Introducing our experts

Rob Stephenson

Mental health campaigner and founder, InsideOut Leaderboard

Rob is a global mental health campaigner and keynote speaker, on a mission to inspire the creation of mentally healthier workplaces. InsideOut Leaderboard, the charity Rob founded, helps smash the stigma of mental ill-health in the workplace.

Rob is also CEO and founder of FormScore, an app that helps people support each other and provides employers with real-time wellbeing analytics.

"Rob, what go-to wellness activity do you turn to when you need to step away from the desk?"
"I'm a big fan of cold-water therapy and have a well in my garden that I like to get into every day. I feel super energised after a session and find it to be a very mindful activity. It's now known as the Well of Wellness."

Jan Vickery

Chartered Physiotherapist and Health Ergonomist, AXA Health

Jan has worked in occupational health for over 20 years.

"Jan, what go-to wellness activity do you turn to when you need to step away from the desk?"
"I find it impossible to go for a run during the work day so, to succeed, I have to do that before I start work. It helps me transition into work headspace."

David Staff

Wellbeing Services Manager, AXA Health

David's team supports over 200 clients each year with their wellbeing agendas. His five years in workplace wellbeing, in both the public and private sectors, began with a desire to help people thrive. David’s early years were in 1:1 environments helping people achieve better health before realising that, to really make an impact, he needed to focus on the workplace.

"David, what go-to wellness activity do you turn to when you need to step away from the desk?"
"I enjoy triathlons, so a run, swim or cycle frees my mind. However, for a quick win, I've recently got an obsession with weeding or mowing the lawn. Something strangely therapeutic. Maybe a sign I’ve reached a life midpoint!"

Mark Wilson

Managing Partner & CEO, Wilson Fletcher

Mark is a specialist digital strategy and design consultant. He leads Wilson Fletcher’s strategy work and has over 30 years' experience helping leading companies around the world become strong digital businesses.

"Mark, what go-to wellness activity do you turn to when you need to step away from the desk?"
"Walking outside always helps to clear my brain, get oxygen in my lungs and think more clearly. We’ve always brought our dogs to work, and they are also a wonderful way to decompress quickly."

Eugene Farrell

Mental Health Lead, AXA Health

Eugene is a member of the mental health sub-group for The Council for Work and Health and has strived relentlessly over the last 20 years to promote workplace employee assistance programmes (EAP), mental health and the removal of mental health stigma. He has worked for AXA Health for more than 25 years.

Eugene has also worked with other organisations, mental health providers, professional bodies, the World Health Organisation, charities and government, consulting about the management of work and personal mental health and wellbeing.

"Eugene, what go-to wellness activity do you turn to when you need to step away from the desk?"
"I like to do a quick spin class or go swimming at my local gym, but if I’m wanting to get away from my desk and get some fresh air I go for a walk along the canal with the dog."

Victoria Mason

Consultant Occupational Physician, AXA Health

Dr Victoria Mason MFOM joined AXA Health in January 2018. Formally a GP, Victoria has been an occupational physician since September 2009. Victoria is a member of the Faculty of Occupational Medicine in London as well as a member of the Society of Occupational Medicine, where she is Chair of Counsel.

"Victoria, what go-to wellness activity do you turn to when you need to step away from the desk?"
"Getting a glass of water. I'm bad at staying hydrated so it encourages me to move and hydrate."

Max Landry

Co-founder and Co-CEO, Peppy

Before launching Peppy in 2018, Max co-founded and served as chief executive of The Conversation. Max is driven by his ambition to make personalised, expert-led health support available to everyone, regardless of job role or salary.

"Max, what go-to wellness activity do you turn to when you need to step away from the desk?"
"Beyond work, I love cooking and spending time with my young family and my friends."

Chris Tomkins

Head of Wellbeing Propositions, AXA Health

Chris’s interest is in engaging populations and supporting people to make better decisions about how to manage their physical and mental health proactively. Chris combines over 25 years business experience with his doctorate in molecular biology from Oxford’s Institute of Molecular Medicine. This has given him an understanding of, and passion for, tackling the diverse range of risks created by modern lifestyles.

Recently Chris led the development of the Mind Health Index, part of our effort to define good mind health in the AXA Mind Health Study, and AXA’s mental wellbeing assessment.

"Chris, what go-to wellness activity do you turn to when you need to step away from the desk?"
"The first is simply a cup of tea. That requires me to walk and gives me a moment to think. The second, now it’s summer, is to move my office into the garden under a tree, although I need to put up a parasol over the computer because of the pigeons."

Zoe Ashdown

Head of People Engagement, Culture and Strategy, AXA UK & Ireland

Zoe joined AXA UK & Ireland in 2019. She's responsible for a wide remit that includes wellbeing, inclusion, employer brand, employee engagement and corporate responsibility. She’s passionate about creating a culture where people feel they belong, and supporting people to reach their full potential and thrive.

"Zoe, what go-to wellness activity do you turn to when you need to step away from the desk?"
"My go to is something creative. I love photography and I find that when the camera is in my hand I’m completely in the moment as it’s just that activity that I am focussed on."

Aileen Evans

Chief Executive Officer, Grand Union Housing Group

At the end of June 2021, Aileen completed her term as the president of the Chartered Institute of Housing, the professional body for those working in housing. She used the presidency to launch a sector wide campaign highlighting the importance of wellbeing at work and raised over £80k for MIND, the mental health charity.

"Aileen, what go-to wellness activity do you turn to when you need to step away from the desk?"
"My step-away-from-my-desk activity is walking – rain or shine and often with a podcast or audiobook. Milton Keynes is surprisingly green and I'm lucky to live close to woodlands and canal banks so I’m never short of spaces for calm reflection."