Workplace health support and people risk mitigation take centre stage
With a little over two weeks until the REBA Congress, excitement is mounting for this year’s packed agenda.
This year’s event comes just as many employers begin to sense-check their benefits offerings to maintain their most vital workplace perks, while others try to manage the impact of big rises in payroll costs.
As societal health declines and medical and protection benefit costs soar, businesses face a perfect storm threatening productivity, performance and profitability.
Add rising employee financial pressures, and the message is clear: proactive support and strategic prevention are vital.
That’s why the REBA Congress 2025 is focussing on health, wellbeing and people risk through a sustainability and resilience lens to make sure employers can address skills and talent gaps, manage an ageing workforce, and optimise spend.
A programme of strategic thinking and practical learning
There are not one, but two opening keynote speakers setting the scene for this year’s REBA Congress.
Professor Hannah Fry, mathematician, broadcaster and best-selling author with her session: The 150-year life: How ever-increasing longevity will rewrite work, life and society.
Shruti Singh, senior economist, skills and employment division of the OECD speaking on Designing people risk strategy: Build workforce resilience and futureproof business success.
This year's agenda offers a dynamic mix of inspiration and learning – delivering strategic insights alongside practical, hands-on guidance, including:
In-depth masterclass sessions
There are four masterclass running, including Workplace wellbeing: The billion-dollar business advantage – How Bupa prioritised wellbeing and transformed corporate performance with Benifex; Closing the healthcare gap: Tackling access and affordability in employer-funded health benefits with Mercer; and From theory to practice: the secrets to harnessing data for maximum impact with Howden.
Specialist speaker sessions
The 27 sessions cover a host of health and wellbeing topics from Aligning benefits strategy with generational need to unlock productivity, resilience, and innovation with Barnett Waddingham, to Ignore adult care at our own risk: Why it’s not just a wellbeing issue but a strategic people risk with KareHero.
Innovation demonstrations
Find out about the latest product innovations. Aon will show you how to use data to anticipate risks, drive smarter decisions and futureproof your workforce health strategy, Workhuman will demonstrate how to unlock real ROI and enhanced employee experience with the most innovative employee recognition solution, and Ben will showcase the latest AI tools and strategies to maximise your benefits.
Panel debates
Join reward and benefits leaders from Centrica, British Airways and Aviva as they discuss How generational, cultural and digital shifts are reframing financial wellbeing and employee behaviours.
There will also be a panel discussion on Managing and mitigating the increasing costs of new legislation and regulatory change with specialists including Natalie Bertelsen-Macey, head of pay and reward at New Look.
Strategic workshops
Attendees can also join one of the six workshops featuring a session from Simplyhealth on Tackling the cost and complexity of delivering whole of workforce health benefits, an exploration of Driving impact and outcomes with a global women’s health strategy with Maven Clinic, and insight into Making the case: How to prove the ROI of healthcare benefits (and get buy-in from the c-suite) with Peppy.
World class exhibition
There will also be a packed vendor exhibition situated across two floors, giving you the opportunity to forge valuable connections with the best range of relevant providers in a relaxed, comfortable environment.
If that wasn’t enough, we’ll be rounding off the day with our closing keynote speaker Dame Joanna Lumley OBE.
