The AI People Operations Panel Debate
360 on AI and the future of work and how AI can be an enabler for productivity and retention today and in the future
Speaker: Mervyn Dinnen Chiar| Claire Horner| Jo Mountney| Marie Proctor
Organization: HR Means Business|The Belfeild Group| MND Association| Capital Edge HR
Code: E01
Time: 09:30 - 10:00
The Ripple Effect: How Peer-to-Peer Recognition Transforms Workplace Culture and Performance
In a world where employee engagement is more crucial than ever, peer-to-peer recognition is emerging as a powerful force in building connected, motivated, and high-performing teams. This panel will explore how authentic, everyday recognition from colleagues—not just top-down—can drive retention, boost morale, and shape a more inclusive and empowered workplace culture. Panelists will share real-world stories, practical strategies, and data-driven insights on how organizations can embed recognition into the flow of work—and why it’s one of the most underutilized tools in leadership today
Speaker: Phillipa Donnelly | Vanessa Russell
Organization: Gentrac | GTS Rail Operations
Code: E03
Time: 10:00 - 10:40
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Starting Again: Lessons from Building Employee Experience Twice
I first approached Employee Experience by focusing on the employee story in the moments that matter — being welcomed into the organisation, returning from long-term absence, moving roles, etc. Along the way, I realised just how different this is from an Employee Value Proposition, and how powerful it can be when you look at work through the lens of those lived moments. Now I find myself in a new company, back at the very beginning of the EX journey. In this session, I’ll share what I learned the first time round and what I plan to do differently as I start again
Speaker: Viki Mathews
Organization: TT Electronics
Code: E09
Time: 13:00 - 13:30
Bringing Gen Z and Graduates into the Workplace: Are Employers Ready?
Speaker: Tracey Darby
Organization: Wescom Group
Code: E11
Time: 14:00 - 14:30
Bringing Gen Z and Graduates into the Workplace: Are Employers Ready?
Gen Z and new graduates are entering a world of work that looks nothing like the one before it with new expectations around purpose, flexibility, and growth. But do employers really know how to engage and develop this generation effectively? This 30-minute session explores the changing dynamics of early career development, what young professionals truly value, and how organisations can adapt recruitment, onboarding, and learning practices to attract, grow, and retain Gen Z talent. It will share practical insights on rethinking graduate programmes / apprenticeships, coaching approaches, and career pathways to create a workforce that’s both future-ready and purpose-driven.
Speaker: Marie Proctor
Organization: Selecta
Code: E13
Time: 15:00 - 15:30
I Have Some Feedback for You...
What do those five words bring up for you? Anxiety? Defensiveness? Acceptance? In this drama-based workshop, you’ll explore the impact of feedback that lands well… and what happens when it doesn’t. Alongside skilled facilitation, you'll experience a series of live scenes that bring feedback conversations to life, complete with awkward moments and missed opportunities.
Speaker: Helen Buchanan
Organization: Enact
Code: E15
Time: 16:00 - 16:30
The Rising Return of Sickness Absence: Whats can be done?
Sickness absence is surging up again and so is the cost to business, the NHS, and society. But what’s really driving this wave of economic inactivity? And what is the solution, if any? Join leading voices from workplace wellbeing and absence management expertise as they unpack the trends behind today’s record levels of long-term sickness. From historical patterns to today’s workforce realities, this panel explores the root causes—from burnout and chronic conditions to system gaps and leadership blind spot Featuring insights from an NHS wellbeing lead and data-driven experts (GoodShape tbc please take out brackets), we’ll debate what’s working, what’s missing, and what people leaders should consider doing next. Expect sharp analysis, practical takeaways, and a challenge to rethink how we support workforce health in a changing world. Whether you're in HR, a buisness lead or saftey professional, this is the conversation that moves beyond the recent headlines.
Speaker: Jamie Douglas (Chair) Nick Reader
Organization: Babcock, Goodshape, TBC
Code: E02
Time: 10:30 - 11:10
How can financial education and wellbeing training link to your mental health support and wider wellbeing strategy
Join Jane Vivier – FinWELL’s Reward & Benefits Specialist interviewing Natasha Hill from Devon, Cornwall & Dorset Police & Elizabeth Silva from St Barts NHS Trust. In this panel session learn: What are the links between financial wellbeing mental health? Why should employers have a strategic approach to both? How can employers offer inclusive yet personalised support? How can employers improve engagement and then actually track progress and measure impact? How can you up-skill leaders, managers, wellbeing champions and mental health first aiders around financial wellbeing and what are the key things to consider?
Speaker: Jane Vivier | Natasha Hill
Organization: FinWELL| Devon & Cornwall Dorset Police
Code: E04
Time: 11:30 - 12:10
Community as Catalyst: Shaping the Future of Workplace Wellbeing Together
This unique panel brings together three of the UK’s largest wellbeing leader communities for the first time in one session. Representing thousands of professionals across the country, The Cross Sector Wellbeing Forum, Working Well & Let’s Improve Workplace Wellbeing are united by a common mission: to raise the profile, confidence, and impact of wellbeing leaders. The session will: Introduce the three communities and why they have come together, demonstrating the power of collaboration in action. Explore the frustrations of working in silos, where wellbeing leaders often feel isolated within their organisations. Crowdsource challenges directly from the audience to surface the biggest issues facing wellbeing professionals today. Co-create solutions together – with the panel reflecting on live input and sharing practical insights from their communities. Highlight the need for true collaboration across the wellbeing ecosystem – not just among leaders, but also vendors, experts, and academics – to advance the field and drive sustainable change. Generate key takeaways that participants can take back to their organisations to strengthen their practice and overcome barriers. This interactive session is not just a panel discussion; it’s a live demonstration of community in action – co-created, inclusive, and forward-looking.
Speaker: Jamie Douglas, Matt Smeed, Aletheia Conway-Hughes, Nuz Chagan, Lee Goodwin
Organization: The Cross Sector Wellbeing Forum, Working Well & Let’s Improve Workplace Wellbeing
Code: E06
Time: 13:30 - 14:00
Wellbeing as Safety
What if organisations treated psychological wellbeing with the same discipline as physical safety? In safety-critical industries like construction and engineering, employers are beginning to adapt established health and safety frameworks to protect mental health and manage psychosocial risks. With tools like ISO 45003 guiding the way, this session brings employers together to share case studies and explore how wellbeing can be embedded into safety culture — and why this is different from, but complementary to, the idea of psychological safety.
Speaker: Ruth Pott | Bridget Jelly
Organization: Bam UK & Ireland | Rolls Royce
Code: E08
Time: 13:30 - 14:00
Inclusive by Design - Creating workplaces that truly work for everyone
This interactive 30 minute session explores how to build genuinely inclusive workplaces where people feel energised and perform at their best. We will look at how the physical environment and everyday culture combine to either support or hinder individuals. Drawing on insights into thoughtful design, sensory considerations, and flexible spaces, alongside fostering psychological safety and fair practices, the session moves from understanding to practical action. Attendees will discover simple, low cost ideas to improve their office spaces and team interactions, helping to create environments where every person can contribute fully and thrive.
Speaker: Isobel Elton
Organization: Future of The Office
Code: E10
Time: 15:30 - 16:10
Gatekeeper or Game-Changer? The Standards Debate in Wellbeing
The wellbeing profession is at a crossroads. On one hand, creating agreed standards, competencies, and qualifications could help formalise career paths, raise credibility, and give wellbeing leaders the same recognition as established fields like HR or law. On the other hand, does introducing standards risk gatekeeping talent, reducing diversity, and putting up financial barriers that exclude passionate voices? This lively panel brings together advocates on both sides to debate whether setting standards would be a step forward for wellbeing leadership — or a step backwards
Speaker: Chris Alberts, Becky Thoseby, Amy McKeown, Dr Rachel Lewis
Organization:
Code: E12
Time: 15:30 - 16:10
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Is Financial Education the glue to maximising your wellbeing and employee benefits offering
Join Jane Vivier – FinWELL Reward & Benefits Specialist and Katie Compton from University of Birmingham in a fire-side chat to explore: • Why should employers consider offering financial education support for employees? • What are the links between financial education and engagement in employee benefits? • Why should employers encourage their providers to collaborate more when it comes to financial wellbeing and the wider wellbeing and employee benefits strategy? • How can employers track progress and measure impact?
Speaker: Jane Vivier | Katie Compton
Organization:
Code: E14
Time: 16:30 - 17:00
How Leaders Can Rebuild Engagement and Growth through Feedback, Connection & Listening
Current research shows that whilst our people feel clearer on their goals, they are receiving less feedback and employee engagement is slipping. In this session, HR analyst and author Mervyn Dinnen will set out the blueprint for effective leadership that can rebuild engagement and connection, and establish a genuine commitment to their people, through showing vision, clarity, and effective listening.
Speaker: Mervyn Dinnen
Organization: HR Means business
Code: EX02
Time: 11:15 - 11:35
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Conversations: How to Notice, Say Something, and Support Someone’s Mental Health
We all want to help when someone’s struggling, but it can be hard to know what to say. This session from the national charity SOS Silence of Suicide introduces the OPEN model, a simple framework to help you notice when someone might be finding things hard, pause before jumping in, and start conversations that genuinely support, rather than overwhelm. It’s not clinical. It’s not complicated. It’s a practical neurodiversity-aware approach to making a difference. Whether you’re a line manager, colleague, community volunteer or friend, this session will build your confidence to say something when it matters, even if you don’t have the perfect words.
Speaker: Matthew Weaver
Organization: SOS Silence Of Suicide
Code: EX03
Time: 11:45 - 12:05
From Flexibility to Penalties: What Companies Really Need to Consider in Mobile Work (A Client Case)
Mobile work is more than just a laptop in a café – it fundamentally changes how companies operate, lead, and collaborate. In this talk, we share insights from a concrete client case: What opportunities does mobile work create – and what risks arise in practice?
Speaker: Brock Dale
Organization: Workflex
Code: EX04
Time: 12:15 - 12:35
The sleep-performance connection: How better rest leads to sharper decision-making and higher productivity Biohacking your night: Powerful mindfulness techniques, including body scanning and guided breathwork, to improve sleep quality Ditch the sleep killers: How small tweaks—like a simple digital detox routine—can transform your energy levels
Speaker: Alexandra Kafka
Organization: Oxyn
Code: EX05
Time: 12:45 - 13:05
Grief in the Workplace: Compassionate and Practical Approaches for People Professionals
This session is designed to help HR professionals, managers, and wellbeing leads better understand the impact of grief and loss at work. The session explores how grief can affect individuals, teams, and organisational culture, and offers practical, compassionate strategies for support. Delegates will gain insights into the emotional and cognitive effects of grief, the importance of inclusive bereavement policies, and actionable steps to support managers in fostering a more empathetic workplace culture.
Speaker: Claire Gunn
Organization: Workplace Bereavement Advocacy
Code: EX06
Time: 13:15 - 13:35
The Engagement Survey Is Dead — and Good Leaders Killed It
We’ve spent years measuring engagement, benchmarking scores, and running action-planning workshops that go nowhere. The truth? The engagement survey didn’t fail because people stopped caring — it failed because the best leaders outgrew it. In this provocative, psychology-led session, business psychologist Edel Holliday-Quinn shows why engagement isn’t a metric to be managed but a system to be designed. Drawing on leadership psychology and behavioural science, she’ll explore how organisations can: Diagnose the real drivers and blockers within their cultural system, Equip leaders to make engagement visible through everyday behaviour, and Design environments that remove friction and make great work inevitable. Attendees will also receive a free Engagement Reboot Plan — a simple, evidence-based framework to start building engagement.
Speaker: Edel Holliday-Quinn
Organization: Centre for Leadership Psychology
Code: EX07
Time: 13:45 - 14:05
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Celebrating success: The power of employee recognition and simple "thank yous"
In today’s dynamic work environment, it is all too easy to overlook the value of a simple ‘thank you’ or the impact of meaningful recognition. Whether through formal awards or everyday acknowledgement we'll discuss how these contribute to cultivating a positive and supportive organisational culture, as well as the impact that consistent employee appreciation has on morale, productivity, and overall organisational success.
Speaker: Danial Chan
Organization: QBE
Code: EX08
Time: 14:15 - 14:35