2026 EMEA Employee Benefits Summit
Transformative Leadership
June 25 | London
Learn | Explore | Network
NOTE: All times noted are in UK time (Greenwich Mean Time).
The agenda may be subject to change.
EMEA Employee Benefits Summit Sessions
June 25th
8:30 AM - 9:00 AM
Registration and Networking
9:00 AM - 9:10 AM
Transformative Leadership in Global Benefits
Presented by Silicon Valley Employers Forum
Welcome!
Lisa Yee, President & CEO of Silicon Valley Employers Forum, 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 Mercer Marsh Benefits 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. Luke James
Job Title
Partner & Leader of Workforce Health in Europe
Company
Mercer
Biography
Luke is a highly accomplished medical doctor with over 25 years of experience in the field. Throughout his career, he has made significant contributions to both global and domestic medical insurance, demonstrating his expertise in healthcare leadership.
Luke joined MMB in April 2023 as the Workforce Health Leader for Europe. Prior to this role, he held senior leadership positions in a global insurer and corporate healthcare provider, most notably serving as the Deputy Group Chief Medical Officer. During this time Luke played a pivotal role in shaping the company's medical strategy and ensuring the delivery of high-quality healthcare services to clients.
With a background as a family physician, medical educator, non-executive director, and board member, Luke possesses a diverse skill set that encompasses both clinical and managerial expertise. He has successfully led large multi-disciplinary teams across a national network of primary care health clinics, driving improvements in clinical governance and quality.
Luke's experience as a medical director for a global medical insurance business has equipped him with a deep understanding of claims management, high-cost drugs, and novel therapies. His strategic approach to these areas has been instrumental in optimizing the delivery of healthcare services and enhancing patient outcomes.
Passionate about advancements in healthcare technology and personalized medicine, Luke recognizes the transformative potential of these innovations in improving the quality of care and outcomes for employees. Moreover, he leverages his expertise to effectively manage people risks for clients, ensuring their well-being and mitigating potential healthcare challenges.
Speaker Details
Full Name
Kieran Maher
Job Title
Director, APAC, CALA and EMEA Compensation and Benefits
Google People Operations
Company
Google
Biography
Kieran joined Google in 2012 and is Director of Compensation and Benefits for Canada, EMEA and LATAM based in London. He is responsible for the development and execution of compensation and benefit strategies for the region. Before joining Google, Kieran worked for Bloomberg L.P. in New York, London and Hong Kong. He holds a Masters from Temple University and a BA from the George Washington University in DC.
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
Moran Deutchman is the Employee Experience, Community Relations & Employer Brand Manager for Marvell Technology across EMEA. She leads regional wellbeing, engagement, volunteering, and employer branding initiatives, and works in close partnership with global HR and business leaders to create meaningful, high-impact employee experiences.
Moran has a strong focus on innovation, community impact, and building an inclusive culture.
She designs large-scale programs that connect technology, people, and purpose, strengthening organizational resilience and fostering engagement across diverse sites and regions.
10:20 AM - 10:35 AM
Networking Break
10:40 AM - 11:10 AM
Introducing Enterprise Benefits Intelligence – Building the foundations for AI-driven benefits leadership
Presented by Origin
The session explores how AI and the emerging Enterprise Benefits Intelligence (EBI) category is reshaping people, reward and benefits functions.
AI is everywhere, but without strong foundations, AI does not create clarity. It creates risk.
In this session, we introduce the concept of true Enterprise Benefits Intelligence. We will explore what it takes to create a single, reliable system of record across countries, vendors, policies, and governance requirements, and why this foundation is essential for trustworthy AI, meaningful insight, and confident decision-making.
You will hear how one global organisation moved from fragmented benefits management to operating with clarity, control, and measurable impact. We will share the practical steps they took, the challenges they faced, and the outcomes they achieved, from cost optimisation to stronger governance and strategic influence.
Key issues to be explored
- The opportunities of transparency across multi-country benefits
- Impact of data and AI on benefits management, from pricing to provider relationships, and the entire operating model
- The role this change plays for global, multinational and local benefits directors and their teams and broader HR Transformation initiatives
Speaker Details
Full Name
John Whitaker
Job Title
Senior Director, International Benefits
Company
Workday
Biography
John Whitaker is Senior Director of International Benefits at Workday, where he leads global benefits strategy across EMEA, LATAM, and APAC. With over two decades of experience and prior leadership roles at Amazon, Sky, and IHS, he specialises in scaling benefits programmes, M&A integration, and new market expansion.
He is a recognised voice in the industry, known for simplifying complexity and using technology to deliver more inclusive, high-impact employee experiences.
11:15 AM - 11:45 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
John Whitaker is Senior Director of International Benefits at Workday, where he leads global benefits strategy across EMEA, LATAM, and APAC. With over two decades of experience and prior leadership roles at Amazon, Sky, and IHS, he specialises in scaling benefits programmes, M&A integration, and new market expansion.
He is a recognised voice in the industry, known for simplifying complexity and using technology to deliver more inclusive, high-impact employee experiences.
11:45 AM - 12:45 PM
Networking Lunch
12:50 PM - 1:20 PM
From Benefit Menus to Lifecycle Journeys
Presented by IGP
Leading organizations are shifting from static benefit menus to dynamic lifecycle journeys that deliver the right support at the right life moment. This personalized, context‑driven approach enhances engagement, simplifies decision‑making and strengthens overall employee wellbeing.
You’ll learn:
- How to start and onboard personalized digitization.
- How to navigate and manage your employees benefits and risks.
- How to create a more supportive and inclusive employee experience.
Speaker Details
Full Name
Horac Sebek
Job Title
IGP Regional Director EMEA
Company
IGP
Biography
Horac Sebek is an experienced global employee benefits commercial leader with a proven track record of delivering growth across EMEA.
He works closely with international employers to design scalable benefits programs that enhance engagement and retention.
His strong client-first mindset consistently turn complex needs into high-impact solutions.
Speaker Details
Full Name
Alexa Pernito
Job Title
Senior Manager, Global Benefits
Company
Aberdeen
Biography
Alexa Pernito is an HR leader focused on creating people-centred workplaces through innovative global benefits, wellbeing, and inclusion strategies. She has designed programs that blend data, care, and equity—from modernising benefits frameworks to building holistic health initiatives that drive real impact.
Alexa is also committed to sustainability and social impact, having led ESG-aligned initiatives and partnerships that strengthen corporate volunteering and community engagement.
Recognized for her strategic thinking, empathy, and storytelling, Alexa works at the intersection of business strategy and human experience—crafting people programs that are purposeful, progressive, and transformative.
Speaker Details
Full Name
Lisa Hack
Job Title
Head of Proposition
Company
EBC
Biography
Lisa Hack is a commercial and growth-focused benefits leader specializing in digital innovation, scalable platforms and partnership ecosystems. Uses data, insight and technology to shape differentiated reward strategies that strengthen workforce wellbeing, engagement and measurable business performance. Regular speaker on human-centred benefit design and the future of reward.
1:25 PM - 2:10 PM
From Burnout to Performance: Leading with Humanity in an AI-Driven Workplace
Interactive Session Presented by Cisco
As AI reshapes how we work, the real leadership advantage lies in staying deeply human. This session explores how we can navigate rising pressure across our workforce, recognise early signs of burnout, and create environments where people can perform at their best.
Sheila shares her strategic approach alongside practical ways to balance AI-driven efficiency with empathy, connection, and trust. Drawing on her work with leaders, teams, and Wellbeing Ambassadors, she will highlight how she embeds wellbeing as a business imperative focusing on building resilience, staying coachable under pressure, and using AI to enhance, rather than replace, meaningful human interactions.
Join us to discover how a human-centred approach can reduce burnout, strengthen team connection, and unlock sustainable performance in an increasingly AI-powered world.
Speaker Details
Full Name
Sheila Champion-Smeeth
Job Title
Global Head of Wellbeing, People and Communities
Company
Cisco
Biography
Sheila is accountable for continuously evolving the Global Wellbeing Strategy that drives a Conscious Culture of holistic wellbeing for leaders, teams and individuals at Cisco. Sheila joined Cisco in 2000 and has held numerous roles across the organisation and has spent most of her career in People & Communities.
Sheila's passion lies in caring and supporting people through holistic and inclusive wellbeing offerings across the globe. As Global Head of Wellbeing she is a thought-leader, developing unique collaborations and integration opportunities with Cisco business leaders, wellbeing vendors and partners.
Sheila’s accountability for the vision and governance of wellbeing across the globe in Cisco ensures alignment with business objectives, meeting employee expectations, and driving continuous improvement. Collaborating with cross-functional teams, stakeholders, and subject matter experts Sheila designs, develops, and delivers high-quality offerings and experiences to ensure wellbeing is a business imperative. Passionate about caring for and supporting people, she champions inclusive, whole-person wellbeing approaches that meet the needs of a diverse global workforce.
In her spare time, Sheila loves being with her family and friends. Her passion and love of sport, caring for people, is embedded into her everyday life where she takes care of herself and those around her to role model her work on wellbeing for all.
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.
2:15 PM - 2:45 PM
Coming soon!
Speaker Details
Full Name
Aino Castren
Job Title
EMEA Benefits Lead
Company
Google
Biography
Aino Castrén is an International Benefits leader at Google where she leads Benefits strategy and delivery for EMEA. She has over 15 years of experience in a variety of global benefits topics across consulting and large corporations, such as WPP, where she previously led EMEA and APAC Benefits.
2:50 PM - 3:20 PM
Family Building Benefits – Translating Global Vision into Local Reality
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
Aino Castrén is an International Benefits leader at Google where she leads Benefits strategy and delivery for EMEA. She has over 15 years of experience in a variety of global benefits topics across consulting and large corporations, such as WPP, where she previously led EMEA and APAC Benefits.
3:20 PM - 3:30 PM
Closing
Presented by Silicon Valley Employers Forum
Closing remarks from Alison Main, Senior Director at the Silicon Valley Employers Forum, 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.