Watch out for some new features for 2021 in Make A Difference News. The first is our monthly run-down of Movers and Shakers. Find out who’s moving up, out or across. Plus, we’ll be profiling job opportunities that we’ve spotted in the fast-evolving world of workplace mental health and wellbeing.
Here’s our first round of movers and shakers.
School’s not out
After much reflection, Rachael Davidson has decided to leave her role as General Counsel at National Grid Ventures and Group Assurance. Rachael is going back to study for an MSc in Neuroscience and Mental Heath. She says: “Pursing my passion in this space after the experience of the last 8 months feels fantastic. I’m looking forward to more learning and then hopefully a change of career when I finish studying”.
You can find our more about Rachael’s inspiring work focused around job design and wellbeing for National Grid Ventures by tuning in to the Future of Work panel at this year’s digital MAD World Summit. This is available on-demand on MADFlix – the video content library for all Make A Difference events.
Moving client-side
Rob Woollen was previously Director of Health and Wellbeing at PeoplePlus UK. In September he took up the role of Head of Wellbeing and Organisational Development with DSG Finance. He says: “I made the shift from commercial wellbeing to an internal-focused role in September and am really glad that I did”. Rob has also been appointed as a Topic Expert Committee Member by NICE for the new Guidelines for Mental Wellbeing at Work.
You can read more about Rob’s work in his new role in this article which he wrote for Make A Difference News.
Speaking up at HSBC
As part of HSBC’s internal wellbeing forum in Wholesale Banking, Jonathan Frostick, Regulatory Programme Manager, has been encouraging colleagues to “challenge the stigma”. He’s been doing this by talking about his own experience of suicidal feelings, anxiety and his journey to recovery. He’s spoken to global groups, on the internal work radio and on work podcasts.
Joining forces
The two independent wellbeing consultancies Zipporah Seven and Northstar Therapies have merged to create Zipporah and Northstar (Z&N). The new company is headed by Katy Holliday and Francesca Rogers.
Francesca says: “Covid 19, or at least its impacts, are not going away any time soon and we are only just starting to see the results of how it is affecting people’s mental health. Our launch now seems ever more vital. We must not underestimate the long-term impact of this pandemic with the onus on employers to focus on their own and their employees’ wellbeing wherever possible.”
Make a difference
If you’re looking for a move, there’s an opportunity to join the team at Santander UK working on the bank’s inclusion and belonging ambitions. The role can be flexible and based anywhere nationally. That’s a plus that I think we wouldn’t have seen pre-pandemic.
Damien Shieber, Santander’s Head of Culture, Inclusion and Experience says on LinkedIn: “It’s a great time to join the team. You’ll be working alongside eight fantastic, passionate people networks who make a difference every day”. You can find out more and apply here.
If you’re changing role or you’ve got a vacancy to share, I’d love to hear about it. You can contact me at [email protected].
About the author
Claire Farrow is the Global Director of Content and Programming for the Mad World and Make a Difference Summits. She also drives the content for Make A Difference News. Claire is on a mission to help every employer – large, medium and small – get the insight, inspiration and contacts they need to make real impact on workplace culture, mental health and wellbeing in their organisation. She has been freelance for more than 15 years. During that time, she has had the honour of working with many leading publishers, including the New York Times
