Dubai Agenda
Thursday 29th January 2026
Standard Chartered, DIFC
08:00 – 08:50
Registration, Networking, Meeting and Connections
08:50 – 09:00

Welcome and Setting the Scene


Mark Rix
Group Managing Director, Sonas Group, (Wellbeing at Work)

09:00 – 09:15
Standard Chartered - Keynote Introduction
An introduction to the Summit from your Host


09:15 – 09:40

Keynote Address: Implementing Effective Wellbeing Interventions at Work
What are the most effective resources organizations can utilize to help employees? What strategies can employers implement to determine what really works? What are the workplace factors that can undermine resilience? What help is available to front line managers who have team members experiencing mental ill-health?


Katy Holmes
CEO, British Chamber of Commerce Dubai

09:40 – 10:05

Implementing the Best HR and Workplace Wellbeing Solutions in the Era of AI
As technology rapidly advances and human adoption has to keep up, we run the significant risk of de-humanising and disconnecting our workforce. This risk is associated with a rising mental health burden and increasing social anxiety resulting in more volatile work environments. It is essential to understand how to connect with the wellbeing needs of employees and address them effectively in order to protect, attract and retain talent.


Dr. Tina Mistry
Mental Health Planning Manager, NEOM

10:05 – 10:45
Leadership Panel – Wellbeing as the Power Behind Organisational Performance
What is the association between workplace wellbeing and company performance? Beyond ROI, what are the true measures of wellbeing on performance? Building positive workplace cultures for business impact. What is the value of designing wellbeing programs as integrated experiences? How can employers truly help people thrive and grow?



Hind Alattar
Chief Human Capital Officer, United Arab Bank




Faten Kalloub
Regional Manager – HR (Middle East), Tractebel Engie




Gordon Rech
Director of Colleague & Medical Services, Jumeirah Group

Your Expert Panel Chair:
To be announced
10:45 - 11:15
Morning Refreshments & Conversation
11:15 – 11:40
Building the Neuroinclusive Workplace
How can organizations recognize the opportunity that integrating neurodivergent professionals can bring to an entire organization? Creating a neuroinclusive organization that includes individuals who are and who are not diagnosed with developmental conditions that fall within the neurodiversity spectrum. What are the drivers supporting advancement of neurodiverse professionals in the current marketplace and why they matter to their organization and industry. What are the leadership and teaming styles that can help enable neuroinclusion?
Speaker to be confirmed
11:40 – 12:05

Sustainable High Performance - Secrets from Formula 1 applied in the workplace
This session will give an insight to how F1 drivers and teams train and how we take 20 years of sports performance research into the corporate world of organizational wellbeing and high performance. Providing insight on how holistic wellbeing impacts cognitive performance, productivity, stress resilience and sustainable high performance with the world top athletes, leaders and companies.


Matthew Lewis
Managing Director, Hintsa

12:00 – 13:00
Leadership Workshops
A selection of 'Hosted' workshops showcasing the latest solutions and innovation in employee wellbeing and mental health strategies
1 -
To be announced
2 -
To be announced
3 -
To be announced
4 -
To be announced
5 -
To be announced
13:00 – 14:00
Lunch and Conversation Time
14:00 – 14:15
Audience Energiser
14:15 – 15:00
Leadership Panel - Wellbeing for All – Ensuring a Culture of Belonging is at the Heart of the People Strategy
Where does wellbeing intersect with culture? How do organisations achieve wellbeing for all employees? What are some examples that show why wellbeing needs to be addressed from an equity standpoint? How do organisations transcend belonging from the leadership to all employees?



Ingrid D’Lima
Head of Business Execution, ME& Africa, Citi




Sabahatt Habib
Chief People and Culture Officer, The Giving Movement




Dr. Sola Togun-Butler
CEO & Psychotherapist, Butterfly Counseling Services


Your Expert Panel Chair:


Paul Firth
CEO & Psychotherapist, Butterfly Founder, Lyra Wellbeing

15:00 - 15:25
Fireside Chat - The Role of CEOs in Driving Compassionate Workplaces
How do leaders demonstrate the value of wellbeing on company culture that ultimately drives employee inspiration and team performance?



Maria Pruna
Chief Executive Officer/Owner, My Car Care, Car Wash Center



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Mark Rix
Group Managing Director, Sonas Group, (Wellbeing at Work)
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15:25 - 15:50

The Future of Work is Well - Designing Spaces, Cultures and Habits that Help People Thrive
Workplaces aren’t just places of productivity - they’re where people spend the majority of their waking lives. This talk explores how the next evolution of work is rooted in wellbeing: not as an add-on, but as a foundation for sustainable performance. Blending insights from workplace design and holistic health, the session explores how space, culture and daily rhythms can be optimised to energise teams, reduce burnout, and create lasting impact. Expect practical examples from high-performing workplaces, and actionable ideas HR leaders can implement immediately - whether redesigning a global HQ or refreshing the employee experience.


Michelle Wilkie, Director, tp bennett
Group Managing Director, Sonas Group, (Wellbeing at Work)

15:50 - 16:00

Closing Remarks


Mark Rix
Group Managing Director, Sonas Group, Wellbeing at Work

16:00 – 17:00