critical role of sleep in productivity and innovation. Caitlin is dedicated to addressing the global sleep crisis, integrating sleep into well-being strategies to drive success and offering tailored support to help shape healthier, happier and more productive workplaces.
Peter Cheese
CEO
CIPD
CIPD
Peter Cheese is the CEO of the CIPD, the professional body for HR and People Development. Since January 2019, he has been co-chair of The Flexible Working Task Force, a partnership across government departments, business groups, trade unions and charities, to increase the uptake of flexible working. He is also Chair of Engage for Success and the What Works Centre for Wellbeing. In 2021, Peter’s book ‘The New World of Work’ was published, exploring the many factors shaping work, workplaces, workforces and our working lives, and the principles around which we can build a future that is good for people, for business and for societies. Prior to joining the CIPD in 2012, Peter was Chair of the Institute of Leadership and Management, an Executive Fellow at London Business School, and held a number of Board level roles.
Charlotte Clegg
Community Engagement Executive & Psychotherapist
The Mindful Business Charter (MBC)
The Mindful Business Charter (MBC)
Charlotte Clegg has worked for the MBC since 2022, where she supports law firms, financial institutions, and professional service to reduce unnecessary stress to create healthier more productive workplaces. She has experience of working with wellbeing in a variety of sectors including retail, corporate, and charity settings. She is also a psychotherapist in private practice with a keen focus on evidence-based practice, using research and discussion to inform on the best initiatives to apply in a variety of contexts.
Eileen Donnelly
Founder
Ripple&Co
Ripple&Co
Eileen Donnelly’s 20-year career has focused on supporting companies to build purpose-driven business strategies and workplace cultures, by responding to, and investing in, the most relevant issues, from climate change to mental health, latterly as a director in a global FTSE 250. She believes passionately that investing in employee’s resilience and positive mental health is critical to successfully achieving bottom-line productivity as well as talent attraction and retention. After founding Ripple&Co in 2019, Eileen now works with organisations such as NatWest, Virgin, Mott MacDonald, XPO and VolkerWessels. She supports them in building healthy, productive and motivated workforces, through a holistic approach to developing wellbeing programmes, with an emphasis on mental health.
Declan Doyle
Learning & Development Officer
Health@Work
Health@Work
Declan Doyle is a dedicated physical health and wellbeing specialist with extensive experience in designing physical activity and health interventions for both individuals and organisational clients. He has worked across various performance fields, including corporate settings as well as supporting female athletes with weight management support leading up to competitions. With an academic background in exercise science and a research degree in physical activity and health, he is passionate about the role physical activity can play in supporting individuals’ health and wellbeing across the lifespan. Declan’s remit at Health@Work focuses on bridging the gap between scientific research and practical application and continues this focus studying a PhD exploring the role physical activity and health interventions can play in individual and organisational wellbeing.
Thomas Duncan Bell
The Bipolar Businessman
Known internationally as The Bipolar Businessman, Thomas Duncan Bell has already reached millions of people with his writing, keynote speaking and through various media. He frequently works together with global companies to develop their mental health programmes while ensuring their business needs. Thomas is one of the UK’s most popular mental health speakers, as well as the primary mental health commentator and keynote speaker for the Institute of Directors. He knows how to transform a company and implement sustainable mental health programmes within the organisation, while still remaining human along the way, consistently found endearing to all whom he works with, through his candid and caring approach to change. As a FTSE 500 & SME Commercial Consultant for over 17 years, Thomas truly understands the needs of the people and the business.
Rebecca Eaton
Head of Occupational Health & Wellbeing, Safety, Health, Environment & Security
Cadent
Cadent
Rebecca Eaton is a specialist practitioner in occupational health and an experienced wellbeing professional, having implemented wellbeing strategy in several large organisations. She currently leads an in-house occupational health and wellbeing team at Cadent Gas. Rebecca isn’t afraid to break the traditional moulds for wellbeing and focus’ on having a measurable proactive impact on improving employee health and wellbeing. She focuses on embedding a culture of care and has a passion for ensuring that work has a positive effect on people’s wellbeing.
Louise Ellis
Associate Director
HW Global
HW Global
Ian Ellison
Director and Co-Founder
Audiem
Audiem
Ian Ellison has spent 25 years in the UK workplace industry. Following a senior lecturer role at Sheffield Hallam University, he co-founded 3edges Workplace, focusing on workplace education, research and consultancy. Ian co-hosts the Workplace Geeks podcast and is also co-founder of the AI-powered workplace experience insights platform, Audiem.
Martina Ercoli
DI&B Program Manager EMEA
NVIDIA Corporation
NVIDIA Corporation
Martina Ercoli is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in talent acquisition, specializing in Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity (IDE) across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). Her career began in talent and branding consultancy and later expanded into a broader role in the pharmaceutical industry. She has since built extensive expertise in international talent acquisition, working across diverse global markets. Since 2014, Martina has actively delivered webinars and lectures on Social Recruiting, Career Development, and Diversity & Mental Health, collaborating with educational institutions and non-profits. She also shares her knowledge in Philosophy, AI, Talent Acquisition, and Diversity Recruiting, and regularly contributes content to an online business journal.
Eugene Farrell
Board Member
International Employee Assistance Professionals Association (EAPA)
International Employee Assistance Professionals Association (EAPA)
Eugene Farrell is a respected leader in mental health and wellbeing, with more than 30 years’ experience. Board member of International Employee Assistance Professionals Association (EAPA) Former twice Chair of UK EAPA, and awarded Lifetime Membership by UK EAPA for services to the EAP industry. He has been a Board Member of Employee Assistance European Forum where he helped in the development of EAP’s across Europe. He has contributed to EAP Standards in the UK and has strived relentlessly over the last 20 years to promote workplace EAP’s, mental health and the removal of mental health stigma in workplaces and beyond. Eugene is highly experienced on a global scale in the development and service provision of workplace mental health support. He has worked with many UK companies, as well as smaller organisations, mental health providers, professional bodies, World Health Organisation, The Council for Work and Health, British Chambers of Commerce, mental health charities and government. He has Presented at many conferences, written articles, papers and research over his many years in the sector. Eugene has a passion for all aspects of mental health, including digital therapy solutions and Apps, and now provides independent Consultancy.
Claire Farrow
Global Head of Content
Make A Difference Media
Make A Difference Media
Claire Farrow is the Global Director of Content and Programming for the MAD World Summit, The Watercooler and Make A Difference Media.
Claire is on a mission to help every employer – large, medium and small – get the insight, inspiration and contacts they need to make real impact on workplace culture, mental health and wellbeing in their organisation.
She has been freelance (by choice) for more than 15 years. During that time, she has had the honour of working with many leading publishers, including the New York Times.
Dr Eliza Filby
Author
Inheritocracy
Inheritocracy
Dr Eliza Filby is a writer and speaker specialising in generational change and contemporary values, who helps us understand how the world is changing. She has worked with a variety of organizations from Google to the Harry Potter Franchise, from the Ministry of Defence in the UK to the European Commission. She currently sits on the Board of the Mission Group plc. as Non-Executive Director. In 2022 she was awarded the Europa Forum’s 2022 Millennial Leaders Award. In 2024 Eliza was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA). Eliza is the author of Generation Shift: How Generational Evolution is changing the way we think, live and work. She hosts the popular ‘It’s All Relative’ podcast and authors a weekly substack #majorrelate. This autumn she will publish her new book: Inheritocracy: Why we Should Talk about the Bank of Mum and Dad.
Anne-Sophie Fluri
Founder
Brainwave
Brainwave
Anne-Sophie Fluri is a published neuroscientist passionate about helping everyone understand their brain through no-nonsense neuroscience. She believes that the science shouldn't feel distant or complicated, it should be a practical tool for better living.
Elliot Foster
Workplace Wellbeing Strategy Consultant
SuperWellness
SuperWellness
Elliot Foster is a Workplace Wellbeing Strategy Consultant at SuperWellness, a workplace wellbeing company focused on prevention. As a qualified Business Psychologist, Elliot helps organisations move away from “tick-box” wellbeing to thinking more strategically. By doing this, he not only helps organisations to improve the wellbeing of their staff as well as improve performance, but also helps them be less wasteful in the process by focussing on prevention and ensuring a needs-led approach. He has helped organisations of different sizes and from different sectors to think beyond the more stereotypical wellbeing programme, and reframe wellbeing as something that is no longer a nice to have, but a business necessity. Outside his strategy and consultancy work, Elliot is hugely passionate about supporting those in the Workplace Wellbeing Profession, helping to formalise the profession and change the way that workplace wellbeing is sometimes looked upon by those outside the profession as “fluffy”.
Kirstin Furber
People Director
Channel 4
Channel 4
Kirstin is the People Director at Channel 4. Prior to this, she has held a number of senior people roles including BBC Worldwide, Kantar, Twentieth Century Fox and Discovery. In all of these roles, her main responsibilities include leading a strategy to enable and underpin a dynamic culture that fosters creativity, diversity, inclusion and innovation. Kirstin is also a Non-Executive for British Wheelchair Basketball. She is passionate about how organisations can support individuals being their best to drive company results. Her resource site (kirstinfurber.com) has been developed specifically to support leaders looking to create a human culture where everyone can do their best work to drive transformation and growth.
Deborah Garlick
Director
Henpicked
Henpicked
Stella Gavinho
Group Head of Wellbeing
Entain
Entain
Stella Gavinho is an accomplished workplace wellbeing leader, currently serving as Group Head of Wellbeing at Entain, a FTSE 100 company and global powerhouse in sports betting, gaming, and interactive entertainment. With over a decade of experience developing and implementing wellbeing strategies in complex, multinational organisations, Stella specialises in embedding wellbeing into company cultures, driving positive outcomes for both employees and the business. Her expertise lies in creating sustainable, high-impact programs that empower organisations to thrive by prioritising the health and wellbeing of their people.
Lee Godwin
Head of Sales EMEA
Modern Health
Modern Health
Lee Godwin is focused on breaking down barriers to mental health support by delivering accessible and equitable solutions through his work at Modern Health, Ripple Suicide Prevention & Papyrus Suicide Prevention
Matt Grisedale
Senior People Champion
E.On
E.On
As a Senior People Champion at E.ON UK, Matt Grisedale is passionate about fostering an inclusive workplace that values Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I). With a specific focus on men's mental health and overall well-being, I am dedicated to opening up crucial conversations and creating supportive environments where everyone feels empowered to bring their whole selves to work. My work is driven by a commitment to meaningful change and supporting people on their journeys to personal and professional fulfillment.
Emily Gabrielsen
Group Health and Wellbeing Manager
Centrica
Centrica
Nina Goswami
Head of Inclusion UK,
Clifford Chance
Clifford Chance
Nina Goswami is Clifford Chance's first Head of Inclusion UK, where she is responsible for developing and implementing the law firm's inclusion policies and campaigns within the London and Newcastle offices.Before Clifford Chance, Nina was the BBC's Creative Diversity Lead and headed up 50:50 The Equality Project. The multi-award-winning initiative uses data monitoring to ensure media content better reflects society. She also led work around inclusive language and supported BBC News with its diversity and inclusion strategy. This included launching impact-driven partnerships such as Reframing Disability with the Media Trust. Nina also worked as a journalist for The Sunday Times, The Sunday Telegraph and the legal press. This was prior to her roles at the BBC, which included TV News Editor.
Nina has been named as Inspirational d&i Leader 2024. Nina has also featured in the Global Diversity List as Head of Diversity (2023), Champion (2021) and Diversity Professional (2020).
Simon Walters
Executive Coach & Mentor
Harley Row Clinic
Harley Row Clinic
Stephen Haynes
Director of Wellbeing Consultancy
British Safety Council
British Safety Council
Stephen Haynes is Director of Wellbeing Consultancy at British Safety Council, where he specialises in the design, implementation and management of strategic workplace health, safety and wellbeing programmes - including the development of relevant interventions, from optimisation of support infrastructures to leadership development. Previously, Stephen was Head of Programme for British Safety Council's award-winning sister mental wellbeing charity Mates in Mind.
Katy Henrickson
Co-Founder
WellFi
WellFi
Katy Henrickson Co-Founded WellFi in 2021 along with business partner and husband, Terry. She has over 20 years’ experience working in client facing roles in finance, starting her career in pensions actuarial consulting and moving into relationship and client director roles in investment management. Seeing the continued challenge that companies face trying to increase benefit engagement and awareness amongst their employees, Katy and Terry decided enough was enough, and have made it their mission to change financial communication and make financial education accessible and engaging for all.
Marcus Herbert
Senior Wellbeing Manager
Royal Mail
Royal Mail
With over 18 years’ experience in the wellbeing industry, Marcus Herbert has worked with individuals, elite athletes, and executives on enhancing their own personal wellbeing and reducing their risk of lifestyle diseases through effective behaviour change strategies. Transferring this experience into the corporate setting, he has worked with organisations from micro to global on their approach to organisational wellbeing and how to develop an effective and meaningful wellbeing strategy. More recently, Marcus has joined Royal Mail as Senior Wellbeing Manager where he supports the long-term wellbeing strategy for over 135,000 people, as well as the day-to-day delivery of the Group’s wellbeing plan.
PC Natasha Hill
Wellbeing Practitioner
Devon, Cornwall & Dorset Police
Devon, Cornwall & Dorset Police
Natasha Hill has been a police officer for 26 years, working predominantly in child safeguarding roles and on some large Sexual Exploitation investigations. She has also worked as a Diversity Officer, several strategic roles and was a Prevent Officer within the Counter Terrorism Unit. Natasha has been part of a small wellbeing team covering Devon, Cornwall and Dorset since 2020 and lead on financial wellbeing, menopause. She is also involved with organising events such as their annual virtual Wellbeing Festival, which is now in its sixth year and open to all UK police force.
Jonathan Hill
Head of Occupational Health
Anglian Water Services
Anglian Water Services
Karissa Hollis
Founder
Curious Vitae
Curious Vitae
Karissa Hollis is the founder of Curious Vitae, a business specialising in transforming mental health, wellbeing and workplace culture through the power of Sociable Learning. Curious Vitae experts deliver bespoke lectures, workshops and tutorial-based courses across a wide range of topics from philosophy to French, physics to fine art and music to magic. A lawyer, educator and mother, Karissa founded Curious Vitae to enable people to engage in lifelong learning throughout their busy working lives. To develop their Curious as well as their Curriculum Vitae you might say, whilst also providing an innovative and authentic solution for enlightened companies to inspire their people and reap the rewards of a more creative, collaborative and committed workforce. 
Sam Hunt
Business Network Coordinator
4 Day Week Campaign
4 Day Week Campaign
Biography to follow.
Will Hutton
Author
This Time No Mistakes
This Time No Mistakes
Will Hutton is a political economist, author and journalist. Apart from his association with Centre for Economic Performance, he is a non-executive director of the Satellite Applications Catapult, an associate of the Oxford University Martin School and writes a fortnightly column for the Observer. As one of the leading economics commentators in the country, Will is regularly called on to advise senior political and business figures and comment in the national and international media. He began his career in the City, before moving to the BBC where he became Economics Editor of Newsnight, then went to be Economics Editor of the Guardian. He spent four years as Editor-in-Chief of The Observer and was Chief Executive of The Work Foundation from 2000 to 2008. He stepped down from the Principalship of Hertford College, Oxford in September 2020. Will has chaired two government Commissions – one on Public Sector Pay for the Coalition government in 2011 and one on the Creative Industries for the Labour government in 2007. His many books include 'The State We’re In' (1995), 'Them and Us' (2011), 'How Good We Can Be' (2015), and most recently ‘This Time No Mistakes: How to Remake Britain’ (2024).
Anouk van den Ing
Head of HR
Rapport Guest
Rapport Guest
Anouk van den Ing has been Rapport’s Head of HR since 2021, leading the company’s HR and recruitment strategy. She initially joined the organisation in 2017 as an HR Operations Specialist, following her tenure with Marriott Central London’s cluster offices, where she supported both Human Resources and Learning & Development across several five-star properties.In collaboration with Rapport’s Head of DEI and Head of Learning & Development, Anouk plays a key role in delivering an integrated and people-focused function that supports both our ambassadors and clients. Her passion for people has been a driving force throughout her career, and she firmly believes that it’s this people-first approach that underpins Rapport’s success. In addition to her core responsibilities, Anouk also serves as the Executive Sponsor of Rapport’s Be Well network, which champions initiatives and support around employee wellbeing.
Ruth Jackson
Chief People Officer
The Gym Group
The Gym Group
Ruth Jackson is an experienced board level HR Director. She is an authentic, commercial and strategic leader with wide HR and operational experience across public and private companies in hospitality and leisure. Ruth is a strong believer in the importance of all areas of talent and in the power of great internal communications to drive employee engagement. She is passionate about helping others to find what it is from their work that will truly enable them to flourish.
Ryan Jans
Regional Head of Leasing
WeWork
WeWork
Ryan Jans is the Regional Head of Leasing at WeWork, overseeing UK, Ireland, EMEA, and APAC, a portfolio spanning 12 million sq. ft. and serving cira 130,000+ members. With a deep expertise in flexible workspace real estate and strategy, Ryan leads the leasing operations, market expansion, and key partnerships teams across some of the world’s most dynamic commercial real estate markets. Since joining WeWork in 2019, Ryan has held multiple leadership roles, including Head of Leasing for UK&I, Head of Sales for South Africa, and Head of Agent & Broker Partnerships for UK&I, predominantly focused on driving revenue growth and shaping the company’s regional leasing presence. Prior to WeWork, Ryan was a Corporate Real Estate Advisor at JLL, specialising in Occupier Strategy and Corporate Consulting. He holds an MBA from GIBS Business School, completed his Property Investment & Development Programme at the University of Cape Town, and earned a BCom in Management Science from Stellenbosch University.
Barbara Jeffery
Partner
McKinsey & Company
McKinsey & Company
Barbara Jeffery is co-lead of Employee Health at the McKinsey Health Institute. She is also a Partner in the London office of McKinsey & Company and a leader in their People & Organisational Performance Practice in the UK. She focuses on delivering transformative organisation journeys-journeys that change organisations and individuals, as people and leaders. Barbara has more than ten years of experience in organisational design, culture and change, leadership development, and HR function design in the context of transformations, mergers, separations and IPOs. Prior to joining McKinsey, Barbara worked at a leading global financial services firm, focused on structuring and marketing of fixed income derivatives. She also founded and ran Omoko, a company focused on performance transformations for PE-owned and VC-owned firms in the healthcare space.
Dr Pablo Jeczmien
Consultant Psychiatrist & Psychotherapist
Harley Row
Harley Row
He embodies Harley Row Clinic’s three-fold approach - a combination of psychological intervention (therapy, counselling or coaching), medication, and functional medicine (gut health and nutrition) together with lifestyle, that leads to long-term, lasting results. This comprehensive approach allows him to tailor treatment and clinical management to the needs of each individual client. He previously served as a Consultant Psychiatrist in General Adult Psychiatry for the Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and is a Member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. His expertise spans community, inpatient, and forensic settings. Pablo firmly believes that mental health issues cannot be addressed through a physical lens alone. His approach, which has been inspired by various schools of thought and experience, focusses on the whole body, and treating the root cause of a condition, not just the symptoms.
Polly Joseph
Talent and Wellbeing Partner and Mental Health First Aider
Hollywood Bowl Group
Hollywood Bowl Group
Polly Joseph is the Talent & Wellbeing Partner and one of the team of Mental Health First Aiders at Hollywood Bowl Group. Polly has well over twenty years’ experience in nurturing talent across both the retail and hospitality sectors via blended Learning and Development interventions and coaching. Polly is a positive ambassador for wellbeing in both life and business and is a true creator of positive energy.
Jo Kelly
Registered Nutritional Therapist & Health Coach
Flourish with Nutrition
Flourish with Nutrition
Arti Kashyap-Aynsley
Global Head of Wellbeing & Inclusion
Ocado Group
Ocado Group
Gary Kindon
HR Director
Teva
Teva
Mohammed Koheeallee
QESH Coordinator & Lead Accessibility Ambassador
Coca Cola Europacific Partners
Coca Cola Europacific Partners
Mohammed Koheeallee is a QESH Co-ordinator Projects and The Lead Accessibility Ambassador for Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP GB), looking at ways to enable colleagues with a disability to be themselves, and to support CCEP GB in becoming a more diverse and inclusive business. Having been paraplegic since the age of 6 weeks old and growing up in a wheelchair has always set challenges in front of him. After searching for a career for many years, Mo found himself working at CCEP GB, starting off as a Grocery Merchandiser. In 2022, he joined the supply chain team as an Apprentice Quality, Environment, Safety and Health (QESH) Co-ordinator. After successfully completing in Jan 2024, now being a qualified health & safety officer, Mo brings a unique perspective to a field that sometimes holds back people with disabilities and helped to create one of the first wheelchair accessible manufacturing sites in GB.
Mizzy Lees
Managing Director
Mr President
Mr President
Lauren Lunniss
Health & Wellbeing Lead
BNP Paribas
BNP Paribas
Lauren Lunniss is a people-focused and empathetic management professional dedicated to enhancing workplace culture by embedding wellbeing into the core of organisational practices. With over 18 years of experience in the health and wellbeing sector, she uses data-driven programmes to engage effectively with all levels of the organisation, ensuring that initiatives are well-received and impactful. Lauren has a strong desire for supporting others, therefore freely shares best practices and her own personal experiences to assist companies in discovering the best ways to support their employees.
Wendy Macartney
Senior People Partner
Nedbank Private Wealth International
Nedbank Private Wealth International
Mark Malcomson
Principal and Chief Executive
City Lit
City Lit
Mark Malcomson has been Principal and Chief Executive of City Lit, Europe’s biggest adult education college, since 2011. Previously, he was the Director of Executive Education at London Business School and President of the New York Institute of Finance. Together with Baroness Hollins, Mark co-founded the Mental Wealth Festival, which is now in its 8th year. He possesses a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Edinburgh; a Diploma in Legal Practice from the University of Strathclyde; and a Masters in International Relations from the University of Kent. His roles as trustee have included the National Institute of Adult Continuing Learning; University of Kent; and The English Speaking Union. Mark was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2017 New Year’s Honours List for services to adult education.
Fiona McAslan
Head of Wellbeing
Royal Mail Group
Royal Mail Group
Fiona McAslan is the Head of Health and Wellbeing at Royal Mail Group. She is responsible for setting the long-term wellbeing strategy for over 135,000 people, as well as the day-to-day delivery of the Group’s wellbeing plan. Fiona’s career includes over 25 years of varied HR experience across a number of organisations covering most HR disciplines. Her passion lies in helping people bring the best of themselves to work by actively designing a personalised proactive wellbeing proposition and promoting a positive wellbeing culture.
Geoff McDonald
Former Global VP HR Unilever & Director
Geoff McDonald Consulting
Geoff McDonald Consulting
Previously the Global Vice-President of HR, Talent, Marketing, Communications, Sustainability & Water at Unilever, Geoff is now a global advocate, campaigner and consultant in addressing the stigma of mental ill-health in the workplace. He is also a very much sought-after experienced keynote speaker, strategic advisor and consultant who inspires and provokes organisations globally to put purpose and wellbeing at the centre of everything they do with a reputation for energizing and motivating people to take action in creating workplaces that enhance the lives of everyone. He brings his own experience of addressing the stigma of mental ill-health within Unilever, helping to archetype the transformation of this company with Purpose at its core and provides a real practitioner’s perspective on how to address the stigma linked to depression and anxiety within workplaces today, and on how to elevate wellbeing to a strategic priority in the Boardroom. Geoff is a Co-Founder of the Minds@Work network, a charity which endeavours to inspire and equip individuals to break the stigma of mental health within their organisations. He also advises and helps organisations define and embed their Purpose as a driver of business performance and speaks on the power of Purpose and how a sense of organisational purpose can transform an organisation/institution.
Dr Noel McElearney
Consultant Occupational Physician & Chief Medical Officer
Optima Health
Optima Health
Dr Noel McElearney is an accredited medical specialist in occupational medicine, a Fellow of the Faculties of Occupational Medicine in London and Dublin, and Chief Medical Officer at Optima Health. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, he leads the Senior Medical Team to promote occupational health practices that support employee recovery and worker retention. Noel is responsible for planning and organising evidence-based, quality-assured advice, and consistent high-quality service delivery. He also looks after managing and refining clinical activity for efficiency, cost-effectiveness. Previously, Noel has 20 years’ experience working with OH providers, including HML and Atos. Before that he worked for Scottish and Newcastle Brewers, as their International HSE Director, and National roles with Marks and Spencer, The Welcome Foundation and British Airways.
Astha Mittal
Director- Global Benefits and Mobility
Wella Company
Wella Company
Marina Moschoviti
Performance Management Program Manager (Rewards & Benefits)
Deliveroo
Deliveroo
Marina Moschoviti leads the global performance management and promotion processes within Deliveroo's Reward and Benefits team. Since joining in 2022, she has focused on improving workflows and implementing a new system to enhance the employee experience and support high-performing teams. Marina is dedicated to fostering a workplace culture where employees are happy and have opportunities to grow their careers, helping to create an environment where people feel valued and motivated.
Katharine Moxham
Spokesperson
Group Risk Development (GRiD)
Group Risk Development (GRiD)
Katharine Moxham is spokesperson for Group Risk Development (GRiD), a position she’s held exclusively since May 2009. Katharine works to generate a wider awareness and understanding of group risk products (employer-sponsored life assurance, income protection and critical illness) and their benefits for employers and employees. She regularly contributes to industry and business publications and debate, and has actively raised the profile of the group risk industry with the media and business organisations. Prior to joining GRiD, Katharine built a profile as a driving force in the UK group risk market working for Towers Perrin, Aon Consulting and JLT Benefit Solutions, where she was Consulting Director of the Health & Risk practice. This broad-based industry expertise makes Katharine ideally placed for her role as industry commentator on issues affecting the group risk market.
Sofi Musleh
Executive DEI Leader
Dr Catherine McKinven
Clinical Lead
Lyra UK & Ireland
Lyra UK & Ireland
Dr Catherine McKinven is the Clinical Lead for Lyra UK & Ireland, responsible for driving Lyra’s local wellbeing proposition to ensure clinical excellence and governance. Throughout her career, Catherine has had extensive experience working within the EAP industry and employee wellbeing providing psychological assessments, clinical consultation and leadership. Coupled with her legacy in the NHS across a wide range of clinical roles up to consultant level. As Clinical Lead, she has been integral for Lyra UK & Ireland to propel their clinically driven services to support all lifecycle needs and lead the evolution of employee mental wellbeing in the UK & Ireland.
Gethin Nadin
Chair
Policy Liaison Group on Workplace Wellbeing
Policy Liaison Group on Workplace Wellbeing
Kellie Nedelcoux
Founder
Career & Parenthood
Career & Parenthood
Kellie Nedelcoux is the Founder of Career & Parenthood, a leadership and parental transition coaching business that helps organisations create family-friendly cultures and empower working parents to thrive. With an extensive career in HR, Kellie has held global roles, including her last position at Sky, where she honed her expertise in talent retention and employee support. Through Career & Parenthood, Kellie partners with organisations to bridge the gaps in supporting working parents, offering tailored coaching, workshops, and consultancy services. Kellie has since joined forces with Hannah Porteous-Butler from The People Practice Group to create an even stronger offering - delivering greater value to clients by supporting both individual growth and systemic change.
Fergal O’Connor
Finance Director EMEAI Finance & Accounting
United Airlines
United Airlines
Maurice O’Connor
Wellbeing Manager
British Airways
British Airways
Michelle Okwudiafor
Founder
Career Invest
Career Invest
Michelle Okwudiafor is a communication, culture, and inclusion expert with over 16 years of global experience across the UK, USA, Qatar, and Nigeria. She has held senior strategic communications roles at organisations including S&P Global, TotalEnergies, ACCA, and Oando Foundation, utilizing storytelling to enhance workplace engagement, inclusion, and wellbeing. Her work sits at the intersection of strategic communication and employee wellbeing, partnering with leaders to build inclusive, high-performing workplaces where mental health is prioritised. Through culture-led campaigns and impactful storytelling, Michelle helps organisations reduce stigma, foster psychological safety and support mental health across global, hybrid, and remote teams. As the founder of Career Invest, Michelle equips professionals, especially women and underrepresented groups, with the tools to thrive through personal branding, allyship, and confidence-building. She is passionate about creating spaces where people feel seen, supported, and empowered to grow. Michelle also serves as a Trustee at Book Aid International.
Dr Shriti Pattani OBE
National Clinical Expert, Occupational Health and Wellbeing, NHSE Clinical Director, Occupational Health and Wellbeing Service
London North West University Healthcare NHS
London North West University Healthcare NHS
Shriti Pattani OBE is National Clinical Expert in Occupational Health & Wellbeing, NHS England. She is an accredited specialist in Occupational Medicine, holding fellowships of the Faculty of Occupational Medicine and the Royal College of Physicians. She is the immediate past president of the Society of Occupational Medicine. She has led Occupational Health Services as a Clinical Director in the NHS for 25 years and has experience working in the public and private sector. She is the National Clinical Expert in Occupational Health and Wellbeing for NHS England. Shriti is keen to promote the agenda of ‘Work as a Health Outcome’ which includes support for all people of working age with health conditions or disabilities to find suitable work and prevent people falling out of work. She is passionate about teaching and training and has been the Course Director for the Diploma Course in Occupational Medicine for the Royal Society for Public Health since 2010.
Dr Michelle Penelope King
Author
The Fix & How Work Works
The Fix & How Work Works
Dr. Michelle Penelope King is a globally recognized organizational psychologist specializing in culture, leadership, and inequality. With over two decades of experience, Dr. King has held prominent roles, including Director of Inclusion at Netflix and Head of UN Women's Global Innovation Coalition for Change. She is the managing director of ECCI, the (Executive Coaching and Consulting Institute), a global consultancy dedicated to leadership and culture development. She has served as the Chief People Officer at ODI, a leading global affairs think tank. An award-winning academic with five degrees, Dr. King is also the author of the best-selling book "The Fix: Overcome the Invisible Barriers That Are Holding Women Back at Work," and her latest release, "How Work Works," published in 2023. She is also the host of the popular podcasts The Fix and My Workplace Is Killing Me! She is a regular contributor to Forbes, and her insights have also been featured in esteemed outlets such as CNN, BBC, The Financial Review, The Economist, Harvard Business Review, and Time. Recognized among the Top 100 Women at Davos and as LinkedIn's Top Voice for Equity in the Workplace, Dr. King continues to shape the future of work through her research, leadership, and advocacy.
Hannah Porteous-Butler
Founder
The People Practice Group
The People Practice Group
Hannah Porteous-Butler is a speaker, coach, and founder of The People Practice Group, a consultancy that helps organisations maximise the potential of their working parents and retain top talent through practical, inclusive strategies. With over 20 years in senior leadership and people strategy, Hannah works with HR and C-suite leaders to improve retention, boost wellbeing, and drive culture change. She has worked with organisations including DDB UK, Mind, TUI, Cambridge University Press & Assessment, and Bidwells. As a mother of three and special guardian to a fourth child, she brings deep personal insight to her work alongside professional expertise in coaching, neuroscience, and mental health. Hannah regularly speaks at HR and leadership events and facilitates programmes that turn good policy into real-world support for working parents.
Fiona Poland
Head of Commercial Delivery
MHFA England
MHFA England
Fiona Poland leads the Commercial Delivery team at MHFA England and she is responsible for the delivery of all in-house training and consultancy. She is passionate about creating happier, healthier workplaces, where people have the skills and resources they need to thrive, and where the mental and physical health of employees is valued equally. Her expertise lies in advising workplaces on wellbeing strategies, and training solutions, which enable businesses to minimise the impact of mental ill health and manage employee wellbeing proactively.
Caroline Pontifex
Director, Head of Workplace & Design
Savills
Savills
Craig Redihough
Group Belonging & Wellbeing Manager
Sky
Sky
Sarah Rees
Head of Marketing
Peppy
Peppy
Inês Reis
Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Wellbeing & Employee
Fujitsu
Fujitsu
Luke Robinson
Employee Experience Lead
Williams Formula 1 Racing Team
Williams Formula 1 Racing Team
Alex Shaw
Managing Director
&Me by Holland & Barrett
&Me by Holland & Barrett
Biography to follow.
Carole Smets
Change Management - Head of Corporate Sustainability
Pernod Ricard
Pernod Ricard
Mike Smith
Head of Awarding Organisation
Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH)
Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH)
Mike Smith joined the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health to head up its Awarding Organisation in January 2024. His career has focussed on education policy, assessment and the research and development of occupational and professional standards and skills solutions for a variety of industries and professions. He has held a variety of senior roles in organisations specialising in workforce and skills development, assessment and accreditation in the UK and overseas. He’s supported employers, employer organisations and other stakeholders through the development and delivery of professional qualifications and apprenticeships.
Gregory Shewan
Project Manager for Interiors
HOK
HOK
Faraz Shoghi
Senior Service Manager - Occupational Health
Jaguar Land Rover
Jaguar Land Rover
Faraz Shoghi is a strategic occupational health and wellbeing expert with extensive experience in the manufacturing sector and a foundation in medical science. He has been with Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) for more than six years. Prior to joining JLR he was with Honda. He is a specialist in the effective application of evidence-based solutions to large, complex, and diverse organisations and is driven by the ideal that work should have a positive influence on our quality of life.
Krissy Simmons
Senior Business Adviser
ACAS
ACAS
Fay Simpkins
Head of Occupational Health & Wellbeing
National Highways
National Highways
Carole Spiers
Chair
International Stress Management Association (ISMA)
International Stress Management Association (ISMA)
Carole Spiers currently serves as the Chair of the International Stress Management Association (ISMA). On their behalf, she founded Stress Awareness Day in 1998 and to recognise its anniversary in 2018, established International Stress Awareness Week in 2018. She is also a leading international business stress consultant and CEO of the Carole Spiers Group. With her background in psychology, Carole has over 25 years of experience as an industry expert on how to reduce stress and manage organisational change. She shows organisations how they can profit from a healthy workplace culture by building resilience for improved health and wellbeing. Carole has published books such as Tolley’s Managing Stress in the Workplace and Show Stress Who's Boss! She is a Fellow and past President of the Professional Speaking Association.
Jonathan Stuart
Workplace Partnerships Lead
Mind
Mind
Working closely with Mind’s Policy and Influencing team, Jonathan Stuart collaborates with employers and policymakers to drive positive change in workplace mental health. He also acts as Secretariat for the Mental Health at Work Leadership Council, advocating for the Mental Health at Work Commitment as 'the' framework of best practice. To date, the Commitment has been signed by over 3,700 organisations employing almost 6 million people. Previously, Jonathan worked in programme delivery, including the Blue Light Programme, supporting emergency responders during the Covid19 pandemic. In these roles, he led initiatives to reduce mental health stigma, design sustainable mental health resources, and influence senior leaders to embed workplace mental health as a strategic priority. His expertise lies in building cross-sector relationships and creating lasting impact, supporting Mind’s vision of mentally healthy work for all.
Michelle Sutton
Head of Reward & Pensions
Suez
Suez
Dr Dolly van Tulleken
Visiting Scientist
MRC Epidemiology Unit & Centre for Diet & Activity Research (CEDAR)
MRC Epidemiology Unit & Centre for Diet & Activity Research (CEDAR)
Dr Dolly van Tulleken is a policy consultant and Visiting Researcher at Cambridge University's MRC Epidemiology Unit where she completed a PhD and postdoctoral research position examining UK government obesity policy. Dolly co-founded 50:50 Parliament's cross-party #AskHerToStand campaign which helps women in the UK get selected and elected. She is Vice President of ex-offenders employment charity Tempus Novo and an ambassador of military veterans charity Forward Assist.
Dr Pannavat “Palm” Veeraburinon
Counselling psychologist & Global Inclusive Council Member
Modern Health
Modern Health
Diagnosed with ADHD and a learning disorder at age eight, Dr Palm understands firsthand the power of support in overcoming challenges like anxiety and suicidal thoughts. Now as a counselling psychologist, he combines his personal journey with professional expertise to help others grow.
Petra Velzeboer
CEO Founder
PVL
PVL
Petra Velzeboer is a renowned mental health expert, TEDx speaker, and CEO of the mental health consultancy PVL. She is the author of Begin with You and the upcoming book Digital Wellbeing: Recharge Your Focus and Reboot Your Life. Her mission is to help organisations create mentally healthy cultures that thrive in a world of fast paced change.
Spencer Walker
Global Director
Deliveroo for Work
Deliveroo for Work
Spencer Walker leads Deliveroo’s B2B business, partnering with thousands of clients globally to cater to all of their workplace food needs. Since joining in 2017, he has played a key role in driving Deliveroo’s hypergrowth from start-up to IPO. Whilst he was Regional Director for London, he signed household-name restaurant brands such as Dishoom and Wingstop, partnerships that have cemented Deliveroo’s position as the number-one choice for great food. Before Deliveroo, Spencer spent twelve years in the music industry, founding an independent label and touring the world as a drummer.
Miriam Warren
Chief Culture Officer
Yelp
Yelp
Miriam Warren is the Chief Culture Officer at Yelp and Board Chair of the Yelp Foundation. She joined Yelp in 2007, serving in a variety of marketing and operational roles, including leading the company’s expansion efforts internationally as Vice President of New Markets. Presently, Miriam heads a team working at the intersection of culture, employee engagement, social impact, sustainability, and diversity, inclusion, and belonging. Miriam is a frequent speaker and moderator. She has appeared on CNN, Yahoo! Finance, the BBC, CBS News and has spoken at Columbia Business School, Yale School of Management, and UCLA Anderson School of Management. Miriam has been quoted in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Business Insider, and Good Morning America online, among others. She's previously been published in the Stanford Social Innovation Review, San Francisco Chronicle, Fast Company, Entrepreneur, and Fortune and shared her perspective on KQED. Miriam currently serves on the board of ETR, was a 2023 US Public Voices Fellow on Advancing the Rights of Women and Girls, and was named to the Gold House A100 list in 2021. Previously, she served on the boards of Common Future, Joshin, Reading Partners, and YTH.
Phil Waterworth
Director of Musculoskeletal & Mental Health
Optima Health
Optima Health
Phil Waterworth holds overarching responsibility for our Mental Health and Musculoskeletal services, including our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) and corporate wellbeing function. Phil contributes to the high level strategic and tactical management of these services and has been a key director for some of our largest contracts, including the likes of Toyota, AWE, Amazon and several NHS Trusts. Phil is a clinician by background and qualified to MSc level in both his clinical discipline and in Leadership and Management in Health and Social Care. He has over twenty years’ experience in the occupational health industry and has developed numerous interventions such as Optima Health's Functional Restoration Programme (FRP), Pain Management Programme, Long-term Condition Management Programme and an award-winning Stress Management Programme.
Liggy Webb
Award winning author & presenter
Liggy Webb is an award winning and bestselling author, presenter and international consultant. She is also the founding director of The Learning Architect, an international consortium of behavioural skills specialists. She is recognised as a thought leader on human resilience and works with a wide range of businesses focusing on optimising potential through continual learning and behavioural agility. Some of the organisations that Liggy has worked with includes the NHS, the BBC, Walt Disney, the International Telecommunication Union, the World Trade Organization, the United Nations and various public and private sector organisations, charities and universities. Liggy believes that the diversity of her clients has provided her with a tremendous insight into the many and varied challenges that people currently face in a rapidly changing and often volatile world. She has written over thirty-five books (including her bite-sized book series) on a variety of life skills that help people to be happier, healthier, and more productive.
Claire Wilkinson
HR Lead – Wellbeing, ERGs and Functions – Europe & India
Aecom
Aecom
Charlotte Wiseman
Leadership & Organisational Development expert
Charlotte Wiseman
Charlotte Wiseman
A member of the British Psychological Society and International Positive Psychology Association, Charlotte Wiseman is an applied Positive Psychology and Leadership Consultant known for her pioneering research in leadership burnout and mental fitness. It was her own personal journey overcoming chronic stress, anxiety and depression as a leader, that first inspired her to explore applied positive psychology techniques in 2009. The positive changes she experienced were so inspiring that she left her long-standing career to pursue an MSc in Applied Positive Psychology, a certificate in Neuroscience for Business and MHFA England Mental Health First Aid Trainer qualifications. Recognised as a leader in her field and recently named one of the top 10 most influential global voices in workplace wellbeing, Charlotte has also recently been featured in the Times Future CEO special edition, and is regularly invited to feature in specialist publications, including the Journal of Public Mental Health.
Fred Perez
Senior Facilities Manager
Kennedys
Kennedys
Biography to follow.
Dr Lalith Wijedoru
Founder
Behind Your Mask
Behind Your Mask
Dr Lalith Wijedoru is the Founder of storytelling consultancy, Behind Your Mask. He is passionate about celebrating our true, personal stories. He is a former UK-trained National Health Service (NHS) consultant paediatrician in emergency medicine. He has won multiple UK national awards including the Health Services Journal Staff Engagement Award using his storytelling approach for NHS staff. He is also a Strategic Partner of the All-In Diversity Project, where he is outsourced to kickstart courageous conversations on sensitive DEI topics and uncomfortable truths. He features in Aliza Nisenbaum’s Tate Liverpool exhibition as a storytelling facilitator during the coronavirus pandemic, and on Emmy Award-winning US TV chatshow host Montel Williams’ Free Thinking podcast talking about emotional wellbeing.
Esme Banks-Marr
Strategy Director
BVN Architecture
BVN Architecture
Rob Briner
Professor of Organisational Psychology, Queen Mary University London & Associate Director, Research Corporate Research Forum
Rob Briner is Professor of Organisational Psychology in the School of Business and Management at Queen Mary University of London. He conducts research into several areas of organisational psychology and HR such as work and well-being, the psychological contract, work-nonwork relationships and ethnicity. In addition, he is very active in developing evidence-based practice in management, HR and organizational psychology. Before moving to the University of Bath in 2011, he worked for 20 years in the Department of Organisational Psychology at Birkbeck, University of London, where he also served as Director of the PhD Programme, Director of Research and Head of School.
Jamie Davis
Director of Workplace Strategy
Fidelity International
Fidelity International
Jeff Dewing
CEO
Cloud
Cloud
Jeff Dewing is the CEO of Cloud & Mindsett, an International Energiser, Top 50 Workplace Leader and the No.1 best-selling business author of Doing the Opposite. Cloud’s tech has disrupted a £200 billion industry and they’ve been named Queens Award winner for Innovation (2019) and a global leader in IoT-enabled predictive maintenance by Gartner. Jeff’s first business went bankrupt, leaving only £7.60 in his bank account, while also relying on benefits. Jeff refused to give up. Instead, he turned his life around, learnt to code and started Cloud from his garden shed. He built it from the ground up to a £70M turnover without a penny of investment. Jeff has since worked with some of the world’s biggest brands, including Tui, Pizza Express, Chiltern Railways and The Rank Group. He has contributed to several television segments, radio shows, podcasts and online and printed media publications including The Times, Financial Times, BBC, and Fast Company, among others.
Mark Eltringham
Publisher
Workplace Insight
Workplace Insight
Allison English
Co-CEO
Aéto Strategy
Aéto Strategy
Allison English is the Co-CEO of Aéto Strategy, which she co-founded in August 2024. Prior to that, she was Deputy CEO at Leesman for over four years. Her key achievements include helping organisations improve workplace experience for millions of employees around the world, achieving B Corp Certification, tripling revenue, and a successful trade sale in 2022. 
Dr Kate Gaudion
Designer
The Royal College of Art
The Royal College of Art
Katie Gaudion, PhD, is a design consultant and senior research associate at The Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design, an inclusive design research centre at the Royal College of Art in London. Her work focuses on collaborating with neurodivergent individuals to improve their daily experiences, a journey she navigates daily as a neurodivergent person.
Lucy Golding
EMEA Colleague Experience Lead
JLL
JLL
Biography to follow.
Nicola Gillen
EMEA Lead for Total Workplace
Cushman & Wakefield
Cushman & Wakefield
Nicola Gillen is the EMEA Lead for Total Workplace at Cushman & Wakefield, where she specialises in the relationship between design, people, behaviour and the built environment. An architect, author and teacher, Nicola draws from 25 years’ experience delivering design development advice to developers and workplace strategy to occupiers internationally. Nicola is a BCO National Judge. She is also a regular conference speaker and author of three books.
Tim Haynes
VP of People & Culture
Jazz Pharmaceuticals
Jazz Pharmaceuticals
Chris Higgins
Head of EMEA, Workplace, Real Estate & Facilities
GSK
GSK
Dr Natalie Isaia
CEO & Founder
Empresa Psychology
Empresa Psychology
Dr Natalie Isaia is a Clinical Psychologist who has over 15 years of experience supporting individuals and teams working in high stress environments and experiencing burnout. Years of keeping up to date with scientific literature convinced Natalie that supporting wellbeing in the workplace results in employees feeling happier and being in better health, which, in turn, leads to increased productivity, efficiency, and creativity. Natalie founded Empresa Psychology to bring her expertise and experience into the corporate space, to transform workplace wellbeing. Her mission is to support companies to achieve business excellence without compromising wellbeing.
Giovanna Jagger
Global Development
IWBI
IWBI
Giovanna Jagger brings over 15 years’ experience working in business development and sustainability to IWBI. She has an extensive understanding of industry and reporting requirements, having worked closely with organisations around the world to map strategic objectives to leading frameworks. In 2020, Giovanna’s leadership was recognised when she was named one of the 10 Most Influential Women in Tech.
Claire Jones
Principal
United Minds
United Minds
Claire Jones is a specialist in leadership, culture, change and employee experience. She brings extensive experience working with senior leaders and delivering programmes that make businesses more human, create better experiences for employees, and in turn lead to stronger organisational results. Claire has more than 15 years’ experience working with clients across a range of sectors, from pharmaceuticals such as Boehringer Ingelheim, Novartis, and Sandoz, to FMCG companies including Coca-Cola and Mars, Incorporated and luxury clients, such as Richemont, and financial services organisations. Before joining United Minds, Claire led internal communications for Whirlpool EMEA. Prior to that she spent five years at Tesco PLC in a range of internal- and external-facing corporate communications roles, working primarily on employee communications and investor relations.
Leah Jones
Deputy Director Workplace Experience
Government Property Agency
Government Property Agency
Ronen Journo
Head of European Management Services
Hines
Hines
Ronen Journo is a highly experienced property management and real estate professional with over 25 years of experience in the sector. Joining Hines in 2020, he successfully led their European Management Services business and will continue to drive the creation of people-centric, technology-driven workplaces fit for the future, in his new role as Head of Global Management Services. Prior to Hines, Ronen held roles at WeWork and Cisco where his focus was on global workplace trends, technology and corporate real estate operations. Ronen’s expertise extends beyond his primary role, serving as a Non-Executive Director for the Property Agency in His Majesty’s Government, Co-Chair of the Technology and Real Estate Council for the Urban Land Institute and as a member of its Editorial Oversight Committee. He is also a Board Advisor at ARC, guest lecturer at Said Business School - University of Oxford, and a mentor at Pi Labs and REACH UK.
Alison Kilby
Associate Director
ARUP
ARUP
Alison Kilby is a Chartered Engineer and the Arup Workplace Advisory lead who collaborated with HOK in delivering transformative workplace for Arup in Birmingham. She also provides engineering design across the property sector to ensure the interior design principles of refurbishment or new build spaces are complemented by the servicing and acoustic designs to truly provide spaces to suit the diverse workforce.
Kristen Lloyd
Workplace Experience Lead
Volvo Cars
Volvo Cars
Kasia Maynard
Head of Research & Editorial
Worktech Academy
Worktech Academy
Chris Moriaty
Co-founder
Audiem
Audiem
Biography to follow.
Hanieh Motamedian
Business Development - Workspace Solutions
Pure Audio Visual
Pure Audio Visual
Mike Povey
Vice President - Corporate Services
VISA
VISA
Joshua Reynolds
Strategy & Communities Lead - Workplace Experience
Lloyds Bank
Lloyds Bank
Claire Odgers
Corporate Services and Real Estate Regional Manager EMEA
Millennium Capital Partners
Millennium Capital Partners
Maud Santamaria
Global Workplace & Corporate Real Estate Director
GWI
GWI
Maud Santamaria is Global Workplace and Corporate Real Estate Director at GWI in the UK, where she is an experienced workplace and FM consultant.
Ana Stanojevic
Principal & Practice Group Manager - Workplace
Arcadis
Arcadis
Brad Taylor
People Strategy & Workplace Experience Consultant
AWA (Advanced Workplace Associates)
AWA (Advanced Workplace Associates)
Brad Taylor is a senior HR and OD specialist, with significant experience in the not-for-profit/professional membership association and retail banking sectors. He advises CEOs, Boards and senior HR professionals on how to gain strategic advantage through effective people and workplace strategies, organisational wellbeing and change programmes. Brad has led HR and OD teams to deliver ambitious and successful people strategies, joint ventures, organisational redesign and workplace transformation. He is a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD, where I was also previously People, OD and Workplace Director.
Emily Warren
Director - Inclusion, Diversity & Wellbeing
Avanade
Avanade
Emily Warren is Avanade's first Global Wellbeing Lead and is responsible for developing and implementing Avanade's Well-being strategy across 26 countries and 17,000+ employees. Her personal experience with burnout led her to establish Avanade's first cohort of mental health allies and initiated her move into HR. She collaborates with senior leaders to develop advocates and create a culture of well-being, integrating it into the Employee Experience, and shaping processes, policies and benefits. Emily's efforts have transformed well-being within Avanade, making it a strategic company priority, integrating it into Avanade's responsible business approach, and creating alignment with citizenship, sustainability, and inclusion initiatives. Through her leadership, Avanade has implemented a new training programme for managers and committed to training them in leading for well-being. A strong advocate for mental health and sharing stories, she has been recognized externally for her efforts. Her own journey has made her a thought leader and driving force behind Avanade's commitment to well-being for all its employees worldwide.
Matt Wood
CEO
Millwood Servicing
Millwood Servicing
Matt Wood started his fire safety career in the Royal Navy (RN) in the early nineties and in doing so found a passion for helping others at the same time. Over the course of 30 years, he has helped more than two dozen charities to achieve their goals by taking part and organising endurance events around world bringing like-minded people together. Matt Wood has worked in the fire-safety industry whilst volunteering in the charity sector for over 30 years. In March 2024, Millwood became the first Fire Safety firm to gain B Corp certified status. In 2018, Matt was awarded the prestigious lifetime achievement award (The Companion Award) from the Institution of Fire Engineers for his dedication and volunteering in the IFE. In 2020, he received the Freedom of the City of London and, in 2021 Matt received his third accolade when he was invited to join the Missing People Enterprise Board.
Matt Hatcher
Director of Business Development
Hussle
Hussle
Matt Hatcher is an experienced sales director who’s been working with employee focussed solutions for the last 10 years and has spent the last seven in the wellbeing space, introducing preventative and crisis management tools to companies and their employees globally. Matt joined Hussle mid summer 2024, to lead and grow the corporate sales team. He is a family man with a huge passion for fitness and helping people live healthier lives.
Dr Julia Jones
Neuroscientist and Founder
Holidity
Holidity
Julia is a neuroscientist and former Olympic psychologist who through her habit-change company, Holidity, has been examining the effectiveness of employee wellness solutions since 2019. She has been a supporter and member of the UK government’s All Party Parliamentary Group for AI for 6 years and also a member of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Healthy Places. Julia has delivered employee wellness keynotes and programmes for many corporate employers including Barclays, Goldman Sachs, ITV, Oracle, Wickes, SAP, Entain, SAGA, NHS and more. She is currently welcoming corporate employers as design partners in the final development of a new and affordable human-led, AI-supported, habit-change solution for the wider population. She has published three Amazon bestselling health hacking books and in 2023 launched a collaboration with Universal Music to create a new type of breathing tool called MusicHacks. For further details visit www.holidity.com
Lucy Vallis
CEO
Possability People
Possability People
Lucy Vallis is the CEO of Possability People, a Sussex-based charity that enables and empowers disabled people and those with long-term health conditions to live the life they choose through a range of services and projects. With a background in social science, Lucy spent some of her early career examining how workplace cultures, policies, and societal structures impact inclusion, belonging, and opportunity. Her expertise spans disability, diversity, equity, and inclusion, workplace wellbeing, and employee experience.Having navigated a squiggly career, Lucy understands firsthand that career paths don’t always follow a traditional route, especially for neurodivergent people. She is passionate about shaping environments where disabled and neurodivergent people are not just included but empowered to thrive.
Bertie van Wyk
Senior Insight Strategist, Global Insight Group
MillerKnoll
MillerKnoll
