Tell us about yourself and your background
I am a highly experienced Workplace Health, Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategist, Consultant, Trainer and Mentor. I have worked in and around workplace and occupational health, mental health and wellbeing for over 20 years (my whole career) and am unique in the range of experience and knowledge I have in and around it.
I am known for working with organisations of all sizes including multi-nationals, FTSE 100s, International Parliaments, big 4 accountants, SMEs and start-ups. I also have extensive International and Board level experience. My projects this year have included writing Samsung’s recent UK Health and Mental Health strategy and being brought in by the Board of a major African multinational to create a global strategy and framework which we will roll out locally next year, working with each Country Lead to localise for their culture and compliance.
I grew up the daughter of one of the first UK Psychiatrists to specialise in stress, anxiety and depression, and mental health at work. My father received an honorary degree for putting in mental health support at AstraZeneca in the 1990s. We are both way ahead of our time!
I spent my 20s running a mental health tech start up (in 2003) putting in preventative, digital mental health support across public sector organisations including police forces and universities. Being so new this meant creating and implementing their whole organisational or workplace health, mental health and occupational health strategy. It made me an expert.
I then ended up at EY (Ernst and Young) in the UK where I grew the first UK peer-led Mental Health Network and then eventually was seconded down to HR to create and then implement the first ever UK corporate Health, Mental Health and Wellbeing strategy. I launched this in 2014 for 14,500 people and won many industry awards as it was groundbreaking in many ways.
As an Independent Strategist and Consultant, client projects have included reforming the EU Parliament’s Mental Health strategy, writing Burberry’s global Wellbeing strategy (across 27 countries) and taking a global FTSE 100 through the procurement of a mental health app. I regularly work with SMEs and Start Ups on their Mental Health and wellbeing strategies. Often the most innovative and creative work I do is with smaller organisations who can change fast.
I am also a respected thought leader. My original content sparks much discussion and progressive debates. I am frequently invited to speak and keynote providing insightful, straight-to-the-point opinions on different topics.
What is it that you currently do?
I work with organisations of all sizes to create and implement workplace health, mental health and wellbeing strategies, that make progressive, sustainable culture change, provide an ROI, and genuinely impact that day to day working lives and health of their people.
In recent years this has included more work with senior leaders and Boards who really understand that an authentic Employee Value Proposition is key to running an innovative, profitable and productive organisation. My work has expanded out to organisational change.
I also teach and mentor around workplace health, mental health and wellbeing. I have a ground breaking new global programme in this starting in January (see below). I also mentor people globally who work in this area (though increasingly more who don’t are coming to me as well).
What value do you bring to organizations as a trainer?
I’m highly experienced across all areas of workplace health, mental health and wellbeing having been in it so long! I am unique the breadth and depth of my experience too; I have been a digital health provider for a decade, an Inhouse Wellbeing Lead for a Big 4, and am now a well-known Global Consultant working in and across many industries and cultures.
The value I can bring to organisations in addition to my knowledge is my ability to be objective. I aliken the role of a good consultant to that of a marriage counsellor, being outside the relationship so able to hold space for observing and creating change. I am also skilled in bringing different people on board with this change, listening to them and including their voices.
What are some interesting projects you have worked on?
I mentioned a few above. Working with Burberry on a Global Wellbeing strategy to support employees in very different roles (manufacturing, retail, Head Office) across 27 different countries. This required thought about how to build a framework that could then be localised.
Reforming the EU Parliament’s Mental Health strategy was fascinating as it is an organisation like no other. I really enjoyed getting to understand it works and creating something impactful.
Other interesting projects have included working with SMEs and Start Ups on their People strategies. An invested, interested entrepreneur wanting to create a good culture and look after the health and mental health of their people (and realising that this is the best way to grow a successful organisation) is an absolute joy to work with. Creative, innovative and fun.
What has been your biggest career success?
I’ve had many but the one that stands out right now is driving EY’s UK business to implement the first corporate workplace health and mental health strategy in the UK. I had joined EY to help build their digital health practise (my MSc in in Health Informatics). Whilst there I advocated for and then lead a peer ‘Mental Health Network’ which I built from 1 to 500 people across the UK with a representative in each of the 22 UK offices. I then used my decade’s worth of experience in workplace mental health from running my start up to write what I thought a groundbreaking workplace health, mental health and wellbeing strategy for EY would be. I got support from the Advisory CEO and the UK Chairman who seconded me into HR to create and implement this strategy. It was the first strategy of its type in the UK, and the first with mental health in the name. This was a unique opportunity to turn an idea into a piece of paper and then impact the lives of thousands of people. I created, implemented and championed it all.
The career success that I am most proud of is my digital mental health start up preventing a suicide at a police force when. A police officer contacted me to say that he was about to take his own life when he remembered that the force had an online mental health programme on their intranet (my product). He used it, realised what was going on and then used the links in the programme to refer himself to Occupational Health for support. He wrote to thank me for helping to save his life.
What are your goals for the next 5 years?
My main one is to expand my work – consulting, training and mentoring into the Middle East. Over the past year I have trained a number of people based in Dubai, Saudi and Oman and believe that there is a lot of interest in workplace health, mental health and wellbeing in the region. People seem to ‘get’ that looking after your people well is key to running a successful creative and innovative business or organisation, which is very refreshing.
My other main goal is to continue to evolve my work in organisational change. I have noticed in my work with Boards, leaders and organisations this year that the common theme underlying everything I do, is supporting them (and their workforces) through change. I am often brought in to look at workplace health, mental health and wellbeing, but it turns into being so much more than that. My work is strategically leading organisations and individuals through change.
I shall also continue to build up my work in and around women’s health and women in business. I am a fierce advocate for both and include specific support and training for women in every strategy I write now (as well as doing numerous keynotes and trainings around it). I believe women’s health will continue to evolve and grow.
What is the biggest challenge that organizations are facing right now?
Global sickness absence rates are at their highest ever. We are facing unprecedented levels of absence and illness, especially around mental health. The pandemic taught us that we can’t build and run successful economies and organisations without healthy and mentally healthy people at work. We know this yet the metrics are going in the wrong direction.
Every organisation I have worked with this year is struggling with tired workforces struggling to absorb the ever-increasing amounts of change and uncertainty we are facing.
To be successful, organisations need to be rethinking their people proposition, how they support the health and mental health of employees, and how culture and management practices flex to support change. We are in the largest shake up of working practices since the industrial revolution and the organisations that do this well will attract and keep the best talent. A strategic workplace health, mental health and wellbeing programme will become essential.
In what industry do you see the most rapid growth right now for the services you provide?
I have noticed that my work is not industry specific. That is in fact what makes it interesting in. I work with organisations and businesses that understand that doing workplace health and mental health right is a fundamental part of business success. So, my work is with those organisations that want to lead the way in this, attract and keep the best people, and invest strategically in health as a way to growing sustainable, innovative and profitable cultures.
Tell us about the new programme you are launching, ‘Do Workplace Health Right’
“Do Workplace Health Right’ Live 2025 is amust-do ‘How To’ 3-month programme for anyone working in and around Workplace Health and Mental Health (or wanting to). A unique global programme offering practical, simple and structured content on how to create and implement workplace strategies covering current global best practice and frameworks. A first in its scale, breadth and community focus. A no nonsense, no waffle, ‘how to’ interactive course.
Running January to end of March 2025 this is the first international and multidisciplinary 3-month programme to really support and nurture people working in workplace health, mental health and wellbeing.
Learn from people working in other industries, cultures, countries. ‘Do Workplace Health Right’ Live emphasises and promotes the multidisciplinary aspect of health, mental health and wellbeing by attracting people from a variety of job roles and backgrounds to share experiences. This includes Company Directors, Leaders or Operations Directors leading People functions. As well as HR, Wellbeing Leads, Health and Safety, Occupational Health…we accept anyone interested and have had previous participants from different roles and countries.
As opposed to regular conferences where you end up hanging with your questions, the Live version of ‘Do Workplace Health Right’, is designed to put valuable CONVERSATION at its centre. It is truly a unique opportunity to Network, Grow and Learn with other students and Interact with experts in the Workplace and Occupational Health industry
What are the key topics you cover on your course?
I have tried to make this programme as broad as possible; we cover the A-Z of everything you need to know in workplace health, mental health, & wellbeing.
I teach 6 core modules of tested practical content listed below
- Foundations of a Health, Mental Health and Well-being Strategy
- Governance Frameworks and Stakeholder Management including Board Advisory
- The Basics of Implementing a Workplace Health Strategy or Programme
- Implementation – Building Internal Structures
- Using Health Providers Effectively and Building Care Pathways
- Data, Measuring Your Strategy and determining Value On Investment
I am being supported by 13 incredible Guest Experts, all absolutely top of their respective fields, to broaden out the experience and learning by interacting with programme participants. They embellish the core programme content with current, real-world examples.
Guest Experts include Dame Carol Black, a global pioneer in this work, Peter Cheese (CEO CIPD and a former lead of Accenture’s Global People Practise), Peter Kelly who wrote ISO 45003, Global Wellbeing Leads, Health and Safety Leads, Occupational Health providers, Diversity and Inclusion Lead, a Suicide Prevention Lead… a very broad range of expertise.
What makes your course unique?
It is unique in every way and isn’t really a course but a 3-month global collaborative community experience. Collaborate, build and develop relationships over a 3-month period. An interactive blend of core content modules (covering everything you need to know to write and implement a workplace health and mental health strategy), discussions, coaching and Q&A calls.
Designed to be much more immersive and supportive than a conference or short live course. Build knowledge slowly. Test and implement ideas and learning as we go. Share your experiences and get group feedback and support. We are building long term skills and network.
What are the key outcomes attendees will receive from completing your course?
The global and multidisciplinary broad range of experts and students will create a truly dynamic and all-around inspiring learning community. Outcomes will include:
- Career growth and development of new skills
- Gained confidence and credibility as well as connections
- An International Professional Network
- Interactions with Senior Global Experts to learn directly from them
What are your top strategies for continued success after the course?
Yes. I offer mentoring and continued support. The hope though is that the global community we build will continue to be supportive and collaborative in the years to come. I will facilitate that in any way I can and we might well evolve another programme naturally if needed. Participants also have access to recordings for the year and access to a private supportive LinkedIn group.
What is the Appreciation Fee that you are offering?
This programme is a community experience. I wanted to sell it in the same way! I am offering an Appreciation Fee of £1000 per participant that signs up from a recommendation. With thanks. Unlimited so if you make 10 recommendations that sign up, you make £10 000.
So do spread the word amongst your networks. Email me with any questions.
How can our readers connect with you?
Email me at amy@amymckeown.com or I’m super easy to find on LinkedIn. I do a lot on there. I also publish a regular fortnightly newsletter – sign up at my website www.amymckeown.com. This also contains lots of free content, information, client case studies and testimonials.
How can readers find out more about ‘Do Workplace Health Right’?
All information about ‘Do Workplace Health Right’ Live 2025, including dates, Guest Experts and cost is on my website at https://amymckeown.com/dwhrlive2025
I’m happy to have a 15-minute chat with anyone thinking of joining or wanting to promote to their network. Just email me. Look forward to having you join what will be a great experience.
