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The data from the Best Places To Work (BPTW) Annual Survey tells us that Kiwi organisations understand the importance of prioritising employee wellbeing, and the direct link this has to strong business outcomes. Happy, healthy, fulfilled people are more productive and have a greater drive to succeed.

Wellbeing in the workplace doesn’t fit neatly into one box, and there are a number of ways employers can approach it. This often starts with questions such as which initiatives to focus on? How do we do it in an economically sustainable way? And where does the responsibility start and end for ensuring wellness?

If you are currently considering or in the process of creating an employee wellbeing programme, or even if you have one in place but want to evolve or expand it, the BPTW Wellness Masterclass is a great place to start.

“When we treat ambition and compassion as one or the other, the implication is that we can’t simultaneously aspire to greatness while also caring for ourselves and each other. But not only are ambition and compassion not mutually exclusive, they are utterly dependent on each other.”
- Kaila Colbin

Key Topics

How wellness initiatives can boost employee wellbeing without significant financial investment.
The importance of creating an environment where people feel a sense of belonging, autonomy, and purpose.
The link between employee wellness and business success, demonstrating how employee wellbeing is integral to financial performance.
Practical tools for assessing the wellbeing of teams.
Insights from thought leaders emphasising that ambition and compassion are mutually dependent for high performance.

Why attend?

The BPTW Wellness Masterclass has been designed to equip you with actionable strategies to prioritise wellbeing and develop a supportive work culture, ultimately leading to improved organisational success.

This is a highly interactive, engaging day. You’ll be asked to contribute, and there will be the opportunity to plan the next wellness steps for your business.
Wellness initiatives don’t need to cost a lot of money. In fact, there are many things organisations can do to increase the wellness of their people without spending. Wellness in the workplace is primarily about enabling your people to feel good when they are at work.

The masterclass will show you how to create wellness within your organisation, with a considered focus and programme, rather than being something that may be ‘done on the side’. You will learn practical ways to get a gauge on the wellbeing of your people, and what to do with this information.

Facilitators

The masterclass will be facilitated by Dr Ellen Joan Ford and Craig Hudson.

You will also hear real-life insights on wellness strategy and initiatives from some of the 2024 BPTW Awards finalists, winners and industry experts, who will share their journeys.

Dr Ellen Joan Ford

Ellen is terrifyingly ambitious about improving the working world for people and for organisations. As a leader, researcher, military veteran, international speaker, TEDx speaker, facilitator, consultant and parent, Ellen draws on her research and practical experiences to drive organisational outcomes such as improved retention, productivity, engagement, wellbeing and ultimately helping to create high performing businesses, by improving inclusive leadership capabilities and workplace culture. Her keynotes and workshops are full of practical takeaways.

Ellen was awarded the Kiwi Bank New Zealander of the Year - Local Hero, Person of the Year - Manawatu Standard and the prestigious Sir Peter Blake Leadership Award. She is the author of #WorkSchoolHours (endorsed by CEOs of KiwiBank, FMG, DevryBV and Cliftons, and dubbed a “must-read for any leader building a modern workplace”) and her leadership model is Belonging, Autonomy and Purpose. Ellen is passionate, authentic and speaks from the heart with warmth, enthusiasm, bubbliness and fun.

View more here: www.ellenjoanford.com

Craig Hudson

Craig is an influential leader, facilitator, and advocate for leadership wellbeing in New Zealand. With extensive experience in both corporate and leadership development, Craig has dedicated his career to helping leaders cultivate resilience, emotional intelligence, and high-performance cultures. As a co-facilitator of this Wellbeing Masterclass, he draws on his expertise to empower individuals and organisations to create sustainable, positive change.

Craig's leadership journey includes serving as the former Managing Director of Xero New Zealand and currently as the General Manager of Export Customers at New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE). His innovative approach to leadership and commitment to fostering inclusive, high-performing teams has earned him numerous accolades, including the Walk The Talk Leadership Award from Diversity Works (2019), HeadFit Leader of the Year (2021), HiTech Most Inspiring Individual in Tech (2021), and NZ Herald Business Hero of the Year (2020). Craig was also named a semi-finalist for New Zealander of the Year in 2021.

Through his career, Craig has proven that authentic leadership can drive success, inspire innovation, and create lasting impact in both business and communities.

Key Takeaways & Outcomes:

Practical ideas for implementing wellness initiatives
Understanding of employer vs employee responsibility
Information on tools to measure the success of wellness initiatives
Connections with other business
Impact on family and community

Speakers

Additionally, the day will feature firsthand insights on wellness strategies and initiatives from the 2024 BPTW Award Finalists and Winners. They’ll share their experiences on successful wellness programs within their organisations, including key actions, measurable outcomes, and valuable tips for implementation. There will also be ample opportunities for networking and engaging Q&A sessions throughout the event.

Karly Boast - LawVu

Karly Boast is a seasoned leader and HR executive with over 20 years’ experience driving transformative people strategies that fuel business growth and build high-performance cultures. Her career spans start-ups to global organisations across industries including retail, construction, technology, consultancy, and now SaaS.

As the Global VP of People at LawVu, Karly aligns people strategies with business goals, fosters leadership capability, and creates environments where innovation, inclusivity, and employee wellbeing thrive. With expertise in scaling global SaaS companies, Karly excels in culture transformations, talent density, high performance, and leadership development, delivering lasting impact through data-driven strategic solutions.

Charlotte Stroebel - Mytona

A passionate advocate for wellness and community building, Charlotte Stroebel’s 15-years’ experience has spanned various roles in this space in London, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. She is deeply dedicated to nurturing inclusive work environments and inspiring others to prioritise wellbeing in their workplaces and beyond.

As Wellbeing and Administration Manager at Mytona, Charlotte spearheads initiatives that enhance the physical and mental wellness of the team. She is focused on empowering others while reinforcing the importance of a supportive workplace culture. Her commitment to ensuring every Mytonian feels valued and appreciated helps foster an environment where wellness is integral to daily operations. During the masterclass, Charlotte looks forward to sharing insights from her journey and the impactful wellness strategies implemented at Mytona.

Rachel Harris - Auror

Rachel is passionate about driving positive change through the experiences people have at work. As a Talent & People Experience Partner at Auror, she champions programs that enhance team engagement, mental health, and work-life balance. Her background across global SaaS businesses has provided her with a unique perspective on how to build inclusive and sustainable wellness programs that resonate with diverse teams.

More speakers to be announced soon.