CIPD Ireland Wellbeing Conference 2025
This year's theme, 'Wellbeing by Design', highlights the need for intentional action—putting impact and metrics at the heart.
This year's theme, 'Wellbeing by Design', highlights the need for intentional action—putting impact and metrics at the heart.
In today’s workplaces, wellbeing is business-critical. This year, we focus on moving from intention to action, with impact and measurement at the heart of the conversation. We’ll show how organisations can embed wellbeing into culture, leadership, reward, and systems—while demonstrating measurable outcomes.
Director of the Center for Rehabilitation & Readiness Enhancement, Dubai Police
Alongside other team leaders in Dubai Police he has been involved in enhancement of health & wellbeing of Dubai Police employees through projects & initiatives aimed at promotion of a health, musculoskeletal injury prevention, and workplace wellbeing.
Global Head of Wellbeing, Novartis
Based in Ireland, Alex Hogarty is Global Head of Wellbeing at Novartis, an innovative medicines company operating in over 100+ countries. Alex is an accomplished HR/business transformation leader with 20+ years’ experience enhancing people experiences across a range of multinational organizations. In his current role, Alex is elevating the mental health and wellbeing of their people by systematically creating a care agenda for their 75,000+ people worldwide.
Market Director, CIPD Ireland
A Chartered Companion of the CIPD and named one of Ireland’s Top 50 Most Influential CHROs in 2024, Alison brings a proud track record in HR, people development, and change, shaped through senior roles across retail, tech, telecoms, financial services and semi-state sectors.
Wellbeing educator and founder of Workplace Wellbeing Ireland, promoting healthy workplaces through education and advocacy
Brian Crooke is a wellbeing educator, speaker and adviser, empowering Irish organisations to promote and sustain wellbeing at work.
He is founder of Workplace Wellbeing Ireland and Course Director of the Postgraduate Certificate in Workplace Wellness at Trinity College Dublin. He is the host of The Work Well Podcast.
Head of Health Promotion, ESB
Brian Samson is Head of Health Promotion at ESB, where he leads initiatives to foster physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing among employees. With extensive experience in workplace health programs, Brian is passionate about creating supportive environments that empower individuals to thrive. His team approaches health promotion with a focus on sustainable, practical solutions that make a lasting impact on wellbeing at both personal and organisational levels.
Director of Compensation and Benefits EMEAL, LinkedIn
Carol is an expert in performance and reward strategy, previously she has led the design and implementation of innovative compensation, benefits, and wellness programs at Bank of Ireland, Vodafone and Aviva, that align with organisational values and enhance the employee experience. She is passionate about creating meaningful, people-focused solutions, bringing a strategic yet empathetic approach to reward.
Founder & CEO, HR Buddy
An associate member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and the Founder and CEO of HR Consultancy firm - HR Buddy, which provides outsourced HR, Employment Law and Payroll services to clients nationwide. Damien is a regular contributor in national broadcast and print media and has published articles on topics such as Workplace loneliness, soft quitting and the Right to Disconnect. HR Buddy also carries out annual published research on Workplace Wellbeing.
Founder & CEO, Welliba
Specializing in AI-driven employee experience, talent and organisational development platforms that leverage the best of psychology, data analytics, and privacy principles. Welliba’s solutions focus on providing real-time insights into actionable people and business impact use LLM integrations, public data and generative AI to move beyond traditional survey-based methods and instead utilizing pre-existing data combined with scientific rigor to guide organizations in improving talent attraction, hiring, development and overall organisational performance.
Broadcaster, Author & Mental Health Advocate
Dermot is a Radio and TV Broadcaster, Author, Comedian, Meditation Expert and Podcast Host.
He is also a certified Masters of Wisdom and Meditation Teacher, training in California with one of the world’s leading experts in corporate stress management and meditation practice.
Healthy Workplace Co-Ordinator, Chambers Ireland
Gillian is the Healthy Workplace Co-ordinator at Chambers Ireland, where she works with chamber members to promote the principles of the Healthy Workplace Framework. In this role, she supports SMEs by offering guidance, resources, and training to help realise wellbeing as a strategic business advantage. A Chartered Accountant with over 10 years’ experience, Gillian completed a master’s in workplace health and wellbeing after experiencing burnout. She previously ran Well Work 360, a consultancy specialising in organisational wellbeing assessments and training.
Senior HR Director, Microsoft Ireland
Joanne is currently the Senior HR Director for Microsoft Ireland. Since joining in 2013 she has overseen the growth of the employee footprint. She is driven to building thriving, inclusive workplaces and cultivating STEM talent & skills.
In addition, to her role at Microsoft Joanne is a member of the Board of Directors for the American Chamber of Commerce.
Founder & CEO, The Menopause Hub
Loretta Dignam is an award-winning Marketer of the Year, who opened the doors to The Menopause Hub, Ireland's first and only dedicated multidisciplinary menopause clinic in December 2018. Loretta is the founder and CEO.
Professor, Consultant, Executive, Board Director, Speaker, Author
Marianne has over 30 years’ experience as a Management Consultant, HR Executive, Business School Professor and Board Director. She was chosen as one of 52 Inspirational women at work in South Africa in 2004, one of 20 Female
Entrepreneurs by Management today in 2011 in Australia and in 2015 she won the excellence in NFP consulting award from the Worldwide Who’s Who.
Strategic Engagement Director, CIPD Ireland
Mary leads the growth, development and contribution of the people profession in Ireland. She pushes forward our agenda of people-centric decisions, wellbeing, inclusion and flexible working through research, policy and member engagement.
HR Policy and Engagement, CIPD Ireland
Meg is an experienced HR professional, previously working in HRBP roles for Irish public sector and global enterprises. She has a passion for showing the impact of the people profession through creating positive workplace culture. She is qualified to masters level and is a lifelong learner in the field of people management.
Founder of The Blissful Breath Academy, a best-selling author, cold exposure specialist, and former international athlete
Níall Ó Murchú, a breathwork & holistic wellness expert, best-selling author, and co-founder of The Blissful Breath Academy. With over 23 years of teaching wellness and a simple mission: better breathing for everyone.
CEO, CIPD
Alongside his role as CIPD Chief Executive, Peter sits on many forums linked to wellbeing, diversity and inclusion, routes in to work and skills, flexible working, and corporate governance. He is Chair of Engage for Success and the What Works Centre for Wellbeing, and sits on the Board of the College of Policing.
Head of HR Shared Services, Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail
A Chartered Fellow of the CIPD, Sinéad is the Head of HR for Shared Services in Iarnród Éireann with over 21-year experience within the rail industry. Sinead is a passionate advocate for transformational change that delvers lasting, positive impact for people and has been instrumental in shaping and executing the companies people strategy; a key enabler of the organisations overarching corporate strategy.
HR Employee Relations Director, Lidl Ireland
Síobhra Disdale joined Lidl in 2014 and has worked across multiple functions within Lidl’s HR business area including L&D and Employee Relations. In her current role as Employee Relations Director, she is responsible for employee engagement and developing and implementing HR policies and procedures. Siobhra has a strong focus on diversity and inclusion in her role and is committed to creating an environment where all employees feel respected, supported, and listened to. Siobhra is also a member of LEAD Network, a volunteer-run organisation working to bring about gender equality and equity at all levels of the consumer goods and retail industry here in Ireland and globally.
Founder & CEO, Kara Connect
Tobba works closely with HR leaders and decision makers to build healthier workplaces and hosts the podcast "Can We Have a Word?", where she talks to HR managers and leaders about mental health, wellbeing, and what the future of work may look like.
She brings this diverse experience to building innovative wellbeing solutions for employees across Europe. Tobba also contributes her expertise as a former board member of the National Theatre of Iceland and the Science and Technology Board and currently as the technical advisor to the Minister of Education.
