Global Stress & Wellbeing Summit
Speakers
Wednesday 6 November

After completing my Postgraduate Diploma and postgraduate qualifications in counselling and psychotherapy, I became a therapist with a multidisciplinary team, steering a stress management project in the healthcare sector. I then joined an international IT company and was tasked with creating a new training programme, positioned with employee mental health and wellbeing at its heart. As an elected Wellbeing at Work representative, I attended ISMA^UK conferences. I am now involved in supervising start-up wellbeing initiatives, bereavement support, and mindfulness practices. As an ISMA^UK Ambassador, I set up ISMA Scotland. There is much to do in raising our profile in Scotland, but we have ISMA’s support, as a leading professional body with fifty years’ experience and I am working with committed and passionate members.

Martin is Chief Operating Officer and a board director at Thrive. He is experienced in building successful purpose-driven businesses, both for-profit and NFP, and has a keen interest in clinical and non-clinical governance regimes. Martin’s extensive senior leadership experience and 18 years working with organisations has involved partnering with organisations in various ways, including governance and strategy, fast-growth scaling of sales and service delivery, leadership and development, and hands-on consulting. His current focus is on mental healthcare.
Previously, Martin was Chief Revenue Officer in Digital and Financial Inclusion, also in a customer experience software start-up, and Group COO for companies serving the charity sector, focused on individual giving. He led various European technology companies for five years. He is also Board Advisor to The Happiness Foundation and Chair of Fundify – a marketplace disrupting the grant-giving/seeking space. Martin holds an Honours Degree from the University of Lancaster. 

Paul Davison is the CEO and Founder of PPWD, thought leaders in Safety Differently.  Their multi-award-winning Compassionate Safety approach generates environments that accommodate humans for being human.  PPWD operates within several safety-critical sectors, delivering training programmes which span from the boardroom to the classroom.  Paul is a regular conference speaker and contributor to The Ergonomist magazine.  He is also a non-executive director of the British Bobsleigh and Skeleton Association and a senior officer within the Royal Air Force Air Cadets.  

Richard is CEO of The Mindful Business Charter, a cross-business initiative to reduce the stress we experience at work. He is also principal consultant at Byrne Dean, a workplace consultancy, and chairs the steering committee of the Lord Mayor of London’s ‘This is Me’ campaign. He is a qualified coach and mental health first aid instructor. His experience of breakdown and recovery is the subject of his memoir, This Too Will Pass – Anxiety in a Professional World. 
 

Sarmado’s culinary journey began in 1990 with an apprenticeship at Gravetye Manor, the renowned Relais & Chateaux Hotel. He further honed his skills with the Roux Brothers at Boucherie Lamartine. Sarmado next became Head Pastry Chef at South Lodge Hotel, West Sussex, mentored by celebrity chef Anthony Tobin and Michelin recipient Richard Neat. He’s also been Head Chef for prestigious events such as the Wimbledon tennis tournament, the State Opening of Parliament, Royal Ascot. He's also served celebrities and catered for Hollywood movies. His cuisine has been dubbed ‘probably the best food in London’ by the President of McCann Erickson. In 2005, Sarmado became a certified Raw Food Coach & Chef, specialising in holistic nutrition. He’s been recognised as Europe’s leading plant-based educator and the first-ever chef to offer Michelin-style raw plant-based living workshops.