Creating Psychologically Safe Workplaces

Heather Lacey is a multi-award winning disabled activist, D&I writer and speaker. As a young woman embarking upon life at university, Heather became heavily involved in disability advocacy online and began to share her lived experience of disability as a way to spread awareness of the barriers faced by disabled people in the UK. Her writing – though candid and oftentimes hard-hitting – illuminates yet celebrates the disabled experience and her lived experience of cerebral palsy, fibromyalgia and neurodiversity and the myriad of symptoms she lives with day-to-day.

Heather has worked with a plethora of organisations and charities including Scope, BBC, HuffPost, Recruitment Industry Disability Initiative and AccessAble.

Heather is actively involved in promoting disability rights in the workplace and chairs pro-manchester’s EDI sub-committee for Disability, Mental Health and Neuro Diversity.  Heather has featured on the Northern Power Women Future List, been recognised as one of the most influential disabled people in the UK on the Shaw Trust Disability Power List, listed as one of University of Hull and Team GB’s ‘Extraordinary People’, and has been named on the Manchester Evening News’s The Rising Star list: The finest young female lawyers and barristers in Greater Manchester.

Kirsty is a seasoned professional with over 18 years in the construction industry, currently serving as the Global Head of CRM at Gleeds. Beyond her impressive career, Kirsty is a leader in construction and a passionate advocate for mental health awareness.

Kirsty’s non-traditional career journey showcases her tenacity and determination in forging her own path. She brings a unique perspective to the business world.

Her commitment extends to empowering voices in the business landscape. Kirsty is on a mission to dismantle the stigma surrounding mental health, leveraging her personal experiences to foster open conversations within the industry and beyond.

Jamie works for BNY as a Specialist in the Global Asset Safety Team in Manchester and has worked for the company for over 15 years in various roles. He is currently a global co-lead for the Neurodiversity Pillar of HEART – BNY’s Diverse Abilities EBRG.

Since he was a young child Jamie has lived with Asperger’s Syndrome (Autism Spectrum Disorder). He is eager to share his experience and perspective as he believes this will help raise awareness and help to continue the ongoing eradication of the stigma associated with different neurotypes.

Jamie was born in New Zealand and first travelled to the UK in 2004 where he met his future wife and decided to settle.

Jake is a solicitor in the Employment department at Kuits, a leading, full-service commercial law firm based in Manchester city centre.

Jake advises on all aspects of employment law, providing strategic, practical advice to businesses on employment and HR issues such as disciplinary, grievances, poor performance and sickness absence. Whilst Jake has experience in acting for a range of employers, he is particularly experienced in acting for SMEs and those operating in the hospitality and leisure sector.

Jake acts for both employers and employees in the Employment Tribunal, with a particular focus on claims involving disability discrimination, harassment, constructive and unfair dismissal, sex discrimination and sexual harassment. He also delivers training sessions to clients on various topics including Equality and Diversity and preventing sexual harassment in the workplace, which assist employers to protect their business in the event of a claim of discrimination or harassment.

Catherine Henney is a Legal Director at Eversheds Sutherland, and heads up the Health & Safety team in Manchester. She has a Masters in Health & Safety and Environmental Law, and regularly advises corporate clients in relation to health and safety compliance, as well as crisis and risk management. She frequently works with leadership teams to look at their safety strategies and culture, and represents clients across all sectors when they are investigated and/or prosecuted by HSE and other regulatory bodies
She regularly advises clients on how to manage health and safety proactively within their organisation, including dealing with issues surrounding wellbeing, mental health, and psychological safety.