More speakers announced for the Leaders’ Summit at MAD World 2025

By Make a Difference
19 June 2025

9th October might feel like a distant date, but behind the scenes, preparations for this year’s MAD World Summit are already in full swing. Today is the last day to secure the early registration rate, so don’t miss your chance to hear from the very best minds rethinking work, reimagining engagement and reinforcing health and wellbeing. Find out more and register here..

Why this year matters more than ever

What sets the 2025 Summit apart? What makes it a must-attend rather than a nice-to-attend?

This year’s agenda responds to a new world of challenges—shifting legislation, geopolitical instability, the rise of AI, National Insurance hikes, and the relentless strain on the NHS. The pressure on organisations—and their people—has never been more intense. As our co-founder Mark Pigou, puts it:

“With all the change and pressure that people are experiencing, this agenda is more important than it’s ever been.”

Meet our confirmed speakers

Now in its 8th year, the MAD World Summit has firmly established itself as the UK’s leading B2B event for workplace culture, employee health, and wellbeing. MAD stands for Make A Difference. The 2025 theme—“Rethinking work, reimagining engagement, reinforcing health and wellbeing”—reflects the bold thinking and real-world solutions that progressive organisations are demanding.

We’re thrilled to reveal the first confirmed speakers for this year’s C-Suite Opening Keynote Panel, Chaired by Dame Carol Black including: Paula Stannett, Chief People Officer, Royal Mail Group; Karla Smith, CFO, Ogilvy; Dr Richard Peters, Chief Medical Officer; and Dr Lia Ali, Digital Health Innovation Strategist, NHS England.

Dr Monika Misra, co-author of “Healthy High Performance: Unlocking Business Success Through Employee Wellbeing” will also be a keynote speaker.

Insights from leading employers

They’ll be joined by a diverse and dynamic line-up of thought leaders and change-makers, including:

Paul Duggan, Global Health & Wellbeing Lead, Accenture, who will be joining the panel on navigating AI disruption along with Dr Robina McCann from Anglo American and Diageo’s former Head of Inclusion and Diversity, Tolulope Oke
The brilliant Annisha Taylor, Group Head of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, Ofcom, who will be sharing her thoughts on DE&I in the New World Order.
Hayley Farrell (Arcadis) and James Dybell (Siemens), tackling the timely issue of psychosocial risk and how we can work together to address it.
Stella Gavinho (Entain), sharing how her organisation is supporting both employees and leaders through change and building resilience in uncertainty by integrating health and wellbeing.
Dr Richard Peters, offering insights into the future health risks facing a multigenerational workforce.
Dr Robina McCann, Vice President Health, Anglo American joining the panel on navigating AI disruption and facilitating a roundtable focused on gaining and maintaining C-suite buy-in to employee health and wellbeing
NHS’s Dr Shriti Pattani OBE sharing her take on embedding neuroinclusion at scale, including thoughts on the benefits and limitations of function-focused support versus diagnosis-based approaches
Gethin Nadin, Award-winning Psychologist, Bestselling author and Chief Innovation Officer, Benifex (who are also event Gold Sponsors), honing in on ways that prevention pays: from cost containment to risk reduction
Reward and benefits guru Jane Vivier, who will be Chairing the New Shape of Reward & Benefits Track
Jo Moffatt, Partnerships Director, Engage for Success
Arti Kashyap-Aynsley, Global Head of Health & Wellbeing, Ocado Group
Tom Kegode, Future of Work & Culture Strategist, Lloyds Banking Group & SparkShift
Rebekah Heaven, Global Head – Future of Work & Advocacy Strategy, Standard Chartered Bank
Mark Abraham, Group Head of Organisational Development, Rightmove
Matthew Grisedale, Senior People Champion, E.ON
Chloe Muir, Director of Talent & DEI, Pinsent Masons
Charles Alberts, Global Head of Wellbeing and People Experience, Clifford Chance
Rachel Pears, Associate Director, Responsible Business & Employment Council, RPC
Helena Bach, Manager – People Operations Excellence & Rest of the World, Virgin Atlantic
Sally Hulston, Partner, Employment, and Head of Manchester Office, Lewis Silkin
Chloe Muir, Director of Talent & DEI, Pinsent Masons
Charles Alberts, Global Head of Wellbeing and People Experience, Clifford Chance
Gavin Doyle, Policy Lead, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, Legal Services Board
Sam Jardine, Partner, Fieldfisher LLP
Rachel Czernobay, Head of Health and Wellbeing, CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP

And many more. When the agenda is complete, there will be around 70 speakers.

A strategic catalyst

What truly makes MAD World stand out is its commitment to breaking down silos—bringing together senior leaders and practitioners across sectors and functions to align workplace culture, health, and wellbeing with broader business strategy.

This year, we’re doing it all in one transformative day with four powerful tracks:

Prevention & Intervention:

Strategies to help employers reduce risk, support employee health, and keep people working through prevention, early intervention, and effective case management.

Leadership, Culture & Engagement

Creating workplace cultures that empower employees to thrive, retain talent, and engage a multigenerational workforce with sustainable strategies.

The New Shape of Reward

Best practice, insights and inspiration to achieve maximum engagement, optimise investment, and future-proof your approach to benefits and rewards.

Legal Sector Forum – co-curated with MBC and LawCare

“Data, Insight and Impact” – A masterclass in reframing health & wellbeing as a strategic priority for the legal profession.

Attendees will be able to switch between tracks so you can attend the sessions best suited to your information needs.

Built with you, for you

As the event provides an opportunity for many Make A Difference Leaders’ Club members to come together in one place, we’ve been asking what you want—and we’re designing the agenda with your feedback at its heart.

You told us you want:

In-depth case studies with pragmatic takeaways
Strategic content with practical application
Time to network with senior peers
Inspiring and thought-provoking keynote speakers

Whether it’s navigating the disruption of AI, advancing neuroinclusion, demonstrating the impact of wellbeing strategies with data, or redesigning jobs and career paths for a multigenerational workforce…
Whether it’s tackling the rising cost of private medical insurance through prevention or sustaining health and high performance…

We’ve heard you—and it’s all built in.