We’re bringing together local leaders and practitioners to share their expertise on Workplace Wellbeing

Andrea Wallman is a seasoned professional in education, training and mental health, with over 25 years experience in social care, adult  and further education. She brings a wide range of knowledge, lived experience and practical insight to her role.

Bianca is the founder of Sprout Coaching and a leadership coach with more than 20 years’ experience in the tech industry. She works with managers and leaders to build healthier, more supportive workplaces by developing coaching skills, emotional intelligence, and strong team cultures.

Karen Longstaff is a strategic L&D professional specialising in transforming organisational culture through inclusive, behaviour-changing learning. As People Development Manager and Divisional Partner to Operations, she aligns learning with business priorities, strengthening leadership, capability, and performance. Her expertise spans blended learning design, talent pathways, change management, and accessible development for diverse audiences.

Alicia is a Senior Associate Solicitor and Head of Training at Thrive Law, specialising in employment law, psychological safety and healthier workplace cultures. She represents individuals in Employment Tribunal proceedings and strategically advises employer clients, bringing a balanced, real world perspective to her work.

Louis Zarins-Brown has been working in the Debt advice sector across national and community-based services since 2014, and has been with Burmantofts Community Projects (or Money Buddies as we are best known) since 2021. He has led the Debt Advice team, being awarded the IMA Advice Team of the year in 2022, and then taking on the Director of Operations Role.

Jenny Wright is the Regional Manager for the Money and Pensions Service across Yorkshire and Humber, specialising in financial wellbeing for employers, local authorities and community organisations. With a background spanning Citizens Advice, Age UK and over a decade in financial services with HSBC, Jenny brings deep expertise in pensions guidance, strategic partnerships and service development.

Charlotte Speak is a Parental Support Consultant, Coach, and mum of two. After experiencing a challenging transition to parenthood at work, she founded Power of the Parent in 2018. Drawing on her coaching expertise and more than a decade in strategic HR roles, she partners with organisations committed to supporting and developing talented people who are also parents.

Jennie Sutherland leads Employer Partnerships at Carers Leeds, where she works with employers across the city to help them better understand and support employees who juggle work and caring responsibilities. Before joining Carers Leeds, Jennie spent 25 years in talent and recruitment, helping people grow in their careers and supporting businesses to build positive, people-focused workplaces.

Kate brings over 15 years of practically applied expertise in disability and neuroinclusion. Formerly Head of Disability at a large UK university, she has extensive experience in identifying reasonable adjustments, strategies and advising HR and Occupational Health teams.

Satti is a committed advocate for equality, particularly racial equality and the trauma caused by racism. Drawing on his lived experiences as a Black Minority Ethnic man, he is dedicated to creating positive change and fostering inclusive environments.

David Wise has nearly 25 years’ experience in drug and alcohol services working within the charity/3rd sector and criminal justice. For the past five years, he has led Forward Leeds’ External Workforce Development Training team, delivering specialist training to organisations across the city.

Head of Wellbeing at Leeds and York Partnership NHS Trust. My role is to be the strategic lead for the health and wellbeing for our nearly 4000 colleagues. This includes leading policy areas which cover the contracts between Occupational Health, our employee assistance programme (EAP), being the lead for menopause, sexual misconduct, financial wellbeing, health and wellbeing champions, ward buddy programme and our critical incident support across the trust.

Career changer from a decade of hospitality management to over 8 years in technology recruitment and people teams, championing diversity, mental health and wellbeing and neurodiversity. Cat is the Talent Partner for Axiologik, a Leeds based tech-for-good consultancy, specialising in large scale and challenging digital transformations across public and private sectors.

Damian Dawtry is a Men’s Health and Wellbeing Advisor and Project Manager of the Leeds-based Men’s Health Unlocked Network (Forum Central). He is a Trustee of the National Association for Men and Boys Health and Wellbeing, and was recently named as a Men & Boys Champion by the national Centre For Policy Research for Men and Boys.

Karl Smith is Director of KS Civils and Groundworks Ltd, a Leeds-based civil engineering contractor delivering highways and infrastructure projects across Yorkshire. Working closely with local authorities and Tier 1 contractors, Karl leads teams focused on safety, quality, and supporting sustainable, community-driven construction.

Neil Jones, Health and Wellbeing Lead for Workplaces at Active Leeds, has spent 24 years designing programmes that help residents and employees live healthier lives. His work spans physical activity, mental wellbeing and health inequality. His team recently received a global award for developing sustainable solutions that ensure everyone can access the kit and equipment they need to participate.

Passionate about people & culture, championing inclusion, employee engagement & wellbeing, creating a supportive and inclusive work environment and culture that embodies collaboration and innovation. Delivering a culture that cultivates a feeling of belonging, and empowerment.

19 years in community, public and workplace Health and wellbeing.
Public Health | TRU Head of Health & Wellbeing FRSPH/BA HONS/DIPHE/HND/IEM ]HSQE Workplace Wellbeing | Strategy | Transpennine Route Upgrade] Mental Health | Physical Health | Fellow of Royal society for public health

Sarah is part of the PHIRST Elevate research team based at the University of Edinburgh. She has helped conduct the evaluation of the Leeds Mindful Employer Network which ran from January 2025 to March 2026.

Dr Sarah Hughes is Chief Executive of Mind, the UK’s leading mental health charity. With more than 35 years’ experience in mental health and social justice, she has held senior leadership roles including Chief Executive of the international think tank Centre for Mental Health and CPSL Mind.

Bex’s current research is to understand how public and private organisations perceive, engage and action their definition of digital equity, digital identity, artificial Intelligence, and machine learning using data when creating services.

Lucy is Chief Executive of Leeds Mind, a specialist local mental health charity, supporting people across Leeds and West Yorkshire. An experienced leader, with a career spanning more than 25 years in the third sector, she began her journey in front line service delivery and since gained extensive experience working in various roles dedicated to supporting vulnerable individuals and communities within the social and public health sectors, including homelessness, criminal justice, and mental health.

Bevan Swanson is a Senior Data Engineer at Oakland, a data consultancy based in Leeds. With seven years of experience in Data Engineering and more recently focusing on building AI systems for regulated industries he brings a practitioner’s perspective on what these tools actually do, and where they fall short. Bevan is particularly interested in the tension between AI’s potential to support wellbeing and the real limitations that often go unacknowledged.