
Speakers to Date
50+ international speakers share information on how organisations can focus on better wellbeing & mental health strategies


Eva Jeretin
Co-Founder and Founder
Global MBSR Collaborative & Mindfulwaydaily


Eva Jeretin
Co-Founder and Founder
Global MBSR Collaborative & Mindfulwaydaily
Eva has been practicing mindfulness since 2011 when she completed a 8-week MBSR in-house training led by Slovenian teacher Rober Križaj. After having this transformative and healing experience that changed her life for the better she was inspired to study to become a MBSR teacher. Coming from an educational background she started her teacher’s journey with Mindful Schools (USA) as she is interested in bringing mindfulness practices to the educational system.
Eva completed Foundations of Mindfulness led by Florence Meleo-Meyer and Zayda Vallejo and Teachers Advanced Intensive led by Lynn Koelber, Jaob Piet and Eric Lopez Maya at Brown Center for Mindfulness (USA) where she obtained the title MBSR teacher and is approved to teach the whole 8-week MBSR course.
At Oxford Mindfulness Center she trained to teach a 8 week Introduction to Mindfulness program (Finding peace in a Frantic World).
She is particularly interested in offering trauma-sensitive mindfulness practices to communities and individuals affected by trauma. In addition to attending silent retreats led by Mellisa Blacker and Chris Cullen among others she is also a practitioner of Insight Dialogue meditation.
At University in Ljubljana, Faculty of Arts she majored in English Language and Literature and Comparative literature. She has taught in secondary school and adult education and currently works as a freelance medical translator.
Eva deeply believes that Mindfulness and Mindfulness Stress Reduction Course has the power to transform lives for the better and: That we all need more kindness. Kindness towards ourselves and one another. Even if just for one breath at a time.


Pedro Vidal
Director of People and Learning
Burning Man Project


Pedro Vidal
Director of People and Learning
Burning Man Project
Pedro guides the people strategy and manages human resources functions and programs for Burning Man Project. He comes to Burning Man Project with an opulence of nonprofit management experience. A community organizer, Pedro has served on several nonprofit boards and led numerous public health coalitions. With nearly 20 years of experience in public health, including laboratory medicine, clinical research, and education, Pedro has built a career of public service promoting health equity by developing cross-sector partnerships.
Born in Peru, Pedro immigrated to Miami Beach at the age of 9. A U.S. Navy veteran, he holds a B.A. from the University of California, San Diego, a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Norwich University, and a Certificate in Strategic Human Resources Leadership from Cornell University. Although Pedro attended Burning Man for the first time in 2009 he feels he has been a Burner his whole life. In his time off, he loves to travel and you can always count on him to be the first one on the dance floor.


Dr Julie Denning
Managing Director
Working To Wellbeing


Dr Julie Denning
Managing Director
Working To Wellbeing
Dr Julie Denning, Co-Founder at Working To Wellbeing is a Chartered Health Psychologist and CBT therapist. Julie has worked in the area of vocational rehabilitation since 2002 and has significant experience designing and delivering services that support people with long term conditions to self-manage their symptoms, return to function and return to work. She trains line managers and health professionals in health related communication skills, wellbeing, behaviour change and return to work planning and rehabilitation. She designs evidence based wellbeing programmes and supports organisations to design and deliver their wellbeing strategy. Julie is a Trustee of the Vocational Rehabilitation Association (VRA) and a visiting lecturer at Kings College London.
Specialist Areas; Mental health at work, physical health & wellbeing, vocational rehababilitation, cancer and long term conditions support, health coaching, health behaviour change, bio-occ-psychosocial approach (BOPS), supporting businesses, senior management, Occupational Health, HR and H&S teams with wellbeing strategy implementation.


Graham Carrington
Specialist Solution Designer & Founder Peer2Peer Support Network
BT


Graham Carrington
Specialist Solution Designer & Founder Peer2Peer Support Network
BT
Graham has been with BT for many years, currently he is the lead technical designer for BTs UK Core Network Infrastructure operational systems, systems that supports customers using broadband, digital voice, TV or mobile data. In 2017, he founded BTs Peer to Peer Support Network, providing a listening ear with another trained employee, for anybody in the company (BT, EE, Plusnet, or Openreach). The network has grown to over 500 members, focused in the UK and Republic of Ireland, but now with a global reach. The network has revolutionised how poor mental health is dealt with in the workplace. Outside of work, he plays his guitar, cycles around Suffolk and helps run a registered charity offering online, safe, moderated, peer support for any adult in the UK www.TimeToTalkUK.org.uk


Sadie Lofthouse
Director of Culture & Performance
Adnams PLC


Sadie Lofthouse
Director of Culture & Performance
Adnams PLC
Sadie joined Adnams in 2001, and after a variety of roles within the HR Team is now Head of Human Resources. Her early career included management roles within hospitality, sales, retail, finance and project management and she is able to bring her experience to all areas of the Adnams business. She firmly believes that people are the differential within any business and that an organisation will stand or fall by the way they motivate, nurture and engage with their employees. Sadie is passionate about the role business has to play in supporting education and regularly works with schools, colleges and training providers to help prepare students for the world of work and to develop the critical skills needed to succeed.


Chris Cherry
Co-Founding Trustee and Psychotherapist
You Okay, Doc?


Chris Cherry
Co-Founding Trustee and Psychotherapist
You Okay, Doc?
Chris is the Founding Trustee of You Okay, Doc? and a qualified integrative psychotherapist with over 30 years’ experience. He is fully registered with the UK Council of Psychotherapy and has worked in a variety of clinical settings including the NHS, the Crown Prosecution Service, as well as founding and coordinating a number of organisations. His work has also extended to a variety of appearances on a wide range of TV and radio programmes including ‘The Truth About Men’ on ITV, Radio 4 and BBC Radio Berkshire. Chris has worked with a broad range of emotional issues ranging from anxiety to addictions and with these experiences he will provide valuable insight into tailoring specific products to support doctors’ mental health.


Dr John Briffa
Director
Dr Briffa Wellness


Dr John Briffa
Director
Dr Briffa Wellness
Dr John Briffa is a practising doctor, author and international speaker. He is prize-winning graduate of University College London School of Medicine, where he also gained a BSc degree in Biomedical Sciences. Dr Briffa is a leading authority on the impact of nutrition and other lifestyle factors on health and illness. He is dedicated to providing individuals with information and advice they can use to take control of their health and optimise their energy and vitality.
Dr Briffa is a former columnist for the Daily Mail and the Observer, and former contributing editor for Men’s Health magazine. He has contributed to over 50 newspaper and magazine titles internationally, and is a previous recipient of the Health Journalist of the Year award in the UK.
Dr Briffa has authored nine books on the subject of nutrition and self-help health.
In addition to his work in clinical practice and writing, for the last 18 years Dr Briffa has regularly delivered talks, workshops and health programmes geared towards the optimisation of energy, effectiveness and sustainability in individuals within organisations. Clients include Deloitte, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Reuters, IBM, Bank of England, Morgan Stanley, Baker and Mackenzie, Bovis Lendlease, Danone, Clifford Chance, Eversheds, GE Money, GE Capital, BP, Skandia, Endless LLP, SSL International and Norton Rose


Nida Yousuf
Global Human Resources Director
Daraz (Alibaba Group)


Nida Yousuf
Global Human Resources Director
Daraz (Alibaba Group)


Paul Marks
Founder & CEO
Healthy Returns


Paul Marks
Founder & CEO
Healthy Returns
Paul has 19 years in talent strategy, culture creation and organisational health, working with businesses that invest in the wellbeing of their people to build happy, healthy and purpose-led cultures. He is the Founder & CEO of Healthy Returns, working with founders and entrepreneurs to build their mental resilience, and the Co-Founder of Healthy R Communications, an internal communications agency working with ambitious companies to create workplaces that allow their employees to be comfortable bringing their true selves to work. A TEDx speaker talking about mental health in the startup world, Paul is active in the mental health community, and is most likely to be found moderating, speaking and sharing his knowledge at conferences, workshops and on podcasts.


Sheena Thomson
Founder and Director
Sheena Thomson Consulting


Sheena Thomson
Founder and Director
Sheena Thomson Consulting
Sheena Thomson is an accomplished issues and crisis communications speaker, advisor, trainer and entrepreneur who helps both public and private organisations to prepare for and manage their communications efforts when under intense scrutiny and pressure.
Based in the UK, Sheena specialises in high-risk events, situations and issues drawing on substantial communications experience in the military, international affairs and corporate sector.
Through her consultancy Sheena Thomson Consulting, Sheena provides executive and team training in risk and reputation mitigation, as well as crisis response support to issues, complex events, missions, projects and situations.
Sheena’s previous roles include senior multi-sector communication roles, primarily senior advisory or spokesperson roles for NATO, the EUSR , the ASEAN Secretariat and the Emirate of Abu Dhabi Executive Council General Secretariat. Sheena also spent time on UN election missions for Iraq and Afghanistan.
Sheena is a Founding CIPR Chartered PR Practitioner, MCIPR, FRSA and a member of a BSI Study group examining sustainability. She also undertakes pro-bono charity projects.


Betty Encinales
Co-Founder LATAM & TEDx Speaker
The Happiness Planner & HAPPYWORKHUB


Betty Encinales
Co-Founder LATAM & TEDx Speaker
The Happiness Planner & HAPPYWORKHUB
Bio | Betty Encinales Betty has extensive experience working in recruitment, training, and development around the world. She has worked with leading industry companies such as Thomson Reuters, Capital Economics, and the Financial Times. She won two major awards as ‘Female Entrepreneur’ in 2016 and 2017 in the UK, leading her to inspire others. Betty is a speaker who promotes entrepreneurship and Happiness at work. She has previously spoken in several corporate wellbeing events and TEDx with the purpose of motivating people and organizations to cultivate a happier working culture. Outside of her busy work life, Betty has a great passion for endurance sports; She is a multiple marathon runner and triathlete. She also participates in fundraising projects for multiple Latin American education programs. She is the Co-founder of HappyWorkHub and The Happiness Planner LATAM IG:happyworkhub IG:happinessplanner_es
LINKEDIN: https: uk.linkedin.com/in/bettyencinales/


Abigail Hirshman
Director of Workplace Mental Health and Wellbeing Programmes
Charlie Waller Trust


Abigail Hirshman
Director of Workplace Mental Health and Wellbeing Programmes
Charlie Waller Trust
Abigail has over twenty-five years’ experience in mental health and wellbeing at work from a clinical, academic and delivery perspective. Abigail has recently joined the Charlie Waller Trust as their Director of Workplace Mental Health and Wellbeing Programmes, and prior to this was the Head of Mental Health and Wellbeing for Acas. Abigail has Masters degrees in both Psychotherapy and Psychology and extensive research experience in occupational psychology. She previously sat as topic expert for the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines on mental wellbeing at work and is an active member of several established mental health at work networks. She is regularly invited to both chair and provide keynote speeches at national conferences and has recorded a number of podcasts, videos and written articles for the national press on issues related to mental health at work. She has established relationship with global brands from the public, private and third sector providing consultancy support on the development and implementation of pragmatic tailored strategies to support mental health in the workplace


Amy McKeown
Award-Winning Mental Health Specialist,
MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING CONSULTANT


Amy McKeown
Award-Winning Mental Health Specialist,
MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING CONSULTANT
Amy is a highly experienced and strategic health, mental health and wellbeing consultant who has truly unique experience in her field. She coaches organisations of all sizes, putting into place evidence based, measurable and sustainable strategies which are both innovative and fresh, as well as realistic.
Amy, who has been working within health, mental health and wellbeing for almost 20 years, has a very distinctive skill set. She combines a clinical background – specialising in psychology – with expertise in mental health, occupational health, health analytics, and health insurance. Not only does she have the ability to design strategic programmes, she also has the practical ability and experience to implement them effectively.
Whilst Amy has had many successes in varying sectors, most notably she led an award-winning health, mental health and wellbeing programme for corporate giant EY for the UK. ‘Health EY’ was unique for its time in many ways; it focused on mental health as much as physical health, and prevention as much as cure. Health EY included a comprehensive, monthly health knowledge programme (that attracted over 700 attendees in its first 6 months), and clear care pathways to quickly and easily support employees with issues.
Amy is honest and straight-talking yet very approachable, adapting a coaching style technique with her clients to achieve long term success. Amy is also an advocate for women’s health and is planning to expand her consultancy into this space in Spring 2020.
BEYOND CONSULTANCY
Amy is a trustworthy thought leader within her field. Her innovative approach in health, mental health and wellbeing solutions, which she shares regularly on LinkedIn, spark 100s of interactions and debates every week. Amy is often asked to speak at events to offer her refreshing, straight-to-the-point views on what businesses need to be doing to succeed in their programmes.
Amy, with the support of Pregnant then Screwed, is also campaigning to change the law about a subject very close to her heart, having been made redundant just weeks after suffering a miscarriage. Amy plans to reform the Equality Act 2010 to provide appropriate protection for women who are undergoing an extremely vulnerable and sad time in their lives. The campaign has already been featured on BBC London News and The Guardian.
“My campaign is to change the law around pregnancy and maternity, especially around miscarriage. 1 in 4 pregnancies miscarry and currently no legal protection. 54,000 women a year in the U.K. lose their jobs in and around pregnancy. Things need to change.” – Amy McKeown.


Craig Fenton
Director, Strategy and Operations


Craig Fenton
Director, Strategy and Operations
Craig Fenton is a business leader and entrepreneur who has worked in the technology industry for 20 years. He leads Strategy & Operations for Google in UK and Southern Europe, is an investor in and mentor of several start ups, and founded his own record label to give young artists from lower socio economic areas their start in music. Craig has a podcast and YouTube channel called Coffee, Eggs & Inspiration where he interviews inspiring leaders about their story. Craig grew up in New Zealand and lives in London, where he and his family have been based now for more than 20 years.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigfenton/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwM-V1IDDIvEBqyyVFkAplg?view_as=subscriber
Craig Fenton
Founder & CEO, Big Community Records Ltd
https://www.bigcommunityrecords.com/


Dr Joshua Baugh MD
Emergency Medicine Administrative Fellow and Disaster Medicine Fellow
Massachusetts General Hospital


Dr Joshua Baugh MD
Emergency Medicine Administrative Fellow and Disaster Medicine Fellow
Massachusetts General Hospital


Josh Krichefski
Global COO & EMEA CEO
MediaCom


Josh Krichefski
Global COO & EMEA CEO
MediaCom
MediaCom is one of the world’s leading media communications specialists, with billings of US$13.5 billion, employing 8,000 people in 125 offices across 100 countries. Its global client roster includes adidas, Coca-Cola (TCCC), Dell, Hasbro, Mars, NBC Universal, P&G, PSA, Richemont, Shell and Sony.
As Global COO Josh is leading transformation of the agency’s product, strategy and structure to be digital first and consultancy driven. He oversees several Global clients as well as the agency’s New Business and Marketing effort. Josh is also CEO for EMEA, overseeing 4,400 people across 37 offices, and driving the vision and culture for the region. Previously Josh was CEO for MediaCom UK, the country’s No.1 media agency billing over £1.8bn across 6 offices. He has not only worked in media agencies but on the creative agency side too, working at St. Luke’s in the early 2000s and he also ran his own digital agency, Kword. He has experience in independents and in holding groups and has held senior management positions at Global, Regional and Local levels.
Josh is trustee of the Talent Foundry, is on the board of the MS Society and is known for the work he does to take the stigma out of mental health society.
He is an Arsenal supporter, lover of travel, music, theatre and film.


Sharon Lynskey
Health and Wellbeing Lead
AstraZeneca


Sharon Lynskey
Health and Wellbeing Lead
AstraZeneca
Sharon is an experienced wellbeing specialist with a record of successfully mobilising and delivering health and wellbeing services to multiple corporates across a wide range of industries. With a strong knowledge and experience of the challenges and opportunities in embedding workplace wellbeing programmes and the design of effective wellbeing strategies.
Passionate about and committed to optimising the health, wellbeing and happiness of people in the workplace and at home. I firmly believe in the importance of taking a whole person, whole systems approach that is data driven, underpinned by evidence based best practise and employee input.
Specialities – Workplace wellbeing, project management, stakeholder management, team leading, health & wellbeing physiology, behaviour change coaching, wellbeing content design and presentation.


Jeannette Jackson
Presenter 'The Wellbeing Show', Founder, Author
Rossendale Radio & Manchester Stress Institute


Jeannette Jackson
Presenter 'The Wellbeing Show', Founder, Author
Rossendale Radio & Manchester Stress Institute
At the Manchester Stress Institute we are experts in staff health and wellbeing.
As a scientist and Director of the Manchester Stress Institute it is my goal to cut through the ‘soft skills’ image of staff health and wellbeing.
There is a science to physical, mental and emotional wellbeing and when courses are presented with expert knowledge and passion, real-time change happens which leaves a lasting legacy for the individual and organisation.
I coach and present to individuals, teams and organisations to help people feel as fit, healthy and well as possible to help them live their best lives yet.


Dr Jo Yarker
Director, Affinity Health at Work and Lead Professional Doctorate in Organizational Psychology
Birkbeck, University of London


Dr Jo Yarker
Director, Affinity Health at Work and Lead Professional Doctorate in Organizational Psychology
Birkbeck, University of London
Jo Yarker is passionate about understanding what we can do to foster fulfilling, healthy and productive work, particularly under times of challenge such as when individuals are unwell or under pressure.
More recently, Jo has been working on a number of projects that aim to understand the impact of workplace design on our health and wellbeing. Working with colleagues Rachel Lewis and Emma Donaldson-Feilder and a network of academics in leading UK Universities, her research has been sponsored by the HSE, CIPD, Mental Health Foundation, British Occupational Health Research Foundation and Cancer Research UK. This research has been translated into guides, toolkits and metrics that organisations can use to help organisations, managers, teams and individuals better manage their work. Her work has been published in academic and practitioner spaces.
Alongside her role at Affinity Health at Work, Jo also works at Birkbeck, University of London where she co-leads the Professional Doctorate programme in Organisational Psychology. As well as her lecturing, research and consultancy work, Jo holds voluntary roles with the British Psychological Society.


Louisa Lawrenson
Actress and Director
Acting Out Productions


Louisa Lawrenson
Actress and Director
Acting Out Productions
Louisa is Director of Acting Out Productions. She is a professional actress represented by Nancy Hudson Associates. Most recently having shot a short film with the Royal Court Theatre/Guardian Newspaper (The Death of England), one of their “Off the Page” Microplays, played the lead in “Flowers” with Box Room Films, to be released in the New Year, just shot Rose (lead) in ” The Scent”, an independent film by Harry Mitchell, based on the work of artist Jack Vettriano and will be shooting ” The Colouring Book” playing Kate (lead) with Box Room Films in August.
http://www.spotlight.com/0456-8974-400
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1478499/


Zoe Puckering
Client Development Lead
Mental Health First Aid England


Zoe Puckering
Client Development Lead
Mental Health First Aid England
Zoe’s background is in workplace wellbeing and employee benefit consultancy, working with a variety organisations of varying size and sector. She has a personal passion for Mental Health and Wellbeing driven from her own previous lived experience of Depression.


Lucas van Wees
Board Member and Former President, EAPM
World Federation of People Management Associations


Lucas van Wees
Board Member and Former President, EAPM
World Federation of People Management Associations
Drs L.L.G.M. (Lucas) van Wees MBA MBT holds an B.Sc in Tourism & Leisure (Breda) and Masters in Social Sciences (Tilburg), Telecommunications (Delft)and Business (IMD, Lausanne).
He worked for Philips, Shell, KPN in HR, management and commercial jobs. Since 2001 he was Vice President HR Commercial and Global for KLM which merged mid 2004 with Air France. In 2016 he became the Director HRM for the University of Amsterdam, the largest University in the Netherlands listed in the top 200 Universities of the world.
Van Wees was co-author or editor for four books and published various (international) articles a.o. for Personnel Journal, the International Journal of Career Management and the Journal of Management Development.
His contribution to a European book, describing HR practices in 13 European countries, was published by Routledge, Taylor & Francis (ISBN 978-0-415-44761-4).
Amongst others, he wason the Board of the Dutch Association of Personnel Management (NVP) and Vice President of the Board of the European Association for People Management (EAPM). He was elected President of the EAPM in October 2017 in Paris and became Board member of the World Federation of People Management Associations (WFPMA). The EAPM is the ‘umbrella’ for 31 national HR associations representing 250000 HR professionals in Europe.


Ann McCracken
Founder and Director
Ann McCracken


Ann McCracken
Founder and Director
Ann McCracken
Ann initially trained as a scientist, working in both the medical and education sectors and took further training in stress management, mental health, resilience and coaching.
Ann is now an author, media expert, motivational speaker, coach, trainer and psychotherapist.
BSc (Hons). MSc. ARCPath. PGCE, Dip Clin Hyp, Dip Stress Mgt. Dip Coach. Cert CBT EBW Adv. Facilitator CIPD (affl) MHFA FISMA


Marjorie Morrison
CEO & Co-Founder
Psych Hub


Marjorie Morrison
CEO & Co-Founder
Psych Hub
Marjorie Morrison is the president and CEO of Psych Hub, the premier online platform for impactful and engaging videos on mental health, substance use, and suicide prevention. A visionary and passionate pioneer in the mental health space, Morrison co-founded Psych Hub with Patrick J. Kennedy to connect people with best-in-class online certification trainings for providers and a free public video library for people seeking to learn more about some of our Nation’s most vexing mental health challenges. In her current role, Morrison is reimagining behavioral health through intentional and thoughtful design. By leveraging the digital space and combining clinical research with the art of storytelling, her mission is to provide engaging, evidence-based content on mental health that is easily accessible to everyone.
Prior to launching Psych Hub, Morrison was the founder and CEO of PsychArmor Institute, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, committed to bridging the military-civilian divide by developing, promoting, and distributing free online courses spanning a wide range of topics important to those who serve military service members and their families. Under Morrison’s leadership, PsychArmor flourished and is now widely recognized as the trusted and leading expert for “Best-in-Class” resources regarding the understanding of and solutions to complex and unique military veteran issues. To date, PsychArmor has trained over one million people, gaining over 500 partners along the way. These committed partners, spanning the range of Fortune 100 companies, government agencies, universities, and nonprofits, create not only a powerful distribution network but also share a common belief in the efficacy of PsychArmor content. Morrison left PsychArmor in 2019 to dedicate her full-time attention to Psych Hub but remains involved as a member of the Board of Directors.
Marjorie’s focus on supporting members of the military and their communities was first developed in the field, after she spent a year writing and implementing a revolutionary proactive counseling program for the U.S. Marines. After working with 500 Marine drill instructors, her innovative program continued at Camp Pendleton, where she had access to hundreds of Marines to interview, work with, and learn from. This implementation research was utilized to create a groundbreaking solution to approach military mental health care.
Morrison is a CA Licensed Marriage Family Therapist, a CA Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, a PPS-credentialed School Psychologist, and the author of The Inside Battle: Our Military Mental Health Crisis. As a renowned subject matter expert, she has been featured numerous times by national media giants such as BBC, NBC, FOX, CBS, CNN, and NPR, along with being a contributing writer for multiple outlets including TIME, Newsweek, The Daily Beast, and Huffington Post. Morrison has received numerous awards for her advocacy and leadership. She is a native of California who currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee and is the mother of three children: Jacob, Lindsey, and Charlie.


Adelle Shaw-Flach
Director
The Sweet Potato Consultancy


Adelle Shaw-Flach
Director
The Sweet Potato Consultancy
The Sweet Potato Consultancy was set up by Adelle Shaw-Flach to answer the question of how can we create teams that can continue to perform at a high level without ending up with burnt out or disengaged people or losing those who are your most valuable and innovative. Combining Adelle’s own original research with other cutting edge research into workplace behaviour we now work with leaders and their teams using our psychological safety package.


Lou Banks
Founder
Rising Vibe Ltd, Culture Consultants


Lou Banks
Founder
Rising Vibe Ltd, Culture Consultants
Lou Banks wants your organisation to feel better to do better. Traditionally, you would call her a ‘people development coach’ or an ‘L & D trainer’. But she doesn’t do traditional. Lou Banks is a Culture Consultant for Rising Vibe and Calling Out The Men. She’s passionate about helping your organisation place wellbeing at the heart of its culture. She’ll show your business how to get to grips with emotion. Tackle thoughts. Address feelings. Because when this happens it can drive cultural change and have a huge impact on business performance.
An articulate, high-energy communicator, Lou instigates the conversations that matter. She invites the elephant into the room, sits it down in a big comfy chair and makes it a nice cup of tea. Lou helps individuals, teams and entire organisations think about how our thoughts and feelings drive the way in which we behave and ultimately, how we show up at work. Lou’s insatiable appetite for learning means she can integrate and apply her personal experiences of self-discovery, with her in-depth theoretical knowledge.
She specialises in making complex psychological theory simple and accessible. She takes the best and discards the rest. She knows what works and what gets results. But don’t take her word for it. Debate and discussion are actively encouraged. Challenge her. Be as skeptical as you need to be. She loves it as herein lies the learning. Lou comes from a place of empathy and experience. She’s been to ‘that difficult place’ and she’ll be right with you when she takes you there too. She knows the discomfort, the anxiety and the frustration, so she knows how important it is to be open and accessible, without being judgemental. There’ll be plenty of banter, but no bullshit.
Lou Banks is the Founder and Director of Rising Vibe Ltd and brother brand Calling Out The Men. When she isn’t raising vibrations in the workplace you may find her walking her dog, sweating in a spin class or enjoying a double G&T with fresh lime, a decent tonic and most importantly, good friends.
Rising Vibe Ltd, Culture Consultants
www.rising-vibe.com
hello@rising-vibe.com


Jenny Haykin
Integrated Leaves & Accommodations Program Manager
Puget Sound Energy


Jenny Haykin
Integrated Leaves & Accommodations Program Manager
Puget Sound Energy
After working for several years as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, Jenny obtained a master’s degree in human resources development to focus her career on stay-at-work and return-to-work programming. The programs she has developed for employers in the Seattle area over the past 20 years have earned multiple national recognitions. After working for King County Government and Boeing, she was hired by Puget Sound Energy to create the company’s integrated absence and disability management program. Her current responsibilities include oversight of PSE’s leaves, Workers’ Compensation, accommodations, Employee Assistance Program, mental health, medical case management, fitness for duty, critical incident response, and ergonomics for medical issues programs. She has trained thousands of supervisors, mangers, VRCs, Claims Examiners, and HR professionals. She has both written and been featured in magazine articles and her most recent presentations can be viewed on YouTube.


Greg Vogt
Market Development Manager & Professional Mental Health Speaker, Active Minds
PepsiCo


Greg Vogt
Market Development Manager & Professional Mental Health Speaker, Active Minds
PepsiCo
Greg Vogt resides in Sacramento, California and is a Professional Mental Health Speaker. He speaks at universities, high schools, and workplaces in partnership with Active Minds, the nation’s premier nonprofit mental health organization for young adults. He is the author of, “The Battle Against Yourself,” and serves as a Board Member for the Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance for the state of California. Greg has also spent four years working for PepsiCo, the world’s second largest food and beverage company. In his current position, Greg manages client partnerships in Northern California with companies, hospitals, universities, stadiums, military bases, and more. Greg’s personal mental health story of battling depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and attending a year-long treatment program in high school has led him to pursue serving others with the focus of improving mental health in the workplace


Helen Knight
Group Health and Wellbeing Manager
VINCI Construction UK


Helen Knight
Group Health and Wellbeing Manager
VINCI Construction UK
Helen is working across the VINCI Construction UK to develop Group Health and Wellbeing Strategy. Supporting 3 main businesses, VINCI Facilities, Building and Taylor Woodrow. 2020 has been all about listening to the needs of colleagues, accepting and recognising that the Pandemic has brought new challenges to our people and that everyone is experiencing and feeling this differently. I am developing our 4yr plan, which includes an MH Framework, new WB programme and review of our MH 1st Aider network.


Asif Sadiq MBE
Vice President, Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion
adidas


Asif Sadiq MBE
Vice President, Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion
adidas
Asif is Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion for Adidas. He was formerly the Head of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging at The Telegraph Media Group and previously led D&I initiatives for EY Financial Services and the City of London Police. He is a Multi-Award Winning Diversity and Inclusion expert with over 15 years experience and a proven track record in achieving operational and strategic targets, managing quality, performance, risk and change.
He is a passionate and inspirational Global Leader, co author and a renowned keynote speaker with the ability to empower individuals and create a truly inclusive environment for all. Asif has been key in implementing D&I activities and programmes as well as connecting with stakeholders at all levels of organisations to build strong and influential relationships with influencers. Asif acts as a role model, providing governance across businesses on D&I and is committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all.
Asif has received a number of accolades for his work that include the Mosaic (Prince’s Trust) Award for mentoring, Police Officer of the Year Award, the Civil Servant of the Year Award, the prestigious Asian Professional Award and the highly commended Head of Diversity Award at the European Diversity Awards. Asif was honoured in 2017 in the Queen’s birthday honours list with an MBE for his services to Policing and Communities and is a member of the HR Guild, The Worshipful Company of Security Professionals and is a Freeman of the City.
He is currently the Chair of the London Hate Crime Board, a Judge for numerous Awards including the CIPD Awards, BIMA Awards, Personnel Today Awards and the Lord Mayor’s Dragon Awards, an Ambassador for Remembering Srebrenica, Member of the APPG (All Party Parliamentary Group) on Hate Crime, Special Advisory to the charity Penny Appeal, a trainer for the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and a Special Sergeant with the City of London Police.


Paul Propster
Story Architect + Sr Strategic Planner
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory


Paul Propster
Story Architect + Sr Strategic Planner
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Paul Propster is a seasoned storyteller, strategy-lover, line-blurrer, dot-connector, message-driven professional. With more than 25 years in strategic communications, Paul has helped clients across industries to tell their stories. From small businesses to energy and technology to NASA, he partners with teams to cultivate a narrative of “the why” that produces greater emotional investment in stakeholders. Since 2014, Paul has been the resident “storytelling architect” for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab’s Office of Formulation, spearheading the development and establishment of storytelling processes and tools. Also, as Associate Program Manager of JPL’s Office of Strategic Planning, he co-led the development and delivery of the 2018 Strategic Implementation Plan, JPL’s vision for exploring space in pursuit of scientific discoveries that benefit humanity.


Aslak Felin
Head of Societal Wellbeing and Strategy Manager
RISE Research Institutes of Sweden


Aslak Felin
Head of Societal Wellbeing and Strategy Manager
RISE Research Institutes of Sweden
Aslak Felin is a Strategic Research Manager of Measurement for Sustainable Development and Focus area manager for Societal Wellbeing at RISE Research Institutes of Sweden. He has initiated the Social and Health Impact Center that develops social outcomes contracts, Center for Categorical Measures and Prevention Impact Lab. At RISE he has worked developing interventions in Public Private Partnerships for workforce interventions. He advices start-ups in optimising societal impact and behaviour change. Most recent projects with start-ups are a COVID-19 test result and vaccination pass with a Spanish hospital and developing an affordable mental health platform. Aslak Felin was Lecturer in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Gothenburg University and has since frequented as a guest lecturer IESE Business School in Barcelona, Oxford, Grenoble and Chalmers universities. He holds a MSc in Technology and Innovation


Peter Kelly
Senior Psychologist The Health and Safety Executive, Insideout Leaders board 2020 Mental Health, Practice Chair EAOHP
The Health & Safety Executive


Peter Kelly
Senior Psychologist The Health and Safety Executive, Insideout Leaders board 2020 Mental Health, Practice Chair EAOHP
The Health & Safety Executive
Peter Kelly works for the Health and Safety Executive. He is employed as a Senior Psychologist, and is a technical expert on mental health and wellbeing and prevention of work related stress.
Peter has been part of the small team of psychologists involved from the beginning in developing the scientific knowledge base for the management standards approach to tackling work related stress in Great Britain, and is a co–author on a number of papers published on the management standards, health and wellbeing.
He has sat as a co-opted expert on National Institute of Clinical Excellence Review of Mental Health Promotion within the Workplace, Expert Advisor to ISO 45003 Psychosocial Health and wellbeing global standard.
Peter is Practitioner Chair of European Academy of Occupational Health Psychology. He has been involved in working across the EU on a number of initiatives in relation to psychosocial risk and prevention.


Professor Neil Greenberg
Professor of Defence Mental Health
King’s Centre for Military Health Research, King College London


Professor Neil Greenberg
Professor of Defence Mental Health
King’s Centre for Military Health Research, King College London
Professor Neil Greenberg, Professor of Defence Mental Health
BM, BSc, MMedSc, FHEA, MFMLM, DOccMed, MInstLM, MEWI, MFFLM, MD, FRCPsych
Neil@marchonstress.com
Professor Neil Greenberg is an clinical and academic psychiatrist based at King’s College London UK. He is a specialist in adult, occupational and forensic psychiatry. Neil served in the United Kingdom Armed Forces for more than 23 years and has deployed, as a psychiatrist and researcher, to a number of hostile environments including Afghanistan and Iraq. At King’s College London, Neil is a senior member of the military mental health research team and is a principal investigator within a nationally funded Health Protection Research unit which researches the psychological impacts of disasters on organisations. Neil also runs March on Stress (www.marchonstress.com) which is a psychological health consultancy and also Chairs the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCP) Special Interest Group in Occupational Psychiatry.
Neil studied medicine at Southampton University and graduated in 1993. He served as a general duties doctor in a variety of Warships, Submarines and with two Royal Marines Commando units. Whilst serving with the Royal Marines he completed his arctic warfare qualification and the All Arms Commando Course, earning the coveted Green Beret.
Neil provided psychological input for Foreign Office personnel after the events of September 11th 2001 and in Bali after 12th October 2002 bombings and has provided psychological input into the repatriation of UK nationals who have been kidnapped. He has also assisted with the aftermath management of number of other significant incidents including assisting the London Ambulance Service in the wake of the London Bombings in 2005. During the 2020/21 Covid-19 crisis, Neil was a member of the Public Health England expert reference panel and has, and continues to be one of the national NHS People wellbeing/recovery team. He also established the mental health support plan at the London Nightingale Hospital in 2020.
In 2008 he was awarded the Gilbert Blane Medal by the Royal Navy for his work in supporting the health of Naval personnel through his research work. He also led the team that won a military-civilian partnership award in 2013 for carrying out research into the psychological health of troops who were deployed and was shortlisted for The RCP Psychiatrist of the Year in 2015. He was awarded an RCP Presidential Medal for his work with trauma and veterans in 2017.
Neil has published more than 300 scientific papers and book chapters. He has presented to national and international audiences on matters concerning the psychological health of the UK Armed Forces, organisational management of traumatic stress and occupational mental health. He has been the Secretary of the European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, the President of the UK Psychological Trauma Society and Specialist Advisor to the House of Commons Defence Select Committee. He is the current Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Lead for Trauma and the Military is also a trustee with the Society of Occupational Medicine and a principal advisor for Hostage International. Neil was also part of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence team which produced the 2018 PTSD guidelines.


Dr Michael Christian
Research & Clinical Effectiveness Lead – HEMS Doctor
London's Air Ambulance


Dr Michael Christian
Research & Clinical Effectiveness Lead – HEMS Doctor
London's Air Ambulance
Dr Michael Christian is a senior healthcare sector leader with over 30 years of experience (civilian & military). Specialist in Critical Care Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Public Health, Emergency Preparedness & Disaster Management.
He has advised over 20+ governmental organizations in Canada & Internationally as well as having led 4 International Guidelines for the Response to Disasters & Pandemics.
Dr Christian was named in top 3 most influential authors internationally in disaster medicine for his research & publications. He has extensive experience on the field having worked on front lines and leadership roles during responses to Ebola, H1N1 & SARS outbreaks
He has also played a leadership role in restructuring of Public Health System in Ontario following SARS and Served as an Executive Member on the Founding Board of Public Health Ontario (formerly Ontario Agency for Health Protection & Promotion Health)


Claire Walsh
Health, Wellbeing & Injury Prevention Manager (UK & RoW)
BAE Systems plc


Claire Walsh
Health, Wellbeing & Injury Prevention Manager (UK & RoW)
BAE Systems plc
Claire Walsh is a Chartered Member of IOSH and Member of the Institute of Risk & Safety Management, Associate Member of the Institute of Leadership & Management, and Associate Member of the Association of Occupational Health Practitioners. She has been a Health and Safety Practitioner for over 20 years, working in diverse fields such as heavy and light engineering, local authority, the 3rd sector, and a UK wide organisation delivering investment, construction and maintenance services.
Claire is the Health, Wellbeing and Injury Prevention Manager for BAE Systems plc, covering the UK & Rest of World businesses, with an employee population of 55 000, where she has responsibility for developing world class health and wellbeing strategies.
In her previous role in the Naval Ships section of the business, Claire rolled out a #breakthestigma plan, to both raise awareness of and address the causes of poor mental health at work. She led the first Quality of Working Life assessment for all employees in the business, based on the HSE’s Management Standards, but also incorporating wellbeing, resilience and team performance.
Claire has been involved in the Safety Groups movement in Scotland for many years, and was on the working group for the award winning HSE/SCHWL/RoSPA/SCOS “Health Risks at Work – Do you Know yours?” toolkit. She was also involved in developing the Breathe Freely campaign in the manufacturing sector.
In her free time (during non-COVID times!), Claire enjoys singing in her local Rock Choir, showing her pedigree cats, and is an advanced scuba diver.


Sonya Wallbank
Director of HR & OD – UK PPE COVID 19 Clinical Health and Wellbeing Lead, NHS England and NHS Improvement
Department of Health and Social Care


Sonya Wallbank
Director of HR & OD – UK PPE COVID 19 Clinical Health and Wellbeing Lead, NHS England and NHS Improvement
Department of Health and Social Care
Dr Sonya Wallbank DClinPsy FCIPD is the Director or HR & OD for the Department of Health and Social Security leading HR practice, health and wellbeing for UK PPE. She has a clinical background as a Consultant Clinical Psychologist specialising in workforce resilience and restorative approaches to wellbeing. During the response to Covid’19 she has led the health and wellbeing response for NHS staff in England working with local and regional organisations to ensure staff giving there all during the pandemic are also receiving an award winning health and wellbeing service.
She is the co-chair of the Association of Clinical Psychologists-UK Leadership Network and has enjoyed a career spanning NHS England and Improvement, Department of Health & Social Care, Strategic Health authorities and working directly with organisations undertaking complex culture change and trying to improve the wellbeing of their people both here in the UK as well as Australia and the USA.
She has authored a range of materials to enable organisations to embed their own approach to restorative supervision and continues to lecture on the mental health benefits for staff groups of focusing supervision on the individual person and their needs not just the work they are involved in.


Suzie King
Talent Specialist
Marks & Spencer


Suzie King
Talent Specialist
Marks & Spencer
Suzie has been with Marks and Spencer for 13 years, both in stores and in the offices. Currently her role is as part of the Talent team within HR. She co-founded the employee-led Buddy Network 5 years ago, an Inclusion Network within M&S. It is a peer to peer support group for people living with disabilities, mental or physical health issues.


Dr Stephanie Fitzgerald
Senior Business Partner – Mental Health
Rolls Royce plc


Dr Stephanie Fitzgerald
Senior Business Partner – Mental Health
Rolls Royce plc
Dr Stephanie Fitzgerald is a Chartered Clinical Psychologist, keynote speaker and published author. Stephanie’s clinical specialisms are anxiety disorders and trauma, and she has worked as a Health and Wellbeing Consultant to many companies across multiple industries.
Stephanie is the Senior Business Partner – Mental Health at Rolls-Royce where she is delivering the Global Mental Health strategy, working with a vibrant and diverse workforce, in a safety critical environment.
Stephanie believes health issues are safety issues and will often talk of health as safety not health and safety. Stephanie specialises in delivering practical, evidence-based interventions, focusing on sustainable improvement. Stephanie is passionate about ensuring people are happy, healthy, safe and engaged in the workplace, and believes everyone can and should enjoy work.


Dr Najeeb Rahman
Consultant in Emergency Medicine
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust


Dr Najeeb Rahman
Consultant in Emergency Medicine
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Dr Najeeb Rahman is a consultant in Emergency Medicine. He studied, trained and worked in the UK, obtaining his primary medical degree from the University of Leeds. He holds a Diploma in Humanitarian Assistance, a Masters in Public Health, and has a special interest in global emergency medicine and humanitarian assistance.
He currently works as a Consultant in Emergency Medicine in Leeds, and is a Trustee of Doctors Worldwide, a UK-based international medical charity, and additionally the founder of the Frontline Collaboration Against COVID-19.


Julie Dennis
Head of Diversity & Inclusion
Acas


Julie Dennis
Head of Diversity & Inclusion
Acas
Julie has over 16 years’ experience in delivering strategic diversity and inclusion solutions. Julie joined Acas as Head of Diversity and Inclusion in August 2017. Previously, she was Head of Diversity at the Land Registry. She has successfully developed and delivered strategic diversity and inclusion initiatives relating to employment and service delivery, which has resulted in external recognition via a variety of diversity awards. Julie is passionate about diversity and inclusion in the workplace and strives to create an environment where people can be themselves. Julie has had a range of roles in Diversity over the years, including with the Fire Service and the voluntary sector.


Lyssa Barber
Communications Lead
UBS Group AG & Founder themindbee.com


Lyssa Barber
Communications Lead
UBS Group AG & Founder themindbee.com
Lyssa works in UBS Investment Bank’s regulatory technology team, and has been speaking on mental health and wellbeing for the past seven years. She’s the founder of the UBS mental health network Headscape, and a co-lead of the UK Mental Health First Aid programme. Her consultancy themindbee.com offers support for companies wanting to create more mentally healthy workplaces.


Kerri Malyon
Safety, Health & Well-being Specialist
AstraZeneca


Kerri Malyon
Safety, Health & Well-being Specialist
AstraZeneca
Kerri is an experienced Health & Safety Advisor with a demonstrated history of working in the pharmaceuticals industry. Skilled in Occupational Health, Management, Stakeholder Management, Presentations, and Health & Safety. Strong healthcare services professional with a MSc Workplace Health & Wellbeing (Merit) focused in School of Medicine from University of Nottingham. Interests include mental health and the benefits of exercise on mental wellbeing.


Martin Power
Employee Health and Wellbeing Manager Occupational Health Specialist Practitioner
KP Snacks


Martin Power
Employee Health and Wellbeing Manager Occupational Health Specialist Practitioner
KP Snacks
Martin has had a wide variety of roles from an initial apprenticeship as a decorator to a charge nurse in one of the busiest accident and emergency departments in Europe. He specialised in Occupational Health and have worked in this area for almost 25 years. He has worked with a large number of businesses from manufacturing, car makers, food production, police and fire services, local government and a dog food manufacturer. Mental health and the impact on business, employees and wider families has grown exponentially. He has worked for KP Snacks for almost 3 years in which we have seen massive changes in our culture of how we support colleagues and the business. The strategy we have implemented feels like it reflects the business and our values and behaviours in which we place valuing our people at the top of our agenda to keep colleagues energised and engaged.


Simon Blake
CEO
Mental Health First Aid England


Simon Blake
CEO
Mental Health First Aid England
In October 2018, Simon Blake OBE joined Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England CIC as Chief Executive Officer, leading the organisation to achieve its vision of normalising society’s attitudes and behaviours around mental health, through training one in ten of the population in Mental Health First Aid skills. Simon has dedicated his career to working with young people and has a long track record of championing difference and creating platforms for people’s voices to be heard. In doing this, Simon has worked on some of the most talked about and complex social issues of today; sex and relationships education, sexual and reproductive rights, volatile substance abuse, Personal, Social, Health Education (PSHE) and Citizenship and LGBTQ rights. He is driven by a passion for a better, more inclusive society where everyone can be themselves.
With over 20 years working with young people Simon has been involved in several projects and initiatives to promote positive wellbeing and mental health. He has written over 40 publications on all aspects of PSHE and Citizenship. In his roles at the Sex Education Forum, National Children’s Bureau, sexual health and wellbeing charity Brook and, most recently, as Chief Executive of the National Union of Students (NUS), Simon has considerable experience in balancing the competing agendas of various high-profile organisations and stakeholders, finding ways to build consensus and collaboration to achieve positive social outcomes. Simon received an OBE in 2011 for his services to the voluntary sector and young people. He is Deputy Chair at Stonewall, Governor at Bath Spa University, a Companion of the Chartered Management Institute and a Fellow at Windsor Castle Society of Leadership Fellows. He enjoys running, equestrian eventing and walks with his dog.


Robert Manson
Head of Occupational Health and Wellbeing
RWE GENERATION UK PLC


Robert Manson
Head of Occupational Health and Wellbeing
RWE GENERATION UK PLC
Robert Manson is currently Head of Occupational Health and Wellbeing at RWE Generation UK and provides a service to over 2,000 employees across the UK. Robert has presented at international conferences and written several articles on the management of mental health, case management and workplace wellbeing programmes. He has been recognised with the Safety and Health at Work – European Good Practice Award. He has a BSc in Occupational Health, an MSc in Health Ergonomics and a NEBOSH Diploma in Health, Safety and Environment. Robert is a volunteer for Candlelighters a charity based in Yorkshire that supports families affected by life threatening conditions and provides coaching and health and wellbeing advice for the group.


Susan Gee
Group Occupational Health And Wellbeing Manager
Yorkshire Water


Susan Gee
Group Occupational Health And Wellbeing Manager
Yorkshire Water
Susan has been with Yorkshire Water since 2013; previously she worked at Bradford Metropolitan District Council for 16 years as the OH and safety manager. Susan is a commercially astute, innovative and highly influential occupational health manager with comprehensive experience gained within public and private sector roles. Outstanding record of achievement created through the development and implementation of robust strategies, initiatives and organisational change in occupational health. Susan is currently a visiting lecturer at Leeds Beckett University, she has an MA in health care law, MSc in leadership management and change, and a BSc(Hons)occupational health.


Nkechi Nwafor-Robinson
2020 WXN Canada's Most Powerful Women – Top 100 Award Winner, Associate Vice President, Technology Infrastructure & TD Bank
TD


Nkechi Nwafor-Robinson
2020 WXN Canada's Most Powerful Women – Top 100 Award Winner, Associate Vice President, Technology Infrastructure & TD Bank
TD
Nkechi is an experienced Information Technology professional with more than 20 years in the I.T. space, she has held a variety of progressively senior roles within various organizations including Director, Data Center Operations at Rogers Communications; Delivery Project Executive at IBM; and most recently, Associate Vice President, Segment Technology Executive at TD Bank Group — but this is not all. Nkechi is an entrepreneur, author, professional bodybuilder, podcast host and inspirational speaker, whose “You Matter” speech went viral on several motivational platforms, most recently on Goalcast, with over 5M views, and shared over 10,000 times, worldwide. She has a magnetic personality that serves everyone she meets in the most uplifting way.
In her current role as Associate Vice President, Technology at TD Bank Group, she leads all infrastructure delivery needs for the Channels Technology Solutions (CTS) segment portfolio.
A graduate of Concordia University, she holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Mathematics, with a minor in Computer Science. In addition, she completed a Financial Acumen Executive MBA Program at Rotman’s School of Management.
An advocate for helping others, she is founder and CEO of Empowered in My Skin (EIMS)Inc., a grassroot organization that is focused on Personal Brand development, helping people maximize their true potential and become leaders in every aspect of their lives. She runs workshops, delivers talks, organizes and hosts motivational events in support of this objective. In February, she launched a podcast, “Own Your Thrive”, which is available on most Podcast apps.


Pamela Brown
Head of Diversity & Inclusion
West Midlands Ambulance Service


Pamela Brown
Head of Diversity & Inclusion
West Midlands Ambulance Service
Pam Brown BA (Hons) MA has been consulting in the diversity & inclusion space for twenty years across industries in the UK and in Europe and Bermuda. Currently an associate for the Irish Centre for Diversity and working with them across sectors in Ireland.
She has published articles and a training manual on diversity and is a prolific blog writer. Pam has been a key note speaker at a number of notable conferences including the largest HRD Conference in the UK and is well known for her innovative approach to embedding diversity in organisations. She has been a non-executive Board Director in the fields of Health; Justice; Housing and a Government advisory panel on sentencing policy. She was responsible for advising the United Bermuda Party on their election manifesto and has a wealth of experience to offer.
Pam has been awarded the National Ambulance Head of Diversity Award for her services to diversity and recently won the highly commended LGBT network award for the West Midlands Ambulance Service. She is also instrumental in creating a national Project Diversity that all ambulance Boards and Chief Executives have signed up to with financial backing to support the initiative. She has spearheaded bespoke diversity projects in education; the ‘kicking racism out of football’ campaign; engaging women in investment banking and many more.


Ash Alexander-Cooper OBE
Leadership and Resilience Expert, Former Elite Military Unit Commander
EGM Network


Ash Alexander-Cooper OBE
Leadership and Resilience Expert, Former Elite Military Unit Commander
EGM Network
Ash Alexander-Cooper OBE is a former specialist military unit Colonel in the British Army, world-championship athlete and award-winning international musician. During a 22-year career, Ash spent 82 months deployed in some of the world’s most complex and hostile environments. Recognising that many organisations experience parallels to what he faced in combat, Ash now helps businesses and leaders develop the mindset, behaviours, resilience and skills to adapt and win in today’s increasingly unpredictable world. Wounded multiple times, Ash is passionate about ‘giving back’ and is proud to support a number of mental health charities and has recently founded the UNSUNG Foundation, to help all veterans of service.


Satveer Nijjar
Independent Self-Harm Awareness Trainer
Attention Seekers?


Satveer Nijjar
Independent Self-Harm Awareness Trainer
Attention Seekers?
Satveer has had a passion for reducing stigma around mental health since she herself became affected. Her experiences as a patient and more recently as a parent of a child with mental illness have helped shape her career. Her main focus is upon improving understanding of self-harm behaviours as this is often a very taboo topic within mental health sessions. After beginning with the Royal College of Psychiatrists in 2006 on the Better Services for People Who Self-harm Project she was quickly supported in providing her own lived experience at conferences and then within training courses. In 2012 she graduated with a First-Class Honours in Psychology, winning the Bernice McAuley Memorial Prize for her dissertation on self-harm and the role of culture. From this point her focus became on the creation and delivery of sessions on self-harm awareness. Over the last 6 years she has successfully setup her business named ‘Attention Seekers Training’. Through the business she delivers her own CPD Accredited Self-harm Awareness course nationally alongside PSHE/PDC student sessions, parent awareness sessions, conference talks and workshops. Though the majority of her deliveries are for school based staff and students, she also delivers to housing staff, doctors, nurses, social workers among others. The sessions are consistently met with excellent feedback with specific comments referring to the delivery style, relevance and enjoyability of the course.Satveer is a regular speaker at the BSA School Nurses and Matrons Conference and delivers study days on behalf of the BSA. She also maintains her links with other national organisations such as the Royal College of Psychiatrists, RCEM, Scottish Independent Schools Council, MHFA, Samaritans, Head Talks – collaborating with them to deliver sessions and/or produce videos, literature etc. for the promotion of mental health awareness. The key for Satveer is combining lived experience and academics to provide robust sessions that remove the taboo of self-harm and suicide to not only increase the confidence of professionals in providing support but also for those who self-harm to feel empowered to seek support.


Mark Winterflood
Wellbeing Manager
Hastings Direct


Mark Winterflood
Wellbeing Manager
Hastings Direct
‘Marks’ professional career to wellbeing started in the agricultural sector and then roles in hospitality and retail, before he joined Hastings Direct in 2012. Four years ago, he moved from an HR Advisory role to become the Wellbeing Manager responsible for developing the strategy and programme to build the awareness and utilisation of our offering of wellbeing for over 3400 employees over multiple UK sites including overseas.
Mark ensures that mental health is at the heart of the wellbeing programme and is supported by his growing network of wellbeing champions and mental health first aiders’. Welsh born, Mark has made the south coast and Brighton his home for nearly 20 years ago’.


Professor Stoffel Grobler
Extraordinary Professor School of Health Systems and Public Health
University of Pretoria


Professor Stoffel Grobler
Extraordinary Professor School of Health Systems and Public Health
University of Pretoria
Professor Stoffel Grobler holds a medical degree and a post graduate Diploma in Occupational Health from the University of Pretoria. He obtained his Masters in Psychiatry, cum laude, at the University of the Free State in 1997 and in the same year became a Fellow of the Colleges of Medicine, in Psychiatry.
After qualifying as psychiatrist, he spent seven years in private practice in Polokwane, two years as consultant psychiatrist in Ireland and then returned to public service and academic medicine. He obtained a Doctorate in Medicine in 2013 from the University of Pretoria on the topic of bipolar mood disorder.
He has published numerous articles in peer reviewed journals, most notably in the field of
workplace stress, disability and sick leave, co-authored chapters in two handbooks and presented both nationally and internationally at psychiatric conferences.
He received a Discovery Foundation Rural Fellowship Award in 2015 for outreach work to rural hospitals and mental health clinics in in the Easter Cape.
He is Member of the South African Medical Association Committee for Human Rights, Law and Ethics and Member of the Branch Council of the Eastern Province Branch of the South African Medical Association. He is also a Past Chairperson of the SASOP Eastern Cape Subgroup Committee and Past President of the Eastern Province Branch of the South African Medical Association. He is a Member of the South African Medico-Legal Association and a qualified mediator.
At present he is Head of Psychiatry at Elizabeth Donkin Psychiatric Hospital, Port Elizabeth,
associate professor at Walter Sisulu University Medical School and research associate at the
Nelson Mandela University.
His special interest lies in the field of psychiatric impairment assessment, prevention of disability and workplace mental health and wellbeing.
In his private capacity he is mental health advisor to Mindful Revolution, a company that
specializes in workplace mental health and wellbeing solutions.


Terry Streather
Director and Head of Training
Oakwood Training


Terry Streather
Director and Head of Training
Oakwood Training
Terry is a mental health and personal safety expert, with extensive experience as both a frontline practitioner and trainer. He is helping some of the UK’s largest companies look after the mental wellbeing and personal safety of their employees.
He’s passionate about helping companies create a safer, healthier workplace, by placing wellbeing at the very core of what they do. Not only because it’s the right thing to do, but because it makes good business sense. Happy, safe employees make better employees.
As a former frontline officer and supervisor in the Police he has first-hand experience of managing personal crisis, both from members of the public and staff.
He understands that our health and the way we feel has a huge impact on the way we behave, the decisions we make and our productivity.
When he’s not teaching or speaking Terry spends much of his time running around after his 9 and 7 year old children.


Tom Wheelhouse
Career Coach, Founder
Mightify


Tom Wheelhouse
Career Coach, Founder
Mightify
Tom is a coach, practical optimist and the founder of Mightify.
Having studied in the UK and France, Tom joined the Metropolitan Police in 2009 and worked across South London, the 2012 Olympics and the Territorial Support Group. These roles took their toll and finding support then lacking, Tom made the transition to the private sector to work in business development and digital transformation. In 2015, Tom resolved to go back and improve the way people in crucial frontline services are supported and Mightify was born.
Tom’s writing and ideas are featured regularly in policing journals, podcasts and panels on issues around career change, mental health, wellbeing, talent management and much more. He is proud to be a member of the National Police Suicide Prevention Group in the UK and has worked with first responders around the world. He was a finalist in “The Pitch” business start-up competition in 2018, where he was commended for the “purpose-driven” nature of Mightify.


Annie Heremans
Chief Medical Officer
Philip Morris International


Annie Heremans
Chief Medical Officer
Philip Morris International
Annie has 20 years’ experience leading research and defining strategic directions for novel and emerging products categories, Annie Heremans joined Philip Morris International in February 2019 as Chief Medical Officer. In her role, Annie is advancing the historic shift of PMI’s business to help deliver a smoke-free future by overseeing PMI’s global clinical assessment strategy, from clinical translation of biological research to claim substantiation for PMI’s smoke-free products. She is also responsible for all post-marketing epidemiological surveillance programs and safety surveillance collection and reporting.
Prior to PMI, Annie worked at Unilever as Global Vice President Clinical and Nutrition & Health, where she led the delivery of all Clinical programs supporting the company’s global R&D categories and with Johnson & Johnson, where she grew from a Clinical Research Associate in the Pharmaceutical Sector to occupy several leading positions in the Research and Development group for the Consumer and Personal Product Sector. Annie is a Belgian national and earned her MD and PhD in Cell Biology and Physiology from the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium.


Herbert Schilthuis
Global Director Health (Chief Medical Officer)
The HEINEKEN Company


Herbert Schilthuis
Global Director Health (Chief Medical Officer)
The HEINEKEN Company
Currently responsible for driving the global health agenda in HEINEKEN, Herbert Schilthuis continues to develop his expertise in infectious diseases, tropical medicine, health promotion and organization of health care. Previously he was Director for Global Health and Safety. He has been supervising medical care for Heineken employees and their family members in Africa, including the Joep Lange HEINEKEN HIV Workplace Program and advising the Heineken operating companies in Africa on health and safety since 2007. Previous to joining Heineken, Schilthuis worked for the Netherlands’ Health Inspectorate, supervising public health across the country, founded the National Coordination Centre for Travel Health, served on Amsterdam’s Municipal Public Health Department, and worked for Médecins Sans Frontières in South Sudan and Cambodia.


Megan Aspel
Director
Acting Out Productions


Megan Aspel
Director
Acting Out Productions
Megan Aspel is the Co-ordinator and Producer of Acting Out Productions since the early stages of inception.
Megan has worked as a writer on Vogue magazine and other leading national publications, run a freelance writing and public relations service working for SMEs, independent radio, fashion and lifestyle companies, and is an accredited, degree qualified psychotherapist. Over the last 14 years she has devoted her time to developing and running Let’s Link, an independent mental wellbeing charity (www.letslinkmentalwellbeing.com ).
Megan’s expertise and experience in mental health spans strategic level decision making working with the NHS/Local Authority to delivering front line community mental health and drug/alcohol services and support. She is also a fully qualified, accredited psychotherapist and trained in Neo-PI personality profiling.
Acting Out Productions provides a unique experiential and practical approach to mental health training.
By using drama, based on real stories, forum theatre and other methods of audience interaction to bring the learning alive, they create an environment and vehicle in which delegates can debate, think creatively and achieve greater knowledge and insight into mental health issues. Their aim is to nurture a mindset where practical solutions and emotional intelligence can flourish.
From hard-hitting plays to short bespoke scenarios, the training spans the business, community and educational spectrum. From blue-chip companies whether commodities, service based or financial industries, to national and local statutory organisations, Armed Forces, colleges and councils, Acting Out Productions work on interactive and ‘role play’ scenarios for delegates.
Acting Out Productions presents the best actors who have an expert training edge, whether it be it for staff skills and development in the workplace; wellbeing at work, customer care and public support, or areas with a more specific focus e.g. the mental wellbeing of Armed Forces veterans; early intervention in young people’s mental health; older people and dementia; impact of physical conditions on mental wellbeing