2026 EMEA Summit
Transformative Leadership
April 22 | London
Learn | Explore | Network
NOTE: All times noted are in UK time (Greenwich Mean Time).
The agenda may be subject to change.
EMEA Summit Sessions
April 22nd
8:30 AM - 9:00 AM
Registration and Networking
9:00 AM - 9:10 AM
Transformative Leadership in Global Benefits
Welcome!
Lisa Yee, President & CEO of SVEF, opens the 2026 EMEA Summit by introducing this year’s theme, Transformative Leadership, and setting the tone for a day focused on impact. Amid economic pressure, demographic change, and rising workforce expectations, benefits leaders must drive strategy with clarity and purpose.
Speaker Details
Full Name
Lisa Yee
Job Title
President and CEO
Company
Silicon Valley Employers Forum
Biography
Lisa Yee is the President and CEO of SVEF, based in Northern California, leads and engages with employers and partners to drive change in global benefits. She enjoys spending time with her family and two rescue dogs, Daisy & Gryffin, volunteering with animal rescue organizations, traveling, and baking.
9:15 AM - 9:45 AM
From Benefits to Business Impact: Leadership Strategies for Success
Presented by Mercer Marsh Benefits and Google
Join Dr. Wolfgang Seidl and Google for an executive discussion on the direct connection between employee benefits strategy and organisational performance. This session explores how leadership, innovation, and emerging workforce trends are redefining the role of benefits in driving measurable business outcomes.
You’ll Learn:
- How linking benefits strategy to performance enhances organizational impact.
- Leadership approaches that foster innovation in benefits design and delivery.
- Emerging trends shaping the future of workforce health, engagement, and value creation.
Speaker Details
Full Name
Dr. Wolfgang Seidl
Job Title
MD MA MBACP(Acc), Global Workforce Health & Global Mental Health Consulting Leader, Mercer Marsh Benefits Multinational Advisory
Company
Mercer
Biography
Dr. Wolfgang Seidl is a Partner and member of the Global Workforce Health Management Leadership Team, founded the International Health & Wellbeing Network and advises organisations on data-driven strategies and implementation.
He has run global Employee Assistance Programs, worked in Primary and Secondary Care and in Academia. He is a member of national and international research organisations and a regular speaker at conferences around the globe.
Dr. Seidl is a Doctor of Medicine, holds a Master’s degree in Psychiatry, Philosophy & Society, and is an accredited psychotherapist. He is internationally recognised for his expertise in quality enhancement measures in workplace health and return on investment models.
As Board Advisor, he offers expert guidance to healthcare business leaders to support their growth and success.
Dr. Seidl serves as Visiting Professor in Applied Psychology and Health Management and published on data-driven health management, the intersection of diversity and health, bio-psycho-social healthcare, etc. He has produced training films on resilience, empathy, self-care, and engagement, and provides training for C-suite executives.
Speaker Details
Full Name
Kieran Maher
Job Title
Director, APAC, CALA and EMEA Compensation and Benefits
Google People Operations
Company
Google
Biography
9:50 AM - 10:20 AM
Ambassadors, Pilots, and Impact: Scaling Wellbeing with a Small but Mighty Team
Presented by Marvell
Discover how a lean regional team built a powerful ambassador network and launched high-
impact pilot programmes that delivered strong engagement and measurable results. A practical
roadmap for scaling wellbeing through cultural intelligence, experimentation, and local
ownership.
You’ll Learn:
- How to activate employee ambassadors to drive engagement at scale.
- Ways to tailor wellbeing programmes across cultures and generations.
- How pilots can validate impact and support scalable growth.
Speaker Details
Full Name
Moran Deutchman
Job Title
Wellbeing, Community Relations & EB EMEA Manager
Company
Marvell
Biography
10:20 AM - 10:30 AM
Networking Break
10:35 AM - 11:05 AM
The New Business Paradigm: Driving Cost Discipline While Protecting Employee Value
Presented by Workday
In a margin-focused environment, benefits must deliver both financial discipline and employee
value. This session explores data-led cost optimisation strategies that protect impact while aligning benefits with enterprise performance goals.
You’ll Learn:
- How to optimise spend while maintaining employee-perceived value.
- Actionable cost levers across plan design, vendors, and governance.
- How to position benefits as a strategic contributor to profitability.
Speaker Details
Full Name
John Whitaker
Job Title
Senior Director, International Benefits
Company
Workday
Biography
11:10 AM - 11:40 PM
Introducing Enterprise Benefits Intelligence – Building the foundations for AI-driven benefits leadership
Presented by Origin with a Global Employer
AI is reshaping HR — but without strong foundations, it creates risk instead of clarity. Learn how Enterprise Benefits Intelligence (EBI) enables multi-country transparency, stronger governance, and confident AI adoption through a unified system of record.
You’ll Learn:
- The value of consolidated, cross-country benefits data.
- How AI is influencing pricing, provider strategy, and operating models.
- The governance required to support data-driven decision-making.
Speaker Details
Full Name
Chris Bruce
Job Title
VP Global Total Rewards
Company
CEO and Co-Founder
Biography
Chris Bruce, CEO and Co-Founder of the world’s first Global Benefits Intelligence platform, Origin.
With 25+ years’ experience in HR tech, Chris co-founded Darwin in 2000 and exited the business to Mercer in 2016, and prior to co-founding Origin he was an angel investor in ground-breaking tech solutions as part of the Pink Investment Club, leveraging his expertise to help innovative startups grow.
Speaker Details
Full Name
Dr. Rohini Kamalanathan van Hoboken
Job Title
Senior Director, Health & Wellness, APAC
Company
Western Digital Corporation
Biography
Dr. Rohini Kamalanathan, or Dr. Ro, is a medical professional with 25 years of clinical
experience and has been with Western Digital for over 13 years. As Senior Director of Health & Wellness, she manages a dozen onsite clinics across five countries, serving over 40,000 employees. Dr. Ro has led successful clinic builds and upgrades, consistently advocating for improvements that enhance employee engagement and experience.
Prior to Western Digital, Dr. Ro pioneered the Health Screening Centre at Prince Court Medical Centre, transforming it into one of the hospital’s top departments.
A passionate advocate for the belief that people are an organization’s greatest asset, Dr. Ro is dedicated to creating data-driven, innovative preventative health programs. She is especially focused on promoting sustainable, long-term lifestyle changes that lead to lasting improvements in employee health, well-being, and productivity.
11:40 AM - 12:50 PM
Networking Lunch
12:55 PM - 1:25 PM
Coming Soon!
Speaker Details
Full Name
Weng Hong Yong
Job Title
Executive Director of MindForward Alliance Singapore
Company
MindForward Alliance
Biography
Weng Hong Yong is the Executive Director of MindForward Alliance Singapore, where he leads efforts to embed sustainable and measurable mental health practices in workplaces. With over 27 years of leadership experience in finance and operations, he promotes mental well-being, psychological safety, and thriving workplaces.
As a passionate advocate for workplace mental health, Weng Hong is a skilled moderator and content creator who inspires action through engaging discussions and practical insights. He also serves on the board of Project Green Ribbon,
focusing on youth mental health. His mission is to empower organizations to
prioritize employee well-being and foster environments where people can truly thrive.
Speaker Details
Full Name
Dr. Emma Waddington
Job Title
Clinical Psychologist and Trainer
Company
MindForward Alliance
Biography
Dr. Emma Waddington is a UK-trained Clinical Psychologist, registered with the British Health Care Professions Council and a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society.
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Smarter, Faster, Leaner: The Role of AI in Modern Benefits Management
This employer-only roundtable provides a structured peer discussion focused on shared challenges and emerging priorities in employee benefits and wellbeing. With participation limited to employer representatives, the session encourages practical knowledge-sharing, diverse perspectives, and constructive dialogue across the role AI is and can play in strategy, plan design, communications, administration, financing, and governance.
2:30 PM - 2:45 PM
Networking Break
2:50 PM - 3:20 PM
Global Vision, Local Relevance: Designing Benefits That Travel Exceptionally Well
Presented by Google
How do you design global programmes that resonate locally? Explore best practices for translating global benefits philosophy into culturally relevant, compliant, high-impact local delivery.
You’ll Learn:
- How to build a clear global benefits framework.
- Strategies to balance consistency with regional flexibility.
- Governance models that enable strong local execution.
Speaker Details
Full Name
Aino Castren
Job Title
EMEA Benefits Lead
Company
Google
Biography
3:25 PM - 3:55 PM
Coming Soon!
Speaker Details
Full Name
Lee Cortez
Job Title
Global Benefits, Mobility & Immigration Lead | Total Rewards, People
Company
Block
Biography
3:55 PM - 4:00 PM
Closing
Closing remarks with a brief reflection on the day’s discussions and key themes. We will highlight practical insights shared across sessions.
Speaker Details
Full Name
Alison Main
Job Title
Director
Company
Silicon Valley Employers Forum
Biography
Alison Main, Director, based in France, leads the international practice, consulting, and learning academy. She has held various roles in International Benefits and Rewards and has a particular passion for well-being. In her spare time she enjoys the Great Outdoors and entertaining friends with French and Asian cuisine.