Driving digital balance through an era of disruptive tech
27 March 2025 | London
Platinum Sponsor
Gold Sponsor
Media Sponsor
Catch up on The Impact Summit 25 here! A huge thank you to our photographer Lizzie Rees
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Catch up on The Impact Summit 25 here! A huge thank you to our photographer Lizzie Rees ⋆
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Welcome with hosts Lou Robey, Ben Tye and Opening Key Note with Eva Applebaum
At the cusp of the world being reshaped by AI, what can we learn from past waves of digital transformation - the patterns that brought us here, the unintended consequences and the signs of optimism
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Beyond the Hype with Dan Taylor-Watt
What AI really means for our work and wellbeing
The Impact Summit 25 gathered influential Changemakers dedicated to leading change and driving impact.
For the first time, we welcomed everyone, both members and non-members, regardless of gender, to join the conversation, making this a fully inclusive event tackling the challenges of change and innovation together.
We explored:
Thriving in a fast-paced digital world: Technology should serve us, not control us. We explored how to harness it effectively to work smarter, not harder.
Balancing team wellbeing amidst constant change: The key to thriving in an accelerated world is balancing the human and digital aspects of work. We uncovered tools, techniques, and practices to support you and your teams.
Staying ahead in a rapidly evolving digital landscape: Driving digital innovation starts with empowering people to prioritise their wellbeing. We want to support you to ensure your teams are equipped to lead and adapt.
This event drove collaboration among all participants, amplifying efforts for managing diverse workforces and maximising wellbeing for individuals and teams.
The Impact Summit took place at the stunning Gate One offices in King’s Cross, London.
Agenda
Thursday 27th March 2025
Pancras Square - HKX, 3 Pancras Square, London N1C 4AJ
08:30 - 09:15
Arrival and Breakfast
09:15 - 09:30
Welcome Speech
From Louise Robey MD - Women in Change and our Sponsor, Gate One. Ben Tye from Gate One will be co-hosting the Women in Change Impact Summit,
Ben’s passion for people-centric transformation makes him the perfect co-host for this year’s summit.
09:30 - 10:00
Keynote Speech: Eva Appelbaum, Gate One
Eva Appelbaum is our opening speaker from Gate One’s People, Culture and Change Capability Team at The Impact Summit.
Eva is leading with a focus on workforce challenges for the future, bringing her expertise on AI adoption. At the intersection of people, creativity and technology, Eva will share how she’s helping organisations navigate complex transformations and her thoughts on what makes this successful
10:00 - 11:00
Beyond the Hype - Key Note Speaker - Dan Taylor Watt
What AI really means for our work and wellbeing
Some AI myths busted
Impacts of AI on work & wellbeing
Key ingredients of successful AI adoption
What not to do (some cautionary tales)
How to support our teams (and our kids)
Where next?
Q&A
11:00 - 11:30
Break & Networking
Tea and Coffee will be served and you’ll be given the chance to do some networking
11:30 - 12:30
Unpacking Tech, Sustainability and Wellbeing with Dr Ashwin Mehta, Petra Abbam, BBC, Dr Jayne Manley, Sunnyhill Consulting , Dave King Differentis
Join a thought-provoking panel that dives into the future of technology and its profound implications for sustainability, culture, governance, and mental wellbeing. Featuring a lineup of expert voices at the forefront of AI innovation, sustainable practices, and cultural change, this panel will challenge conventional thinking and spark new ideas for creating a balanced, responsible, and impactful future. shaping tomorrow’s solutions.
Key Highlights: AI & Sustainability: Exploring the environmental impact of emerging technologies. Cultural Transformation: How tech is reshaping workplace culture and governance. Mental Wellbeing: The hidden toll of a tech-driven world on individuals and communities.
12:30 - 13:30
Lunch
13:30 - 14:00
Meditation Session
Guided by Manu Kanwar - Lex Soultions - to set up our intentions and next steps on wellbeing at work.
14:00 - 16:00
Breakout Sessions
You will get the opportunity to attend two of the below sessions with a tea break in-between 15:05 - 15:15
Session 1 - Main Room - “The Power of Connection”
Lucy Stones
Leading Gate One's Culture and Behaviour Change Team, Lucy brings her expertise in psychology and people dynamics.
Sonia Cochet
With 20+ years of global HR experience, Sonia is dedicated to creating meaningful performance and inspiring high-performance with purpose.
Human connection is important regardless of what tech we’re talking about
Human connection has a big impact on culture (& wellbeing as a subset of that)
How can we power human connection in the workplace and on our change programmes – specifically the role of leaders in that
The promise of AI (and indeed any emerging tech) is that organisations can focus on re-connecting in the workplace - we just need to be bold in making that the focus
Session 2 - Room 8.04 - “Mind, Body, Business: Redefining Workplace Wellbeing”
Lou Robey will be facilitating a conversation with some really incredible industry Leaders who are making inroads at work supporting many different sectors.
This Panel conversation on “Mind, Body, Business: Redefining Workplace Wellbeing” Wellbeing - With our incredible industry Leaders (Marcus Ryder, Manu Kanwar, Ozlem Tuskan & Wynford Dore)
This session is more than just a conversation—it’s a call to action. If you’re a leader, HR professional, or advocate for change, this is your opportunity to transform your workplace into a hub of wellbeing and success. "💡 Key Takeaways:
1.Wellbeing is a Business Strategy, Not a Perk – Investing in employee wellbeing leads to higher productivity, reduced absenteeism, and stronger retention.
2. The Mind-Body Connection Matters – Physical health, mental resilience, and emotional wellbeing are interconnected. Organizations must take a holistic approach.
3. Burnout Prevention Starts with Culture – Workplace stress isn’t just an individual issue; it’s a leadership responsibility. Psychological safety and workload management are key.
4. Workplace Design Impacts Wellbeing – From flexible working to mindful spaces, the way we structure work environments affects employee health and engagement.
5. The Role of Leadership in Wellbeing – Leaders set the tone. Open conversations, empathetic leadership, and leading by example drive real change.
6. Measuring Wellbeing Beyond HR Metrics – True impact goes beyond surveys. Look at innovation, collaboration, and business performance as wellbeing indicators.
7. Future-Proofing Workplaces – AI, hybrid work, and evolving workforce needs mean organisations must continuously adapt their wellbeing strategies.
Session 3 - Room 8.05 - “Why Men don’t talk!”
This session is facilitated by Richard Atherton from FirstHuman. Workplace wellbeing provides the foundation for resiliency, business agility, innovation and productivity. Yet wellbeing is often not prioritised in business or only given lip service.
Getting traction with the wellbeing conversation amongst men can be especially challenging.
How can we change this?
In this interactive session we’ll pull on some threads that might give us some answers:
Why to not start with that ‘how do you feel?’ crap Why men prefer steam engines over therapy When Post-Its and sharing circles don’t work Masculinity, wellbeing and Calypso’s island Leading as caring and other hardline measures.
16:00 - 17:00
Keynote Speech: Marsha Shenk - “Get Fit to Navigate a Turbulent World”
There are Leaders who inspire and then there are Pioneers redefine the way we think, lead, and create lasting impact. This year at Impact Summit 2025, we are beyond thrilled to welcome Marsha Shenk —as our keynote speaker.
Marsha Shenk coined the term Business Anthropology in the 1990's, claiming that commerce, society, and the brain co-evolved. Her passion is decode the forces that make 'work' ‘career’ and 'business' sources of stress, rather than enriching, collective care.
In just 20 minutes, Marsha Shenk—a pioneer and business anthropologist—will share three simple steps to help you lead with confidence, support your people, and drive collective success, no matter how fast things change. You’ll leave empowered with the tools to take care of your teams and lead with certainty.
Marsha has spent her career guiding leaders, teams, and organisations to their full potential by understanding how our brains work. She brings a unique fusion of neuroscience, business acumen, and human behaviour to help us navigate change. Her work blends cognitive science, business strategy, and human behaviour to help us navigate an era of rapid change.
Why Marsha? Why Now?
As we are all aware we are living in a time of unprecedented uncertainty, where learning, unlearning, and resilience are no longer optional—they’re mission-critical. Marsha’s work helps us understand the cognitive wiring that drives how we respond to change and retrain our thinking to lead more effectively in our increasingly complex environments.
What to Expect from Her Keynote?
The neuroscience of collective decision-making and how our brains shape leadership
How to recruit cognitive agility to build resilience
Why understanding power, human behaviour, and social dynamics is critical for leadership
Practical strategies to future-proof yourself, your organisation, and your impact on society
This isn’t just another keynote—it’s a masterclass. You’ll walk away with tangible tools to rethink leadership, navigate uncertainty, and shape the future.
17:00 - 17:30