9.15am - 9:45am

Let's Make Preston a Stay Well City

With Bryan Jones, Tony Dawber & Stephen Robinson

Let’s Make Preston a Stay Well City! Meet Some Members of the Steering Group

Get to know the passionate individuals helping to shape Preston into a healthier, more connected, and supportive city. In this feature, members of the Steering Group share their roles, experiences, and vision for educating preventative wellbeing across the communities of Preston, working together to help residents stay well.

Richard Askam

Main Stage Facilitator

Richard Askam is a multi-award winning journalist and broadcaster. Specialising in sport, he has interviewed some of the world’s biggest stars including Tyson Fury, Usain Bolt and Sir Steve Redgrave to name but a few. In his native North West he has helped to shine a light on mental health issues. Richard is connected to a number of charities and organisations across the region.

Bryan Jones

Dean of School - Health, Social Work and Sport at University of Lancashire

Bryan is a prominent advocate for regional mental health. Combining a background in performance sport with healthcare education, he serves as an expert speaker and community panelist Stay Well. Bryan actively supports regional health initiatives and leads public workshops focused on building practical toolkits for self-compassion, resilience, and preventative wellness.

Tony Dawber

Development and Communications Officer - Preston Community Network

Tony is communication officer for Preston Community Network who support close to 200 community and charity groups in the city, many of whom work in the field of mental wellbeing. He has more than 25 years’ experience in newspaper journalism covering both news and sport and as an editor and sub-editor.

Stephen Robinson

Stephen Robinson is a British entrepreneur, mental wellbeing coach, and the founder and CEO of It’s Mental a rapidly growing wellbeing platform focused on helping people proactively manage their mental, emotional and physical health. Inspired by personal tragedy, including the loss of his brother and brother-in-law to suicide between 2016 and 2018, he transformed his own experiences with grief and mental health struggles into a mission to support others.

After experiencing a breakdown himself, Robinson stepped away from business leadership to retrain as a wellbeing coach and mentor. He later launched It’s Mental to help workplaces implement a Stay Well Strategy with the aim of making wellbeing support more accessible through technology, coaching, education, and community engagement.

He also Launched The Wellbeing Experience a Social Enterprise to create Stay Well Cities across the UK. Educating communities about the importance of preventative mental, emotional and Physical health with a mission to teach one million people how to Stay Well.

10:35am - 10:50am

Aaron Willis "I'll Start Monday"

Aaron Willis is a TED speaker, sales leader and business advisor who has delivered talks for organisations including Manchester United, major charities, and audiences across Europe and internationally. Known for combining humour with honest storytelling and practical insight, Aaron speaks on resilience, mental health management, discipline and high performance — helping audiences navigate pressure, setbacks and the internal habits that often hold them back.

His TEDx talk, “I’ll Start Monday”, explores procrastination, self-sabotage and why so many people delay pursuing the life they truly want. Aaron first became widely recognised after reaching the quarter-finals of The Apprentice in 2022, where his resilience and composure under pressure stood out to millions of viewers.

11.35am – 11.50am 

Rebecca Mason  - "The Power of Staying Well" interviewed by Richard Askam

Rebecca is a 45-year-old mum to two teenage daughters, a cockapoo’s favourite human, and wife to Rick my partner in crime for the last 26 years! I’m a Team Leader in People Services at AXA and after 18 years there, it’s fair to say I’m officially an AXA lifer. When I’m not juggling work and family life, you’ll usually find me partying with friends, at Yogalates, out walking, or squeezing in a run, all preferably followed by a good catch-up and a glass of something nice!

12.35pm – 12.50pm

Sam Jalloh - "YES I CAN!"

11 years War Survivor, 3 x Published Author, TEDx Speaker, Motivational Speaker, Former Tennis Player, Storyteller, winner of the 2020 BBC Inspirations Awards, (Ambassador for the Liverpool Heartbeat charity) Recipients of the 2022 Queen's Voluntary Service Award, founder of Motivate Afrika, Intl Tennis Coach, Head Tennis Ambassador, Globe Trotter

1.35am – 1.50am

Making a difference! The Benefits of being a Stay Well Ambassador with Dawn Navarro & Wesley Proverbs interviewed by Mark Jones

Dawn Navarro

After 24 years in HR, Dawn is still endlessly fascinated by people and what makes them tick. At AXA, she leads the teams supporting the employee lifecycle, keeping people processes human in an increasingly AI-shaped world. Known for her focus on confidence, growth, wellbeing, and mindset, she isn’t afraid to ask the uncomfortable questions that spark real development. Equal parts people champion, mindset cheerleader, and constructive challenger, she brings honesty, humour, and a refreshingly human perspective to every conversation.

Wesley Proverbs

Wesley Proverbs is an experienced Bolton-based paramedic with the North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust (NWAS). For over a decade, he has delivered critical frontline emergency care while actively promoting workplace equality.

As co-chair of the NWAS Race Equality Network, Wesley champions diversity and supports ethnic minority staff. His national work with the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) helps leaders challenge discrimination and build inclusive team environments across the service.

2.35pm – 2.50pm

How to become Stay Well Approved with Karen Lees, Claire Glynn interviewed by Mark Jones

Karen Lees

I’m Karen Lees and having recently retired from salaried work now run my own company specialising in all aspects of Health, Safety and Wellbeing. I recently left Preston City Council working as their Health and Safety and Emergency Planning Manger and previously to that worked in the nuclear industry for 28 years in a senior role responsible for all aspects of running a nuclear establishment. I also spent a number of years serving in the Armed Forces.

Currently Karen is working on the Stay Well Approved Audit process which helps organisations identify gaps in their wellbeing maturity and where and how improvements can be implemented.

Claire Glynn

Claire is an experienced Occupational Health Physiotherapist with a strong background in the health, wellness, and fitness sector. She specialises in musculoskeletal physiotherapy, biomechanics, ergonomics, and practical coaching that helps people move better and work healthier.

Claire is known for her clear, supportive communication style and her ability to translate clinical expertise into simple, effective strategies for workplace wellbeing.

She holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from the University of Central Lancashire, specialising in Health and Physical Education/Fitness.

3.45pm – 4.00pm

Closing remarks

With Richard Askam, Stephen Robinson, Bryan Jones

Closing Remarks – Stay Well Live Event

Join us for the closing remarks of the Stay Well Live 16Event, facilitated by Richard Askam and featuring panel members Bryan Jones and Stephen Robinson. Reflecting on the key insights and discussions from the event, this session will highlight the collective commitment to making Preston a Stay Well City and inspire continued action to support healthier, stronger communities.