Optimising Employee Wellbeing through Strategic Stress Management

Stress & Wellbeing Summit
Programme
Wednesday 5 November

The 2025 programme has something for everyone with an interest in stress management, mental health, wellbeing and workplace performance.

Event Schedule

Programme Summary

IMPORTANT

 

To access information about scheduled events, please follow these instructions:

 

1. Click the arrow on the right. This will open to a list of events.

 

2. Click on the arrow on the right-hand side of each event to reveal an overview of each event and details of the speakers.
 

09.15 – 09.25
Introduction

by Alastair Greener

Live Address

Introduction by Alastair Greener, Event MC, Communications Speaker, TV Presenter, and Founder of Present Yourself

09.25 – 09.30
Welcome

by Carole Spiers

Live Address

Welcome from Carole Spiers, Chair of ISMAUK; Founder, International Stress Awareness Week; CEO, Carole Spiers Group

09.30 – 10.30
Session One
Strategic Stress Management: Ethical Leadership and Standards for Thriving Workplace Cultures

INTERACTIVE PANEL DISCUSSION

Including 10 minutes’ Q & A

Live Event Moderated by Amy McKeown

Strategic stress management plays a critical role in fostering employee health and wellbeing. It must be rooted in ethical, values-driven practices and aligned with established standards to address workplace stress effectively. This approach supports the broader goal of cultivating healthy, positive workplace cultures where employees can thrive.

This session will delve into the updates to the HSE Management Standards, expected during 2025, and explore how these changes align with the new Labour Government Employment Rights Bill 2024-25. Attendees will gain valuable insights into the implications of evolving regulations on stress management strategies and workplace practices. The discussion will also address the unique challenges faced by SMEs, which often lack the extensive resources of larger organisations.

  • Professor Sir Cary Cooper CBE
  • Peter Kelly
  • Clare Fernandes
  • Nick Pahl
10.30 – 11.00
Session Two
Turn On, Tune In, Tune Out

In this engaging session, participants will discover simple yet powerful strategies to optimise energy, regulate stress, and find balance in a tech-saturated world. You will learn to:

Turn On: Kick-start your mornings with energising routines aligned to your circadian rhythm.
Tune In: Stay focused and in flow at work, achieving peak performance without burnout.
Tune Out: Create evening rituals for deep, restorative sleep.

With actionable tips and inspiring insights, this session provides you with the tools and clarity needed to recalibrate your daily rhythm and reclaim your time, attention, and wellbeing.

  • Celynn Morin
11.30 – 12.30
Session Three
Where Stress Management Fits: Driving Inclusivity and Adapting Workplace Culture in an Ever-Changing World

INTERACTIVE PANEL DISCUSSION

Including 10 minutes’ Q & A

Live event moderated by Laura Ginesi

This session examines the crucial role of stress management in building an inclusive and adaptive workplace culture. It emphasises the importance of leveraging the expertise of older workers, whose insights can significantly enhance team dynamics. Gender inclusivity is key, as is the need for HR to prioritise meaningful changes that impact wellbeing. Businesses should also apply neuroscience-based approaches specific to their industry challenges and improve communication across all levels.

A strong focus on supporting first-line managers, who play a critical role in employee wellbeing, will help create a culture where staff feel valued. In today’s world, the most effective strategy for businesses is to concentrate on ensuring their workforce remains healthy, happy, and productive.

  • Paul Devoy
  • Dr Lynda Shaw
  • Dame Carol Black
  • Shelley Bridgman
13.00 – 14.00
Session Four
Change Your State Through Mantra Music Meditation, Ancient Breath and Power Affirmations

Discover an oasis of serenity amidst the bustle of professional life with our Change Your State Through Mantra Music Meditation energiser session. Intertwining the timeless art of mantra music meditation with lesser-known pragmatic stress management tools, we offer you a revitalising experience, tailored for today’s fast-paced world. This expert-led journey is crafted to leave you and your team in an empowered, focused state, imbued with a new-found sense of peace.

What Your Team Will Learn

In this energiser session, your team will acquire insightful knowledge on how to utilise mantra meditation for mental clarity, mudras for emotional equanimity, and yogic breathing for revitalisation. These practices are not mere exercises: they are stepping stones towards building a robust foundation for a powerful change of state, for stress management and improved mental agility. Each technique, when applied, is key to unlocking a calmer, more poised state of being.

  • Prash Kotecha
15.00 – 16.00
Session Five
Raising the Flag for Mental Health: Breaking Stigma Down Through Advocacy and Role Models

INTERACTIVE PANEL DISCUSSION

Including 10 minutes’ Q & A

Live event moderated by Paul Dorrington

Those who work in industry as mental health champions play a vital role in breaking down the stigma surrounding mental health, creating a workplace culture where openness, support, and psychological safety are the norm. They help normalise conversations about mental wellbeing and encourage employees to seek support without fear of judgement.

Organisations can drive meaningful change by equipping leaders and employees with essential skills in suicide prevention, crisis response, and early intervention. Embedding best practices into workplace strategies ensures that mental health is not just a one-time initiative but a core part of the organisational culture. Ensuring that company boards prioritise wellbeing and invest in comprehensive, frameworks that are legally compliant will create lasting impact, fostering a healthier, more resilient workforce.

  • Rachel Perkins OBE
  • Sarah McIntosh
  • Adam Pavey
  • Andy Baines-Vosper
16.00 – 16.30
Session Six
Negative Thinking: Strategies to Reduce Negative Thought Patterns and Foster a Healthier Mindset

In this engaging session, Heather will explore the link between negative thinking and stress. By understanding how our negative thought patterns can contribute to feelings of anxiety, you will learn practical strategies to take control of your thinking and make it more effective. This session aims to empower individuals to reduce negative thoughts, fostering a healthier mindset and lessening stress. Attendees will gain valuable insights they can implement in their daily lives.

  • Heather Wright
17.00 – 17.30
Session Seven
Presentation of Stress Management Awards

Live Event Moderated by Emma Pennycard

This session is devoted to the ISMAUK Stress Management Awards 2025. The winners and runners-up in the Gold, Silver and Bronze award categories will be announced this evening. The purpose of these Awards is to recognise and celebrate the winners’ contributions in reducing stress and improving employee mental health and wellbeing.

17.30 – 18.30
Session Eight
Getting to Know You

Free to attend

Live networking event moderated by Carole Spiers, Chair of ISMAUK

Come and meet other delegates

'“Stress manifests itself in many facets of people’s lives and statistics show that stress and mental health-related issues are increasing since the pandemic. Therefore, we need to amplify our efforts to address these issues, seeking to reduce their adverse effects, as well as the stigma that continues to attach to them. I am delighted that ISMAUK are redoubling their efforts in these areas, and the Online Global Stress & Wellbeing Summit 2025 will shine a spotlight on some of today’s key topics, from Strategic Stress Management and Raising the Flag for Mental Health to Strategies for Reducing Negative Thought Patterns. Please support their efforts by spreading the word and attending these insightful sessions."
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  Professor Sir Cary Cooper CBE

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