Movers and shakers in workplace culture, employee health and wellbeing

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Our Movers and Shakers articles highlight who’s moving up, out or across in the rapidly evolving world of workplace culture, employee health and wellbeing. The New Year brought with it a swathe of new appointments. Here’s a selection of “movers and shakers” that have grabbed my attention in January 2025…

Dr Clare Fernandes

After four years with the BBC as their Chief Medical Officer, the dynamic Dr Clare Fernandes has moved to consumer health company Haleon – Gebro as their incoming Medical Director EMEA. Writing on LinkedIn about Haleon’s recognition as overall winner of the healthcare sector for Britain’s Most Admired Companies Awards (voted for by industry peers and financial analysts) she said: “As a new joiner, it is easy to see why Haleon has won this award. So far it has been pleasure to onboard here!”

You can glean more about Clare in this profile interview highlighting the benefits of having an inhouse doctor. In this “Be the best wellbeing leader you can” podcast interview, recorded at our sister event MAD World, Clare shares her journey from medicine to workplace wellbeing, emphasising the link between health and work, scaling wellbeing initiatives in large organisations, and adopting a biopsychosocial approach.

Thomas Blakey

Meanwhile, Thomas Blakey has taken on a new role as Head of Health and Wellbeing, for the Safety, Health and Environment department with National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED). Thomas has been with National Grid for nearly seven years, rising over that time from Occupational Health Specialist, to UK Health and Wellbeing Manager and then to Group Health and Wellbeing Manager. In this last role, as a key member of the senior leadership within the National Grid Group Health, Safety, and Wellbeing Team, he held sole accountability for crafting and executing the Health and Wellbeing strategy across the National Grid group in the UK and US – overseeing a workforce of 30,000 employees.

You can read more about National Grid’s progressive approach to creating working conditions where all colleagues can thrive in this article outlining how giving call handlers autonomy boosted wellbeing and profits.

Charelle Wrigley

Next up is Charelle Wrigley, who after her culture and wellbeing role at TikTok, moved to Head of Culture and Engagement with Sportradar. Following a brief stint as Head of Internal Comms and Engagement with Oxa, Charelle has now become Head of Employee Experience with Trainline. Writing on LinkedIn about her appointment Charelle said: “I’m excited to jump onboard with a bunch of brilliant people to make a meaningful impact on the broader employee experience”.

Charelle helps organisations to create positive workplace experiences for the hybrid era, ensuring employees are motivated and productive whatever their work location. Her mission, according to her blog “9 to thriving”, is to help build workplaces where people can thrive. It’s worth taking a look…

Nicke Harrison

Having worked for Pinsent Masons as their Inclusion and Wellbeing lead, then with construction specialist ISG as Head of Inclusion and Wellbeing, Nicke Harrison is back in the legal sector in her new role as Inclusion and Wellbeing Senior Consultant with global law firm Dentons.

You can read more about the specific employee health and wellbeing challenges faced by the legal industry – and why they urgently need to be addressed – in this interview with LawCare’s Elizabeth Rimmer. We ran this article ahead of the Legal Summit at this year’s MAD World Festival.

Emmi Mäkiharju

Last but certainly not least, and reflecting recognition (as highlighted in this trends feature) of the growing intersection between DE&I and Wellbeing, Emmi Mäkiharju has been promoted from Senior Diversity and Inclusion Manager with law firm BCLP to Associate Director – Inclusion, Diversity and Wellbeing EMEA.

You can read more about the intersection between DEI, Wellbeing and productivity in this thought-provoking article contributed by Dan Robertson from Fairer Consulting.

We wish all of our Movers & Shakers well in their new roles. More to follow soon…

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14 February 2025

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