Mental Health Speakers

Dr Nighat Arif

Dr Nighat is a GP specialising in women’s health and family planning. She is a medical educator and provides teaching to local trainee GPs as well as at national and international conferences. Nighat was nominated for the National Bevan Prize for Health and Wellbeing to acknowledge her commitment to advancing wellbeing in her community. She has worked to raise awareness on menopause and women’s healthcare in Black and Asian women, and presented her clinical work at the Menopause in the Workplace Parliamentary committee hearing. Nighat...

Poorna Bell

As UK executive editor, HuffPost produced its first month-long campaign celebrating and giving voice to women and men across the world – The All Women Everywhere and Building Modern Men. Poorna has since become an acclaimed writer, raising awareness on the negative effects of the media and society’s decline in mental health.

Clarke Carlisle

Clarke made over 500 senior level appearances and led the football players’ union. He has also written a powerful memoir. Clarke is open about his struggles with alcohol, depression and gambling – the strains of a multi-billion pound industry in which both fans and club believe they own you. He’s similarly candid about racism and the Kick It Out campaign. Clarke talks about diversity and culture change in a game traditionally associated with macho behaviour.

Bob Geldof

Bob has inspired hundreds of projects across Africa and ensures it remains on the political agenda and in the public consciousness. In a rousing speech on social responsibility, Bob reminds us that we are all defined by what we do, not what we say. This isn’t confined to philanthropy. He might also confess to some pride at the thought of becoming the first Irishman (and the first genuine rock star) in space.

Matt Lindley

After a decade with the RAF Matt moved to commercial aviation as a 747 pilot. He looks at the ‘black box’ culture of airlines that seek to understand mistakes rather than apportion blame, and the leadership culture that engenders. He also speaks about his time with the Air Force, being one of the first openly gay pilots in the military, and what the experience taught him about leaders and how the personal can affect professional performance.

Owen O'Kane

Owen's book Ten To Zen shot straight in at Number three on Amazon's Bestsellers, being beaten to the top two spots by Michelle Obama and Joe Wicks. He is a regular contributor to Good Morning Britain, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC News, Sky News, ITV News, Guardian, Daily Telegraph, and The Times. In his speeches Owen makes complex psychological and mental health information accessible and understandable. 

Ayo Sokale

BBC Presenter and Civil Engineer Ayo possesses an array of talents and expertise, working at the cutting edge of the scientific, environmental and media landscape.

Jaco van Gass

Jaco was a member of the Parachute Regiment. When was completing his second six-month tour of Afghanistan the helicopter he was in came under enemy fire and he was hit by a rocket propelled grenade, sustaining devastating injuries and losing his left arm. He didn’t let his injuries stop him and been a member of the GB Para-Cycling team. Jaco was also a member of the record-breaking team of wounded soldiers to trek unsupported to the North Pole and was joined by Prince Harry.

Jonny Wilkinson

The man who won England the World Cup, Jonny became one of the most famous rugby players ever when his drop goal decided the final in the dying seconds of the game. He went on to become one of the most decorated players in the game, becoming the highest international points scorer and a role model of professionalism and sportsmanship. The public success was only part of the story, however, and Jonny speaks frankly and inspiringly about the pressure of expectation, the mental health implications of leading a life defined by others, and how his lessons can offer practical advice to anyone ...

Mohsin Zaidi

Mohsin's memoir A Dutiful Boy was described as utterly compelling and a book that will save lives. A former successful criminal barrister, his journey from an impoverished part of east London and a strict Muslim household encapsulates lessons and experiences in mental health, faith, social mobility, sexuality, and ultimately the power of hope and humanity to overcome seemingly impossible odds.

Zoë Aston

In her work with individuals and a wide range of brands and companies, Zoë explores the mental activities and practices similar to the physical activities required for good physical health. Like our physical health, we often have psychological strengths and weaknesses, and we need to work and rest to recover from injury and build resilience. Whilst the work may not always be easy or comfortable, it leads to longer-term good health as well as better decision-making and an improved ability to face challenging times.

Winnie Awa

Winnie is the Founder & CEO of Carra, an AI-driven digital hair health platform helping women to care for their textured hair. She started her career in the corporate world at IBM and Ernst & Young before moving to the world of start-ups, spending the majority of her career building cutting edge consumer apps at ASOS, Net-a-porter, and LVMH - most notably, Givenchy’s first mobile app.

Chris Barez-Brown

Chris is fascinated by people and what makes them tick. He brings out their potential by teaching them how to manage today’s world, rather than have it manage them. His keynotes cover culture change, leadership, innovation, and mental and emotional wellbeing, and leave people feeling inspired and energised.

Tal Ben-Shahar

Combining academic research with everyday examples of life and work, Tal delivers insights into leadership, goals and purpose, self-esteem and resilience. The author of The Joy of Leadership and Happier looks at how to build anti-fragility which sees not just recovery from a crisis, but growth, with a focus on purpose, balance and reflection.

Lucy Beresford

Lucy advises corporates on stress and motivation, demystifies mental health, and analyses politics and the psychology of the electorate. As a mental health expert, Lucy has authored a number of acclaimed fiction and non-fiction books and is a regular panellist on the TV show Jeremy Vine on 5.

Luciana Berger

Luciana has held various shadow ministerial positions, including Shadow Minister for Public Health, Shadow Minister for Energy and Climate Change, and she was the first ever Shadow Cabinet Minister for Mental Health. She is CEO of iNHouse Communications, Chair of the Maternal Mental Health Alliance and Vice-President of the Jewish Leadership Council.

Professor Tanya Byron

An experienced consultant clinical psychologist, Tanya is also a writer and broadcaster tackling subjects from serious behavioural problems to workplace stress and the effects of living in the digital age. She has worked with the NHS, government, academia and broadcasters to introduce policy and widen understanding of mental health and work-life balance in the digital age.

Glenn Catley

The former world super-middleweight champion is now both a Eurosport pundit and a hypnotherapist, helping young people back into work. After dinner he talks about coming face to face with a man who wants to render you unconscious. He also explains why he failed to hypnotise himself.

Fearne Cotton

Fearne is one of the most recognisable TV and radio hosts in the UK. She’s also a bestselling author and founder of the wellbeing brand Happy Place, which became the premise for her chart-topping podcast.

Jennifer Cox

Chartered Psychotherapist Jennifer Cox co-hosts the podcast Women Are Mad, as well as being the author of the acclaimed book Women Are Angry, which looks at the social phenomenon of a culture which teaches women to suppress their emotions - and what can be done about it.

Rio Ferdinand

One of the most decorated players in the modern era, Rio’s career took in over 600 appearances for club and country, including over 300 games for a Manchester United team that won six Premier League titles and the Premier League and Champions’ League double. He has since become a popular pundit, he has interests in business and his own charitable foundation, and was lauded for his frank discussion of his experience of bereavement and mental health.

Sarah Furness

Sarah spent twenty years as a RAF helicopter pilot and Squadron leader. She became an accomplished risk management and human performance trainer at the world class Defence Academy of the UK. Sarah saw a world where leaders often felt hostage to the “fragile” narrative, so she drew on her experiences as a combat pilot and coach to develop a different approach; the Healthy Automatic Behaviours In Threatening Scenarios (H.A.B.I.TS.) Formula.