Parental Mental Health: Supporting Parents in the Modern Workplace

Sarah is the founder of PR and marketing business Flawless Comms and chair of our Pro Parent Committee at Pro Manchester. Having become a first-time Mum during lockdown, Sarah was diagnosed with PTSD and postnatal anxiety and while she made a swift recovery, maternal mental health remains a topic she is passionate about.  Sarah juggles a busy career as an entrepreneur while also being Mum to three young children. She is committed to supporting parents to navigate their mental health in the post-partum period and beyond.

Maya is the MP for Ribble Valley in Lancashire. Her work focusses on changing society to make healthier workplaces and healthier families, which currently includes campaigning for more guaranteed perinatal support for mums, 6 weeks paid paternity leave for dads, and for moving towards the 4 day working week.

A life-long feminist and mother of 2 young children, Maya has previously been a trustee for Girlguiding supporting young women, but realised when becoming a parent that motherhood is where inequality skyrockets.

Elected in July 2024, she has quickly focused on making change, becoming Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Babies, and being appointed to the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee. She is passionate about building the knowledge and capacity of professional women to be politically active and make real social change.

Dr Krystal Wilkinson is Associate Professor of Human Resource Management, based at the Centre for Decent Work and Productivity at Manchester Metropolitan University. Her research focuses on the work-life interface; health and wellbeing at work; tackling inequalities and women’s reproductive health. She has published in leading academic journals, featured in various media outlets and trade press (including the BBC, the Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times and People Management magazine), and is lead editor of the 2024 book: Work-Life Inclusion: Broadening perspectives across the life-course. Krystal is passionate about knowledge exchange and is working with various stakeholders to raise awareness and create resources, including the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), national charities, campaign groups and employers. She is a Chartered Member of the CIPD and the first Ambassador for the Maternal Mental Health Alliance.

Rob McClenaghan-Harrop is a Director of Corporate Trust Pricing and Billing Oversight at BNY where he has worked for 18 years. His previous roles included Head of Liquidity Operations, and UK Fund Accounting Group Manager.

A graduate of Trinity College, Dublin’s Law School, Rob is a passionate advocate of inclusion and equality, previously leading the EMEA Chapter of PRISM, BNY@s LGBTQ+ employee resource group,  as well as representing PRISM globally on the Community Pillar for the Office of Belonging and Inclusion. He is a member of the Manchester Location Council, a trained Mental Health Champion and is a Senior Management Coach for Manchester Employees. Rob also represents BNY on the Board of Trustees for the Salford Foundation.

In his personal life Rob is the proud adoptive father to two boys, an avid Lego collector and a keen runner having completed a number of races to raise funds for charities such as MIND, the Campaign Against Living Miserably, Albert Kennedy Trust and Mermaids – the transgender youth charity.

Beatrice is the founder of Tosimba-By-Bee, a business rooted in food, culture, and storytelling. With over 20 years in HR, she has firsthand experience navigating the challenges of maternal mental health while working full-time. After experiencing postnatal depression following the birth of her second son, she developed a deep passion for raising awareness, fostering open conversations, and ensuring that no mother feels alone in her journey—whether in the workplace or the wider community. As a single mother of two, she continues to advocate for support systems that empower women and working parents.