Held on Stress Awareness Day – Wednesday 4 November 2026
Theme: Shaping the Future of Stress and Wellbeing: Rehumanising the Workplace
The Online Global Stress & Wellbeing Summit takes place on Stress Awareness Day – Wednesday 4 November 2026, as the flagship event of International Stress Awareness Week. Join us at ISMAUK’s leading online event as we explore how to rehumanise the workplace in an age of rapid technological change and shifting generational dynamics.
Bringing together thought leaders and lived experience, the Summit will highlight how emotional intelligence, empathy and open communication can reduce stress, bridge generations and build healthier, more connected organisations.
To register your interest, please contact admin@isma.org.uk.
Why Attend?
Whether you are an HR leader, coach, health professional or senior manager, the Summit will give you practical tools to:
- Strengthen leadership and resilience
- Empower mental health champions
- Embed inclusive and ethical wellbeing practices
- Break stigma and foster open conversations about stress and mental health
Who Should Attend?
The Summit is designed for:
- HR and wellbeing leaders
- Mental health first aiders and practitioners
- Coaches, trainers, psychologists and therapists
- Business leaders across corporate, public and charity sectors
- Anyone passionate about reducing stress and improving mental health and wellbeing
2026 Summit Programme
The live online programme will include a panel discussion on three key topics in today’s workplace:
- Humanising Technology – Wellbeing in a Connected World
- Bridging the Generational Divide – Communicating Across the Ages
- The Future of Stress – Leadership, Stigma and Emotional Intelligence
In addition, the Summit will feature three short energisers to help participants reset and reflect during the day, and the live presentation of the ISMAUK Stress Management Awards 2026. Further programme details and timings will be confirmed closer to the date.
Stress Management Awards 2026
Join us live as we celebrate this year’s winners and runners-up of the ISMAUK Stress Management Awards 2026, recognising organisations, teams and individuals who are leading the way in reducing stress and improving workplace wellbeing.
The Awards presentation will be streamed as part of the Summit programme.
Tickets and Viewing
Ticket categories and prices:
- Member Individual: £35
- Member Corporate: £55
- Non-Member Individual: £55
- Non-Member Corporate: £75
Your ticket includes:
- Access to all six live sessions on Wednesday 4 November 2026
- On-demand viewing of all sessions until 31 December 2026
- Access to the live networking session
- Entry to the Stress Management Awards 2026 presentation
Whether you attend live or watch later at your convenience, your ticket gives you full access to the complete Summit programme.
To purchase tickets, please email admin@isma.org.uk with the ticket type and quantity required. We will confirm availability and send payment details.
Don’t Miss Your Place
Don’t miss your place at the UK’s leading online event for stress and wellbeing.
Stay informed, be inspired and connect with like-minded professionals who are committed to reducing stress and improving mental health and wellbeing at work.
Keep an eye on this page for future updates.
For questions or sponsorship opportunities, contact admin@isma.org.uk
Meet the Speakers
Speakers from our most recent Summit will be returning, with additional names to be announced.
Alastair Greener
Event MC, Author, Podcaster and Generational Communication Expert
Alastair is an accomplished event host, master of ceremonies and moderator. He’s hosted conferences, charity auctions, dinners and award ceremonies in the UK and Europe. He’s delighted to return as MC for his seventh ISMA Summit. Alastair is a keynote speaker, podcaster and author specialising in Generational Communications. He is also the founder of the communications training company, Present Yourself, where he helps individuals and organisations communicate more confidently and effectively. Alastair has over 25 years’ experience presenting on television and radio appearing in documentaries, corporate videos and commercials.
Amy McKeown
Consultant in Strategic Health, Mental Health & Wellbeing
Amy is a globally recognised consultant in strategic health, mental health and wellbeing, with nearly 20 years’ experience and a distinctive skill set. She combines a clinical background in psychology with expertise spanning mental health, occupational health, health analytics and health insurance. Amy has led and delivered programmes from every angle: running a digital mental health business, leading health and mental health internally at EY, and working as an external consultant. This blend means she can design strategic programmes and implement them effectively in real-world settings. Her clients include Burberry, the EU Parliament, Samsung and other global organisations.
Carole Spiers MBE
Chair, ISMAUK, CEO, Carole Spiers Group
Carole’s credibility is rooted in twenty years’ success as CEO of a leading UK stress management consultancy, working with equal impact in the UK and the Gulf. She is a respected authority on resilience and communication skills, a BBC guest broadcaster, and bestselling author of Show Stress Who’s Boss! Carole is Chair of the International Stress Management Association UK. On its behalf, she founded Stress Awareness Day in 1998 and established International Stress Awareness Week in 2018 to mark its 20th anniversary. She leads Carole Spiers Group and is regularly sought by national media for comment. Her practical approach helps organisations reduce stress and strengthen wellbeing.
Professor Sir Cary Cooper CBE
50th Anniversary Professor of Organisational Psychology and Health, Manchester Business School, University of Manchester
Professor Cooper is a founding President of the British Academy of Management, Immediate Past President of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), and President of the Institute of Welfare. Professor Sir Cary has been an advisor to the World Health Organisation in the field of occupational health and wellbeing and is Chair of the National Forum for Health & Wellbeing at Work. He is the author/editor of over 250 books on occupational health psychology, workplace wellbeing, women at work, and occupational stress.
Emma Pennycard
Transformational Coach
Emma is a professionally accredited transformational coach and founder of BeCoaching, established six years ago. Previously, she spent 25 years in the travel industry, including 10 years on the executive board of a medium-sized group and eight years as People Director. Driven to help hard-working leaders and teams break the cycle of stress and overwhelm, Emma supports clients to replace unhelpful habits with practical strategies that transform negative thought patterns into positive, efficient working practices. She is a Specialist Addictive Behaviours Coach and holds an Accredited Diploma in Transformational Coaching.
Full speaker profiles and the final programme will be published closer to the event.
