Disrupt Manchester

On March 5th, Disrupt Manchester returns with an evening summit dedicated to one of the defining themes of 2026: wellbeing in the world of work.

This special edition is produced in partnership with Wellnergy and proudly supported by HR Gazette. Expect a fast, energising, brain-sparking format where the region’s boldest thinkers share 5-minute lightning talks designed to shift perspectives and ignite new approaches to people, culture, leadership, tech, and—of course—wellness.

At the beautiful Campfield venue, professionals from across HR, Talent, Leadership, and Tech will gather to explore:

• How HR leaders and workplace innovators are reimagining wellbeing in 2026
• Fresh approaches companies are using to evolve outdated practices
• Ways to inject more humanity, energy and value into the local people community
• New connections with forward-thinking leaders, disruptors and problem-solvers

It’s networking meets inspiration meets let’s-actually-change-something.

Registration & Networking
Grab a drink, meet your peers, and warm up for an evening of ideas.

Event Introductions & Partner Talks

Lightning Talks (5 minutes each) from leading experts:

• Kirstin Furber, People Director at Manchester United Football Club
• Andrea Cook, Head of People at Total Fitness
• Rob Woollen, Chief Operating Officer at DSG Finance
• Ije McDougall, HR and Employment Law Expert at UK Civil Service and HR Expert Advisor at HMRC
• Sarah Williamson, Senior HR Business Partner at Light & Wonder
• George Whalley, HR Director, People Operations & Business Partnering at L&Q
• Jennifer Cunningham, Vice President, Global Talent Acquisition at Pearson
• Bill Banham, Host of the HRchat Podcast
• Nick Steiert, Founder at Wellnergy

Closing Thanks & Final Networking

Disrupt Manchester has played host to an impressive roster of past speakers, including:

• Melissa Hewitt, Head of HR Outsource and Security Screening at Morson Group
• Mark Lawrence, Head of Analytics & Reporting at Deloitte
• Paul Armstrong, MD at NFP, an Aon company (Europe)
• Penny Haslam FPSA, Founder at Bit Famous Ltd and former TV Presenter & Business Journalist at the BBC
• Simran Whitham, CEO & Founder of FORMAT Group
• Ian Knowlson, NED, Business Growth Expert, Coach and Mentor at Talence Ltd
• Jackye Clayton, VP of Talent Acquisition and DEIB at Textio
• Una Doyle, Business Strategist at Creative Flow

Come be part of a community rewriting what healthy, high-performing, human-centric work truly looks like.

Partners and sponsors include:

HR Gazette

HR Gazette and the HRchat Podcast publishes the latest opinion, reviews, and news for pros interested in HR Technology, Talent, DEI, Performance, Wellness, Learning, and Leadership. Learn more: hrgazette.com
Wellnergy
Wellnergy is on a mission to redefine wellness—moving it away from the exclusive and esoteric and toward something truly inclusive, accessible, and community-driven. Guided by its “Wellness Your Way” philosophy, Wellnergy empowers people to explore and shape their own wellbeing journeys in ways that feel personal, welcoming, and inspiring. The brand is committed to creating safe, inclusive spaces, including for neurodiverse communities, while championing the idea that wellness can be fun, culturally relevant, and genuinely transformative for everyone. Learn more:

HR Toolbox
From recruitment to leaving and everything in between, HR Toolbox can provide your business with all it needs to reduce risk, create an awesome employee experience and help you grow! Learn more: hrtoolbox.co.uk

* Registering for this event does not guarantee entry. Capacity is limited and this event is specifically designed for HR, Talent pros, Tech leaders, and senior leaders at medium-large organisations. If you do not fit the criteria (e.g. you are a consultant/HR vendor) your application to attend may be rejected. Guests of partners and speakers will receive priority.

DATA PRIVACY & GDPR

DisruptHR North East's license is held by Iceni Media Inc. and your data security is taken seriously. To inform you of future events, we would like to use the information you supply during registration and you will have the option to opt-in to this as you register. You can also opt-out at any time. DisruptHR North East wouldn't be able to support good causes without its generous sponsors. In the spirit of the event and to allow the sponsors of this event to continue the conversation, your registration details may be passed to them. You can opt out of their communications at any time including during registration. You can see more about the security of your data on the Privacy Policy at The HR Gazette.

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