We've never had more tools, more flexibility, or more focus on employee wellbeing. So why do so many people feel less connected to their work than ever before? Drawing on tens of thousands of workplace survey responses from hundreds of global companies, this keynote traces a surprising 300-year story -from Adam Smith's pin factory to the post-COVID workplace- to explain how three waves of progress have gradually disconnected people from the things that make work genuinely fulfilling: a sense of craft, connection with colleagues, and seeing the real impact of what they do. The good news? Once you understand what's missing, it doesn't take much to bring it back. This session offers HR and wellbeing leaders a fresh lens on why their people are struggling and some practical, human ideas for restoring a little more pride and joy to everyday working life.

Wellbeing is a worthy aspiration and an easy target for consensus. It is also not the point. Drawing on forty years in HR and CHRO tenures at KPN, ING and DSM, Hein Knaapen argues that employers carry three non-negotiable duties — to abide by the law, to uphold the dignity of people at work, and to deliver company performance — and that wellbeing is a lever inside the third, not a goal alongside it. Along the way he will examine what the evidence actually says about individual-level interventions, which single factor explains most of the variance in engagement and performance (it is not an app), and where employer responsibility ends and personal agency begins. Appreciative of the evidence, uncomfortable with the orthodoxy, and firmly on the side of precision over platitude.

Attendees choose their preferred discussion to join from the following list:

This session examines how organizations can bridge the gap between our ancestral biological needs, such as movement, social connection, and natural rhythms, and the sedentary, high-stress nature of the modern workplace. We will explore why prioritizing employee wellbeing is essential for productivity and retention, focusing on a holistic culture built on physical, mental, and social health. HR professionals will walk away with practical strategies to realign the work environment with human nature, fostering a more resilient and engaged workforce. By attending, you will learn how to: Realign modern work with our biological needs for movement, connection, and natural rhythms, Boost productivity and retention by prioritizing holistic employee health and purpose, Implement research-backed, practical strategies to build a high-engagement, wellbeing-first culture.

Lyra Health is changing how mental health is supported in the workforce, addressing higher acuity needs such as alcohol and substance addiction, neurodiversity, and support for teens, while also tackling the access to care crisis in Canada and around the world. Working with your health insurance provider, Lyra also helps manage costs in a world of ever-increasing medical inflation.

The power of choice and intention in your personal and professional life? What are the techniques to convert everyday moments into powerful experiences? What is the impact of positive thinking on your mental and physical health? How can employers help staff to cultivate resilience and inner strength?