Future of Health & Protection Summit 2026

Debi O'Donovan

Co-founder & Director, REBA

Debi is the Co-founder  &  Director at REBA.

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Jonathan Clarey

Global Benefits Leader, Philip Morris International

After a lengthy spell advising multinational clients on their global employee benefits provision, Jonathan joined PMI’s newly formed Global Benefits COE in 2022. Since determining and communicating a benefits strategy with colleagues at its heart, implementation of the various strands is well underway, with a particular focus on benefit sustainability through efficient financing and actionable data insights. This has resulted in the creation of a virtual captive approach for our employee benefits. 

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Hazel Craig

Senior Global Benefits Management Consultant, Howden Employee Benefits

Hazel joined Howden in 2019 and has over 10 years’ consulting experience, supporting clients to enhance their people strategies to deliver organisational performance, development and change. Now specialising in the Employee Benefits space, Hazel is responsible for partnering with multinational companies to review, design and build competitive global benefits strategies that engage employees and drive business growth whilst remaining locally relevant and financially sustainable.

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Andrea Csigir

Global Benefits and Organisational Design Manager, Tetra Pak

Andrea has held various HR roles within Tetra Pak before transitioning to the Global Compensation & Benefits function as Global Benefits Manager in late 2021. In this role, she partners closely with country HR teams as a subject matter expert on the design, change, and implementation of Long-Term Employee Benefit programmes. Andrea plays a key role in driving stakeholder buy-in and successful adoption of benefit changes, including managing complex transitions. She actively monitors global trends to ensure competitive offerings and identifies opportunities to enhance the benefit landscape. Her responsibilities also include managing global benefit vendors, brokers and administrators against agreed service levels and KPIs. Andrea contributes to global projects requiring benefits expertise, most recently leading the rollout of the Global Company Car policy from HR perspective. 

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Niall Degan

Strategic Broking Lead, Aon

Niall has spent the last 20 years working within the Group Risk market, with an extensive background in account management and business development.

As a Strategic Broking Lead, he’s supported Aon clients in taking an innovative approach to benefit broking through early market engagement, use of data and insight, resulting in premium savings, bespoke propositions and access to additional wellbeing funding. In addition, Niall is regularly liaising with insurer stakeholders to develop bespoke solutions to best fit an organisation’s people strategy, objectives and challenges.​

Lately, Niall has used his understanding of the UK Benefit Market to evolve the approach to understanding and managing people risk to drive better outcomes, and secure greater value from benefit spend. He’s looking forward to sharing his thoughts and discussing his talk further.

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Anca del Rio

Advisor, Digital Health Systems & AI Governance

Anca del Río is a global leader in digital public health and health systems innovation. A sociologist and health economist specialised in digital transformation, she brings over 15 years of experience with WHO, EIT Health, the European Commission (EIT, EIC) and innovation ecosystems. She is known for repurposing data and technology for public good and social impact, reflecting the highest standards of healthcare leadership. Anca plays a pivotal role in advancing the WHO’s strategic agenda on artificial intelligence and digital health and serves on global advisory boards. A HIMSS Changemaker Awardee for Most Influential Women in Health IT in 2023 and Stanford-trained need-led innovator, Anca is also the founder of two health tech ventures and a think tank, a former frontline worker during COVID-19 and ISO auditor (QMS/9001, clinical risk management/31000). 

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Elton Dorkin

Chief Health and Medical Officer, Rio Tinto

No bio provided

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Nicola Fordham

Chief Solutions Officer, MAXIS GBN

As Chief Solutions Officer at MAXIS GBN, Nicola Fordham oversees the evolution and development of our offering including insurance solutions and global programmes. In this role she ensures that our solutions continue to address new challenges in the market and fit the needs of our multinational clients.  

Nicola joined MAXIS GBN in 2017 from MetLife UK where, as Chief Pricing Underwriter, she was responsible for the technical relationship between MetLife UK and MAXIS. She joined MAXIS as Director of Underwriting before stepping into the role of Chief Underwriting Officer in 2021.  In this role she worked closely with the MAXIS network of local insurers, the MAXIS EU Underwriting Hub and our multinational clients. In September 2024 Nicola moved to the role of Chief Solutions Officer, creating a new function within the business. Nicola has a wealth of knowledge to draw upon, with more than 20 years’ experience as a pricing underwriter for MetLife UK, Zurich, Generali and Unum.

  

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Richard Fraser

Director of Business Development, Howden Employee Benefits

Richard is responsible for the growth of Howden's Corporate client base. He has over 20 years’ experience in employee benefits and has helped numerous large and complex clients to overcome the many challenges associated with delivering valued employee benefit programmes. Richard is a passionate believer that strategy and insight should be foundational in helping organisations drive change and has a track record for pushing boundaries to deliver great solutions for clients when it comes to all things employee benefits and reward. 

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Jo Gallacher

Content Director, REBA

Jo Gallacher is the Content Director at REBA.

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Barney Gooch

Global Business Development Lead, Benifex

Drawing on data-driven insight gained through a Master's degree in Marine Biology, Barney has helped to shape the lead generation and account targeting strategy at Benifex. He is passionate about building trusted relationships while driving business growth through connection, and takes pride in bringing a collaborative, open-minded approach to leadership.

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Matthew Gregson

Executive Director, Howden Employee Benefits

Matthew oversees all aspects of Howden’s proposition for Corporate clients. He has over 20 years’ experience in employee benefits, including a large portion of his career helping shape the flexible benefits market in the UK.

Matthew has personally helped many large and complex employers introduce transformational change to their pension and benefits programmes, working with providers and partners in industry to innovate and maximise the value they bring to clients.

Matthew Gregson | LinkedIn

Matthias Helmbold

VP Global Risk Benefits, Health and Wellbeing, DHL

Matthias Helmbold joined the Insurance and Risk Management Division of DHL in 2021. With more than 20 years of experience in the employee benefits arena, Matthias has worked in actuarial consulting, corporate HR and insurance network roles in Germany, Switzerland, Singapore and the United Kingdom. Matthias’ primary responsibility is managing the DHL Group’s global employee benefits and health and wellbeing programme which utilises DHL’s captive insurance companies applying a breakeven premium pricing strategy.  The programme operates in 100+ countries with gross annual premium that exceeds €170m. 

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Jeremy Hill

Client Director, Vidett

Jeremy joined in March 2025, and leads Vidett’s developing approach to healthcare trusts, both as trustee and in relation to supporting the governance of healthcare trusts.

After originally qualifying as a pensions actuary and briefly holding a Scheme Actuary certificate, Jeremy has had a varied career, spanning multinational employee benefits, risk financing, governance, health and wellbeing. He continues to carry out independent consulting in these areas alongside his focus at Vidett on health trusts.

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Kareena Hooker

Employee Benefits Captive Advisor

Kareena is an independent risk director and leader with more than 25 years of experience shaping multi-year strategy and overseeing employee benefit, property and casualty and financial lines risk. Kareena has specialist skills in employee benefits, captives, health and wellness and corporate insurance programmes. 

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Sarah Hughes

Head of Client Management, AXA Health

Sarah is a well-known senior figure in the UK Corporate Healthcare and Wellbeing market with 30years’experience in the sector. Predominately working in partnership with clients, intermediaries,and key business partners, Sarah has extensive experience inemployee benefits and design, anddelivery of corporate health and wellbeing programmes

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Shaun Kilcoyne

Client Director, Vidett

Shaun joined Vidett as a professional trustee in February 2024, bringing over 25 years’ broad experience in trustee support, corporate-facing and consulting roles. These included in-house positions at Smiths Group plc and Alliance & Leicester plc. He works on both pension and non-pension trusts, and is part of the teams supporting healthcare solutions, and Group Life and Excepted Life Master Trusts.

Shaun’s experience includes sole trustee, co-trustee and chair appointments for pension schemes ranging in size from £1m to £1bn. His recent focus has been on journey planning, de-risking and helping schemes progress towards their long-term strategic goals. He is also a member of our pensions Endgame Solutions team.

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Cara McGannan

Business Development Manager, Aon

Cara Mcganna is the Business Development Manager at Aon.

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Katie McKenna, IMBA MSF GBM

Global Benefits Consultant, Mercer Marsh Benefits Multinational Advisory, Marsh

Katie is a Principal and member of the Mercer Marsh Benefits Multinational Advisory team, focused on supporting multinationals of all sizes in developing and executing data-driven global health & wellbeing strategies.

She also leverages her 15+ years of experience at a large US health insurer and in global benefits to provide guidance and support to clients across the Total Rewards spectrum, including development of global benefits strategy, benefits modernisation, inclusive benefits, and pre- and post-close M&A work.

Katie holds two Master’s degrees in International Business Administration and Finance, and has received the Global Benefits Management certification from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans.

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Gethin Nadin BSc MBPsS RSPH RSA

Multi-Award-Winning Psychologist, two-times bestselling HR Author and Chief Innovation Officer, Benifex and Zellis

Gethin is an award-winning psychologist, bestselling HR author, and one of the world’s most influential HR thinkers. Gethin was awarded seven trophies in 2024 for his work in influencing the global HR industry, most recently awarded two prestigious Stevie’s awards in New York for HR Thought Leader of the Year and HR Professional of the Year. He was also awarded PwC’s ‘Outstanding Contribution to the Industry’ at the 2024 The Rewards in London. Gethin is also a Fellow at the historic King’s College London, King’s Business School – a business school in the top 1% globally. 

Gethin Nadin | LinkedIn

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Clive Neale

Head of Large Corporate Underwriting, AXA Health

Clive leads the pricing and risk management functions within AXA Health’s large corporate business. With over 27 years of experience, he has built a reputation for fostering strong, trusted relationships with clients and intermediaries alike. His expertise spans a wide range of corporate portfolios at AXA Health - including UK private medical insurance schemes, Health Trusts, our Master Health Trust, as well as health & wellbeing services – supporting our clients’ long-term success.  

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Nick Pemberton

Head of Strategic Partnerships, MetLife

Nick is an accomplished employee benefits professional with over 25 years’ experience in benefits consultancy and group risk insurance markets. In his role at MetLife, Nick is responsible for driving the development of client multinational programmes and he leads the strategic partnership with MAXIS, MetLife’s global benefits network partner.

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Matthew Reed

CEO and Co-Founder, Equipsme

Matthew is a highly experienced insurance and commercial leader who has spent his career focused on creating customer-led propositions and businesses. He has held c-suite leadership roles at both brokers and insurers across general commercial lines and, more recently, health products. He has worked for Howden and Towergate as a broker and was part of the leadership team that successfully turned around AXA General Insurance in the UK, serving as Managing Director – Intermediary. Equipsme was a natural extension of his desire to build something that customers genuinely wanted.

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Dr. Wolfgang Seidl, MD MA MBACP(Acc)

Global Workforce Health & Global Mental Health Consulting Leader, Mercer Marsh Benefits Multinational Advisory, Marsh

Wolfgang 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 was running 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.

Wolfgang 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.

Wolfgang 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.

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Gavin Shay

Distribution Director and Co-Founder, Equipsme

Gavin is a senior leader in the employee health insurance market, with more than 20 years of experience spanning sales leadership, service delivery, and partnership development. He began his career as an NHS hospital porter—an experience that shaped his passion for helping people access the right medical support and treatment. He held senior roles at AXA Health, including Head of Partnership Development and Head of Business Sales, where he led growth strategies and strengthened key client and partner relationships.

With extensive industry knowledge and a reputation for practical insight, Gavin is widely regarded as a trusted expert in employee health insurance

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Ross Spearman

Chief Experience Officer, Benifex

Ross is a growth-focused technology leader with over a decade of senior experience in global benefits, HCM, and professional services. He has led major transformations across high-growth organisations, and is passionate about harnessing technology to revolutionise both customer and employee experience. Ross empowers global teams to turn bold strategy into measurable results through innovation, ownership, and a relentless focus on execution.

Ross Spearman | LinkedIn

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Rebecca Ward

Assistant Director, Head of Health & Protection, The ABI

Rebecca Ward is Assistant Director, Head of Health & Protection at the Association of British Insurers. She is responsible for leading the ABI’s strategy and policy development on protection and health policy issues.

She joined the ABI in 2024 having spent over twenty years in a variety of health policy roles, including medical ethics, international affairs, hours of work and medical staffing, and NHS terms and conditions of service (TCS). 

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