Still on the fence about joining us on 7–8 May at ExCel London for The Watercooler Event and co-located The Office Event? Or perhaps you’re planning how to make the most of your time whilst you’re at the show?
In this final preview of our event series, we’ve rounded up nine powerful, interconnected themes that the free-to-attend conference and workshop sessions will explore—each designed to prepare you for a world of work where change is the only constant. From strategic insights to practical takeaways, sessions have been carefully curated to help you navigate uncertainty in an increasingly volatile world, support your people more effectively, and unlock their full potential—now and into the future.
Now in its fourth year, The Watercooler Event brings together two days of cutting-edge thinking on employee health, wellbeing, workplace culture, engagement and leadership. It’s where ideas are exchanged, connections are made, and the future of work takes shape. With The Office Event running alongside, you’ll gain the full 360° perspective on the evolving workspace and workplace experience—from people to place, and everything in between.
I’ve listed some of the sessions linked to these themes, but the list is not exhaustive. There are three main stages and three workshop theatres. To find all of the sessions relevant to your information needs, take a look at the full agendas here and use the filter tool to navigate.
1. Productivity now belongs in the wellbeing conversation
Productivity is a vital pillar of the future of work—yet for years, it was often viewed as being at odds with workplace culture, employee health, and wellbeing. That mindset is shifting. There’s now a growing recognition that supporting employees isn’t just a moral imperative—it’s a strategic one, with tangible benefits for both people and performance. This shift also reflects an increasing recognition that, to maintain investment, employers need to find ways to prove ROI. Focusing on how initiatives support productivity and performance is one way to do this. Some of the sessions that will hone in on this crucial theme include:
- The future of work 3.0 – the workforce, workspace and the tech that enables it with Phil Askham, Head of Organisational Change & Employee Experience, Montfort Communications and Geoff McDonald, Former Global VP HR Unilever & Director, Geoff McDonald Consulting
- This Time No Mistakes: How to Remake Britain – is personal autonomy the key to mental wellbeing? with Will Hutton, Author, This Time No Mistakes and Mark Malcomson, Principal and Chief Executive, City Lit
- Workplace design and productivity – the art of balancing the two together – with Ana Stanojevic, Principal & Practice Group Manager – Workplace, Arcadis, Chris Moriaty, Co-founder, Audiem and Caroline Pontifex, Director, Head of Workplace & Design, Savills
2. Inclusivity: a non-negotiable
While political and cultural pressures from the US are leading some organisations to pull back on inclusion efforts, much of the content at both The Watercooler and The Office Events emphasises that inclusivity remains a cornerstone of the future of work. For anyone experiencing push back, the strategies and practical tips shared will provide you with valuable insights to bolster your approach including:
- Prioritising inclusive mental health and wellbeing programmes as a strategic imperative to deliver real benefits with Claire Wilkinson, HR Lead – Wellbeing, ERGs and Functions – Europe & India, Aecom, Marcus Herbert, Senior Wellbeing Manager, Royal Mail, Inês Reis, Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Wellbeing & Employee, Fujitsu and Craig Redihough, Group Belonging & Wellbeing Manager, Sky
- Empowering inclusive women’s health & wellbeing – taking a wider approach – with Ruth Jackson, Chief People Officer, The Gym Group, Matt Grisedale, Senior People Champion, E.On and Deborah Garlick, Director, Henpicked
- Why accessibility and disability inclusion is everyone’s business – the CCEP journey – with Mohammed Koheeallee, QESH Coordinator & Lead Accessibility Ambassador, Coca Cola Europacific Partners
- Author Spotlight: Why gender equality is the best thing to happen to men – with Dr Michelle Penelope King, Author, The Fix & How Work Works
3. Personalisation and data: turning insight into impact
A growing gap exists between the health and wellbeing support employees need and what’s currently being provided. As the future of work moves beyond one-size-fits-all solutions, personalisation is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. But making that shift isn’t easy. It requires smart, data-driven strategies that translate insight into meaningful action. At the event, sessions that will explore practical ways to bring personalised, data-led strategies to life, helping organisations meet diverse needs while driving better outcomes and tracking impact include:
- Inclusive and personalised rewards and benefits – why data is the key – with Alex Shaw, Managing Director, &Me by Holland & Barrett, Lisa Aslam, Principal Benefits Manager, Total Rewards, Workday, Astha Mittal, Director- Global Benefits and Mobility, Wella Company
- Leveraging the power of data to bring the ‘people and place’ worlds together – with Jamie Davis, Director of Workplace Strategy, Fidelity International, Leah Jones, Deputy Director Workplace Experience, Government Property Agency and
- Data-driven approaches to support staff based on their intersectionality – with Nina Goswami, Head of Inclusion UK, Clifford Chance, Stephen Haynes, Director of Wellbeing Consultancy, British Safety Council, Wendy Macartney, Senior People Partner, Nedbank Private Wealth International and Arti Kashyap-Aynsley, Global Head of Wellbeing & Inclusion, Ocado Group
4. Prevention, early intervention & the power of AI
As the UK government urges employers to play a greater role in their push to “get Britain working”, workplace culture, health, and wellbeing have become national priorities. With stress, burnout, and long-term sickness on the rise, organisations must act—moving beyond reactive support to adopt proactive, preventative strategies. By investing in prevention and early intervention, employers can also build healthier, more resilient teams while reducing costs and boosting retention. And when AI enters the equation, the potential to personalise and scale these efforts grows exponentially. Explore how to harness this powerful combination in sessions focused on practical, future-ready solutions including:
- Employee assistance – what to expect from the next generation of EAPs with Dr Catherine McKinven, Clinical Lead, Lyra UK & Ireland
- AI: the key to beating burnout and boosting productivity? with Peter Cheese, CEO, CIPD, Kirstin Furber, People Director, Channel 4 and Petra Velzeboer, CEO Founder, PVL
- How businesses can reduce absence by supporting musculoskeletal health in the workplace with Lina Chauhan, Musculoskeletal & Ergonomic Specialist – BA Health Services, British Airways
- Proactively supporting global employee mental health and wellbeing with Kristina Adey-Davies, Head of Wellbeing & Inclusion – Global, Freshfields, Fergal O’Connor, Finance Director EMEAI Finance & Accounting, United Airlines and Stella Gavinho, Group Head of Wellbeing, Entain
- How employers can support the government’s shift to preventative healthcare with Gethin Nadin, Chair, Policy Liaison Group on Workplace Wellbeing and
- The link between the food we eat and our health crisis – what employers can do to help with Dr Dolly van Tulleken, Visiting Scientist, MRC Epidemiology Unit & Centre for Diet & Activity Research (CEDAR) and Faraz Shoghi, Senior Service Manager – Occupational Health, Jaguar Land Rover
5. Wellbeing 3.0: integrating health, culture and performance
In her article “The Next Evolution of Wellbeing is About Performance,” Rachel Fellowes, Chief Wellbeing Officer at Aon, charts the evolution of workplace wellbeing—from its early, well-meaning beginnings (Wellbeing 1.0), to a more structured yet siloed approach (Wellbeing 2.0), and now to Wellbeing 3.0: a fully integrated, strategic model that connects employee wellbeing directly to both people and business performance. This next evolution embraces the full spectrum—physical, mental, social, environmental wellbeing, and job design—and recognises that lasting impact comes from weaving wellbeing into the fabric of organisational strategy. At the event, sessions will bring this to life, exploring how workplace culture, health, skills, engagement and employee experience can come together to powerfully shape the future of work including:
- How to create a thriving workplace culture and survive a toxic one with Jason Bloomfield, Global Head of People Change & Experience Design, Ericsson and Barbara Jeffery, Partner, McKinsey & Company
- Building a skills-based environment to effectively train and retain talent and underpin employee health and wellbeing– with Rob Baker, Founder, Tailored Thinking
- Building a thriving workplace – psychological safety and employee wellbeing – with Carole Spiers, Chair, International Stress Management Association (ISMA) and Carole Smets, Change Management – Head of Corporate Sustainability, Pernod Ricard
6. From boomers to zoomers: thriving in a multi-generational workplace
As AI and new technologies reshape the way we work, the generational divide in the workplace is becoming more pronounced—bringing different values, expectations, and communication styles to the forefront. Employers must understand and meet the needs of the younger generations entering the workplace, whilst also navigating changing workplace dynamics and fostering collaboration. If you’re looking for practical ways to navigate this complexity and drive long-term success across all demographics, don’t miss these insightful sessions:
- Understanding and supporting the next generation and their relationship with work – with Dr Eliza Filby, Author, Inheritocracy and Dame Carol Black GBE, Independent Adviser & Chair, Centre for Ageing Better
- Mind the workplace gap – from boomers to zoomers – with Emily Warren, Director – Inclusion, Diversity & Wellbeing, Avanade, Matt Wood, CEO, Millwood Servicing and Ronen Journo, Head of European Management Services, Hines
- From Boomers to Gen Z, Integrating Fitness into Workplace Wellbeing – with Matt Hatcher, Director of Business Development, Hussle and Colin Campbell, Top 1% Podcast Host
7. The ever-more pivotal role of leadership
In today’s evolving world of work, one thing is clear: leadership makes the difference. Employers are increasingly recognising that building thriving teams requires more than policies and tick-box exercises. Investing in leadership development isn’t just about individual capability; it’s a powerful lever for breaking down silos, fostering psychological safety, and embedding a culture of engagement and trust across the organisation. Mainstage sessions and hands-on workshops will bring cutting-edge strategies to life, offering practical insights to help leaders at every level make a lasting impact including:
- Overcoming silos to embed health and wellbeing – by focusing on leadership development – with Fiona McAslan, Head of Wellbeing, Royal Mail Group, Gary Acheson, Head of L&D, Rapport and Polly Joseph, Talent and Wellbeing Partner, Hollywood Bowl Group
- Cadent case study – the Manager’s Role in Creating Psychological Safety – with Rebecca Eaton, Head of Occupational Health & Wellbeing, Safety, Health, Environment & Security, Cadent and Eileen Donnelly, Founder, Ripple&Co
- Refill the cup – a guided rest for people leaders – with Lee Godwin, Head of Sales EMEA, Modern Health and Anne-Sophie Fluri, Founder, Brainwave
- How to create Psychological Safety through compassionate leadership – with Dr Natalie Isaia, CEO & Founder, Empresa Psychology
8. Rising costs and the growing demand for financial wellbeing
With inflation still stubbornly high, energy prices climbing, and uncertainty around US trade tariffs looming, financial pressures are mounting—for both individuals and organisations. It’s no surprise that financial wellbeing is top of mind for many, with 25% of pre-registered attendees for The Watercooler Event highlighting it as a key area of interest. Alongside this, the rising cost of health insurance and the increase in NI contributions are becoming increasingly urgent concerns for leaders seeking sustainable ways to support their teams. If you’re looking for strategies to navigate these financial challenges while still investing in employee wellbeing, sessions focused on these critical issues include:
- Focus on prevention – tackling rising employee healthcare costs through a holistic approach – with Lauren Lunniss, Health & Wellbeing Lead, BNP Paribas, Luke Bullen, VP, UK & Ireland, Wellhub and Katharine Moxham, Spokesperson, Group Risk Development (GRiD)
- Building a financially fit workforce in 2025 through tailored benefits – with Jane Clifford, People Director, Brewers, Gary Kindon, HR Director, Teva and Claire Blomley, Senior Benefits Manager, Teva
- Financial wellbeing that works – practical strategies for HR and reward leaders – with Katy Henrickson, Co-Founder, WellFi
9. Connection and community: rebuilding belonging in the modern workplace
In a world that’s more digitally connected yet often more emotionally disconnected than ever, the need for genuine community has never been more urgent. The content across both The Watercooler and The Office events speaks directly to this challenge—highlighting the power of human connection in shaping healthier, more inclusive and engaging workplaces. Professionals from across Wellbeing, Benefits, Occupational Health, Health & Safety, L&D, Employee Engagement, Culture & Transformation, Workplace Experience, Design and Facilities are invited to come together at The Watercooler to break down silos, spark collaboration, and reimagine what a truly connected workplace can look like.
This is just a taste of what’s on offer. For the full experience, take a look at the full agendas on the website, plan your day and join us in person on 7th and 8th May at Excel.
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