Theatre Energiser
Bodyrap! Leadership Theatre open enigizer session
Panelist: Ed Freitas
Organization: Orangeworks
Code: Theatre welcome
Time: 09:30 - 09:40
What is expected of you as a Leader
Most senior People and HR leaders walk into work knowing what their job description says. What it rarely tells them is what is genuinely expected of them: commercially, culturally, and personally - in the organisations they serve. Drawing on twenty years of frontline CPO experience across PE-backed businesses, multi-site care providers, M&A integrations, and large-scale workforce transformations, I aim to deliver the kind of honest, evidence-based challenge that the audience will see as commercial, cultural and personal expectation. This is not a presentation about HR best practice. It is a peer-to-peer conversation about what it actually takes to lead at the level
Panelist: Daniel Dickenson-Hope
Organization: Kirklees College
Code: E03
Time: 10:00 - 10:30
Leadership Accountability: The Hidden Cost of Getting It Wrong
Leadership accountability is no longer a "nice to have"; it is a strategic business imperative. In an era of increasing regulatory scrutiny, evolving employment legislation and heightened stakeholder expectations, organisations must ensure leaders are held to consistent standards. Yet the true cost of getting accountability wrong is often underestimated, resulting in employee relations challenges, cultural decline, legal and compliance risks, reputational damage and reduced organisational performance.
Panelist: Tracey Darby
Organization: Wescom
Code: E05
Time: 11:00 - 11:30
Good practice exists. But does everyone experience it?
Organisations are making progress in supporting different ways of thinking and working, but there can still be a gap between the support offered and employees’ everyday experience. This session explores how workplace design, culture, leadership and technology can make neuroinclusion part of everyday work. Attendees will leave with practical actions from Everway’s Implementation Playbook, built around the principle of neuroinclusion by default, with flexibility for individual needs.
Panelist: Keith Balmer
Organization: Everway
Code: E11
Time: 12:00 - 12:30
EX Fireside-chat - Giving Employees The Tools for Success
Helping people to do their best work is about much more than having the right technology. It’s about giving people the skills, information, freedom and support they need to feel confident and capable in their roles. But with more tools and technology available, it’s easy to create complexity where it isn’t needed and to lose sight of the human connection that helps people thrive. The challenge is to create a workplace where digital tools enable people rather than get in their way. Come and listen to our panel explore what people really need to do their best work.
Panelist: LeeThawley,Paul Jones-Nolan,Kate Morgan
Organization: MW, San Carlo Restaurant Group,Fraser Group Financial Services
Code: E11
Time: 14:00 - 14:30
Panelist Photos:
The hidden cost of leadership teams that think alike
Why do capable leadership teams, full of talented people, keep missing the thing that later seems obvious? In this session Steve Gee argues it's rarely a talent problem; it's a design and culture problem and one that AI is about to make far more expensive if you’re a leader. Using some of the stories collected across the global Blend community, this keynote gives leaders a practical way of spotting when their own decision-making has narrowed to a limited point of view and provides three practical steps to helping you to see and think differently.
Panelist: Steve Gee
Organization:
Code: E13
Time: 15:00 - 15:30
Energiser Theatre Welcome
Body rap2- Theatre Energizer welcome
Panelist: Ed Freitas
Organization: Oragneworks
Code: Theatre Welcome
Time: 10:30 - 10:40
From Staff Voice to Visible Action: Building Inclusive Employee Experience in a Time of Change
This session will explore how organisations can move beyond listening exercises to create meaningful, visible action that improves employee experience. Drawing on experience across culture, inclusion and organisational change, the session will consider how staff voice, inclusive leadership and responsible use of insight — including AI-enabled analysis — can support trust, engagement and better workplace outcomes.
Panelist: Peter Hall
Organization: UCA
Code: E02
Time: 10:45 - 11:15
Beyond EAP: A Proactive Approach to Employment Support
EAPs have an important role to play, but what happens when an employee needs more targeted support? This session explores Employer Direct Referral, the value of early intervention and how employers can take a more proactive approach to keeping people well, productive and in employment.
Panelist: Rebecca Blundall
Organization: Therapy Centre Servces
Code: E04
Time: 11:30 - 12:00
Turning Inclusion Into Experience
DEI isn't what it used to be - and that's the point. Join Pauline as she explores how Diversity, Equity and Inclusion has evolved, the challenges organisations face right now, and what leaders, teams and individuals must do to turn inclusion into real engagement. Expect honest insight, practical takeaways, and a clear picture of what it really takes to build an inclusive culture that drives employee experience.
Panelist: Pauline Miller
Organization: Executive Advisor and Former Chief Equity Officer | Founder Leading Black Women
Code: E06
Time: 12:30 - 13:00
Roots to Resiliency- Creating a Life of Love, Compassion, and Self-Care
In this session you will learn the basics of Personal Self-Responsibility for well-being and living your best life. Practical tools and techniques for regulating emotions and calming the nervous system. We will make a list of practical daily tools for well-being and gracious living.
Panelist: YvonneThompson
Organization: Change Innovators
Code: E08
Time: 13:30 - 14:00
Reducing and Supporting the Impact of the Intolerance Epidemic on Frontline Retail Colleagues, with Cliff Lee, Director of Wellbeing Services
Join Cliff Lee, Wellbeing Director of the Retail Trust for a discussion around the challenges that a multi generation workforce places on retention, presenteeism and general employee wellbeing with a spotlight on the Retail Sector.
Panelist: Cliff Lee
Organization: The Retail Trust
Code: E10
Time: 14:30 - 15:00
EXNorth Workplace Wellbeing Panel Session : Beyond Wellbeing Initiatives: What Actually Creates a Psychologically Healthy Workplace?
Workplace wellbeing has moved far beyond fruit bowls, apps and awareness days. This panel explores what organisations can practically do to create healthier working environments — from manager capability and psychological safety to psychosocial risk, culture and early intervention.
Panelist: Paul Britton
Organization: Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP
Code: E14
Time: 15:00 - 16:00
EXNorth Workplace Wellbeing Panel Session : Beyond Wellbeing Initiatives: What Actually Creates a Psychologically Healthy Workplace?
Workplace wellbeing has moved far beyond fruit bowls, apps and awareness days. This panel explores what organisations can practically do to create healthier working environments — from manager capability and psychological safety to psychosocial risk, culture and early intervention.
Panelist: Debbie Kleiner (host) Pauline Miller, Seamus Corry, Paul Britton
Organization:
Code: E14
Time: 16:00 - 16:30
Beyond Teambuilding: The Power of experiential learning
What if your next team event didn’t just feel good, but improved performance? In fast-paced environments, how people think and behave matters. This session explores how experiential learning shifts mindsets, changes behaviour and creates lasting impact. Discover how the right experiences can spark new thinking, strengthen connections and embed change, especially when part of longer-term programmes that build resilience and support sustained performance. Leave with practical ideas to boost collaboration, influence behaviour and build stronger teams.
Panelist: Oddie Braddell
Organization: Orangeworks
Code: E02
Time: 11:15 - 11:35
The Listening Paradox: More Feedback, Less Action. What's Holding Organisations Back?
Organisations are listening more than ever. So why isn't more changing?New research from WorkBuzz reveals that only 1 in 10 organisations tell employees what happens next within two weeks of a survey closing. Yet those that act quickly are more than twice as likely to see engagement improve. Drawing on findings from their Future of Work research report: The Listening Advantage, Ryan Tahmassebi challenges the gap between collecting feedback and creating real impact across organisations. Discover what's holding organisations back, what the best are doing differently, and how turning employee voice into organisational intelligence can unlock stronger cultures, smarter decisions and better business performance.
Panelist: Ryan Tahmasebi
Organization: Workbuzz
Code: E03
Time: 11:45 - 12:05
Beyond measurement and awareness: how to build psychological safety one mindset at a time
If your people already know they should listen, collaborate, challenge respectfully and speak up, why do so many teams still struggle with psychological safety? This session challenges the traditional measure-and-action-plan approach and explores the hidden role of defensive behaviour in shaping team climate. Through a short interactive experience and compelling case studies, Rich Cook will demonstrate how psychological safety improves when leaders and teams reduce Survival mindsets and increase Growth. Expect practical insights, fresh thinking and a challenge to conventional wisdom.
Panelist: Rich Cook
Organization: Mindset Practice
Code: E04
Time: 12:15 - 12:35
What is Social Health? Stories of Human Connection in the Workplace
Remote company? Hybrid workforce? How do employees stay connected to themselves, each other, and to the organisation they work for in this time of digital disconnect? Dr Lalith Wijedoru has the medicine to bolster your employees' health and wellbeing. Sharing our true, personal stories in the workplace is his way to improve social health: the depth and quality of our human connections. Come and hear his fascinating case studies of workplace-based storytelling from different work sectors from across the globe. From law firms in the US, to tech companies in the Netherlands, from telecom companies in Japan, to international school teachers in Zambia.
Panelist: Dr Lalith Wijedoru
Organization: BehindYourMask
Code: EX06
Time: 13:15 - 13:35
Stop the drain, assess to gain
This 20-minute masterclass will provide delegates with an overview of: How to Have more awareness of Wellbeing resilience in the workplace How to assess current levels of wellbeing resilience for your workplace. How to create an embedded wellbeing resilience action plan How to effectively support your staff team
Panelist: Seamus Corry
Organization: Seamus Corry
Code: E07
Time: 13:45 - 14:05
Your Managers Are Your Mental Health Strategy
Organisations invest heavily in wellbeing programmes, but the everyday experience of work is often shaped by one person: the manager. Debbie Kleiner explores why manager capability is fundamental to workplace mental health and psychological safety, and shares practical ways organisations can equip managers to spot problems earlier, have better conversations and create healthier, higher-performing teams.
Panelist: Debbie Kleiner
Organization:
Code: E08
Time: 14:15 - 14:35