The Council for Work and Health is a company, limited by Guarantee (Registration No: 08364702). It is managed by a Board of Directors, elected by Council Members for a term of three years. The Chair is elected by the Board for a term of three years.
Steven Boorman CBE
After a 30 year career in occupational health involving a huge variety of different businesses and experiences, it is a privilege to be invited to take on the Chair in 2018 after Diana Kloss has expertly led the first 7 years. My experience in Royal Mail, in roles that varied from CMO, Director of Health & Safety, and CSR Director, over nearly 21 years, taught me the value of working collaboratively with a broad range of professionals to enable workplace health improvement. I was pleased to contribute to the arguments that show that good work and good health are associated and that successful businesses benefit from happy, healthy staff. The 2009 review of NHS staff Health and Wellbeing, which I was invited to undertake by the then Health Secretary, Alan Johnson (an ex Royal Mail employee) highlighted that good staff health contributed to better patient care, improved efficiency and greater likelihood of succeeding against Regulatory targets. The NHS continues to make progress on recommendations from this work today.
The Council for Work and Health is well placed to contribute to the accelerating work and health agenda. The Government’s strategy articulated in its recent “Improving Lives” consultation and Command Paper has some challenging opportunities to deliver real change and improvement. However delivering these will take expertise and experience to develop ideas and approaches to support work and health improvements. Council and its members have that experience and knowledge and I look forward to working with them at an exciting time for work and health in the UK.
Professor Kevin Bampton
Kevin Bampton is the Deputy Chair of the Council for Work and Health. Kevin has been a Member of the Board of Directors of the Council for Work and Health since his election in May 2022.
Professor Kevin Bampton LLB FHEA FCMI is Chief Executive Officer of the British Occupational Hygiene Society (the Chartered Society for Worker Health Protection). Kevin has a particular interest in health equality, understanding the interests of hard-to-reach groups and the interaction between law, policy and education in this field. He was previously a UN Special Legal Advisor, a Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) legal advisor and have held Professorial Chairs in Public Law and in Comparative Justice, as well as Visiting Fellowships in both Health Sciences and in Good Governance.
He is an expert in the challenges of health rights of workers in hard-to-reach areas, he has also worked as advisor to the Police Federation of England and Wales and acted as advisor in this area to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS). His work with specialist bodies includes supporting the development of the investigation capability around health of the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority and in the field of labour abuse and modern slavery. He is an independent scrutineer of hate crimes for the Crown Prosecution Services, and is an acknowledged equality law expert.
As CEO of BOHS, he has been at the heart of the Society’s IIRSM award-winning support for workers during the pandemic. Since 2021, Kevin has helped health professional bodies to develop respiratory risk tools, now published by the RCN. As Chair of the BSI Health and Safety Committee, has led the development of a new strategy to make the Institute’s work more relevant and accessible to the UK’s businesses.
Kevin continues to be on the advisory boards for several significant research and innovation projects in the field of occupational health protection and monitoring. He have written extensively on the relationship between health protection and worker rights in recent years and provided written and oral evidence to Parliament on the subject. Kevin is currently Visiting Professor of Law at the University of Gloucestershire and is also on the advisory Board for Occupational Safety and Health Services Consultants Register.
Mandy Murphy
Job Title: Senior Coach Practitioner
Accrediting body: European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC)
Mandy Murphy is a qualified Coach Practitioner, specialising in Career Transition Coaching. She supports individuals, teams, and peer groups through pivotal changes in working life—whether that’s returning to work after a long absence (such as career breaks, parental leave, or sickness absence), stepping into new leadership roles, making career decisions, or navigating the uncertainty of a career change. Mandy works with merging teams, or those going through strategic renewal, supporting their transitions helping them with relationship building, team cohesion and communication.
In addition to one-to-one and team coaching, Mandy is a coach trainer and facilitator. Delivering workshops on emotional intelligence, team development, and health coaching skills—particularly tailored to occupational health practitioners and healthcare professionals.
Professional background, Mandy is an Occupational Health Management Consultant. Her previous leadership roles include Quality Lead for SEQOHS Assessors at the Faculty of Occupational Medicine and Deputy Head of the National School of Occupational Health.
With over 22 years’ experience in delivering, managing, and commercialising Occupational Health services—primarily within the NHS—Mandy has held OH nursing and leadership roles at University College London Hospitals (UCLH), The Royal Marsden, and Guy’s and St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.
Social media handles: LinkedIn: mandy-murphy Instagram: @KUTAcoach
Nicola Neath
Nicola is an accredited BACP Psychotherapist and Workplace Mental Health Expert with over 20 years’ experience, past Chair and current member of the BACP Workplace Executive. She has been supporting the work of the Council for over seven years. She is also the Co-Chair for the Mental Health Subgroup of the Council.
Nicola has a genuine enthusiasm for bringing all the professions that support Workplace Health together inside and outside of organisations, garnering their experience and advice to help improve the circumstances for health in the Workplace for the benefit of organisations and for employees. She has campaigned for parity for Mental health as health and spoken at various national charitable and Workplace Health events, most recently Chairing the Mental Health thread at The Health and Wellbeing at Work Conference 2025.
Nicola has a real interest in what is needed for, and what can be done practically in, organisations of all sizes that support the health and creativity for all employees. Nicola is deeply passionate about integrating psychological perspectives in workplaces, ultimately benefitting employees and the broader work and health environment.
Significant contributions to her field include publications on the workplace application of the McCluskey Model on Attachment Dynamics (To be Met as a Person at Work), and Relational Ethics. Her expertise is also reflected in several articles authored for BACP journals. Nicola is also a coach, trainer and consultant providing support for people inside and outside of organisations.
Nicola believes in the values of the Council and believes that our potential positive influence, professional leadership and expertise on all strategic work and health issues is needed now more than ever.
Shriti Pattani OBE
Shriti has worked in our National Health Service in a clinical capacity for 34 years majority of which has been in senior leadership roles. Her current roles include Head of Service, for an Occupational Health and Wellbeing Service in a large acute hospital in London leading a multi-disciplinary team. She also has a strategic role as the National Clinical Expert in Occupational Health and Wellbeing for NHSE and is the past president of the Society of Occupational Medicine which is a multi-disciplinary membership organisation. Her Global Clinical Advisor role supports the health systems connect programme with the Department of Health and Social Care. This has given her the privilege to support development of occupational safety and health in Africa, healthcare systems. She has been working with WHO as an independent Expert in Occupational Health, Safety and Wellbeing. In recognition of her contribution to the profession she was awarded an OBE in the King’s New Year honours 2024.
Shriti is passionate about education and training to develop the next generation of occupational health clinicians. Her role with the Royal Society for Public Health as their course director for the Diploma Course in Occupational Health and Imperial College London as an Honorary Senior Lecturer allows her to support this vision.
Shriti has been involved in innovative work in the area of Work and Health integrating employment services with health services in both primary and secondary care. This work has been highlighted in national publications and she has appeared on TV and radio channels to promote this work with a recognition that work is an important social determinant of health. The Governments focus on supporting people to stay in or return to work requires the support of the wider multidisciplinary team which encompasses a range of important contributors e.g. occupational hygiene, vocational rehabilitation, occupational health and many others. Equally important is prevention of work-related ill health and injury. The council as a multi-disciplinary organisation has a vital role in contributing to these agendas. In view of my experience as a clinician, with strategic and leadership roles I believe I have the expertise to support the mission of the Council for Work and Health.
Janet O’Neill
I have dedicated the past 22 years to working as an Occupational Health Nurse in the UK, currently serving as the Head of PAM Academy (PAM Group) and Deputy Head of the NSOH within NHSE. As a Queens Nurse, assistant editor of the Occupational Medicine Journal, and Trustee and Director of iOH, I bring a wealth of experience and commitment to the field.
My focus has been on workforce growth, training and development, underpinned by a strong foundation in clinical governance. I am deeply passionate about quality, education, and interdisciplinary collaboration within Occupational Health.
My vision aligns with the Council of Work and Health’s mission to elevate the profile of the organisation. I am committed to working with the board and members to promote interdisciplinary working and ensure the delivery of high-quality services. Additionally, I aim to contribute to the strategic focus on increasing awareness and access to health and work services, as well as advancing workforce development. These goals are central to my role as a board member, and I am dedicated to supporting the Council in achieving its vision.
Helen Kay
Helen is a Specialist Community Public Health Nurse with over 25 years of experience in occupational health. She currently serves as the Clinical Director and Director of Nursing for an Occupational Health, Safety, and Wellbeing Service within a large acute and community NHS Trust in London, where she leads a multidisciplinary team.
Helen has extensive expertise in delivering, managing, and commercialising occupational health services. As a senior leader in NHS occupational health, she is deeply committed to enhancing the health and wellbeing of NHS staff. Her focus is on reshaping and modernising occupational health services to ensure they are responsive to the evolving needs of the workforce and aligned with evidence-based, cohesive workplace health initiatives.
In her role as Chair of the London Consortium of NHS Occupational Health Practitioners, Helen leverages her professional networks to advance the priorities of the Council for Work and Health. She also actively promotes educational and competency-based practices to support the development and resilience of the occupational health workforce.
Helen has contributed to several national expert committees and forums focused on the intersection of health and work. Her international experience includes collaborative work with colleagues in Africa to develop occupational health interventions.
An advocate for effective and evidence-based occupational health practices, Helen is dedicated to supporting individuals in remaining in or returning to work. She recognises the vital role of the Council in influencing organisations and policymakers, and she is committed to working collaboratively to create sustainable employment that promotes healthier and longer working lives.
In addition to her clinical and leadership roles, Helen is a qualified coach.
Nicola Suckley
Nicola Suckley is a Chartered Physiotherapist with 20 years of experience in Occupational Health (OH). She is the founder of The Wellbeing and Rehabilitation Company, delivering Physiotherapy, Mental Health, and Exercise and Occupational Rehabilitation services across the public and private sectors.
Nicola has designed and led injury prevention and employee wellbeing programmes for local to international organisations, focusing on early intervention, workplace injury prevention, and employee wellbeing support. She adopts a proactive, strategic approach to workplace health, aiming to create lasting change through the provision of early intervention and support to employees with long term conditions to remain in or return to work.
Nicola is the former chair of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapist in Occupational Health and Ergonomics (ACPOHE) and served on the committee for 8 years. She has been instrumental in the development of ACPOHE’s comprehensive and interactive educational programme, ACPOHE guidance and SEQOHS accreditation for Physiotherapy. She remains an active educator and member of ACPOHE and has also served with the International Federation of Physical Therapists in Occupational Health (IFPTOHE). Both organisations have provided Nicola with the opportunity to support development, competency, governance and communication within the OH Physiotherapy community in the UK and internationally.
In 2021, Nicola became a Director of the Council for Work and Health, where she helps guide the organisation’s strategy, engagement, and educational initiatives. She has led on the delivery of the councils ‘Question Time’ webinars which has provided an opportunity for experts from various disciplines to engage in open discussion about a specific topic from their professional perspective. Nicola is a strong advocate for multidisciplinary collaboration in Occupational Health and wants to ensure this is promoted via the council by showcasing the breath of skills and knowledge members bring to the field of work and health.
Lanre Ogunyemi
I have been in occupational medicine for over 22 years and very active in SOM and FOM in various regional and national positions, including being past chief examiner of FOM. I am also current Academic Registrar for FOM RCPI. My practice (TOPHS Ltd) is a key provider of OH services in East Midlands, covering a broad range of industries and offering FOM approved training courses. I am currently a trustee of two thriving charities and fully conversant with charity leadership & trusteeship responsibilities.
As Immediate Past President of the Society of Occupational Medicine (SOM), I bring new vigour to our efforts to attract people to occupational health as a speciality, investing in our political advocacy and working on new initiatives, such as a leadership academy that develops leadership skills within our clinical community to benefit the health of workers. As a Director on the Council for Work and Health, I will enable greater synergies between our shared interests.
Professor Diana Kloss MBE
The Founding Chair of the Council was Professor Diana Kloss MBE, who was made Honorary President in February 2018.
Previous Board members include:
Natalie Beswetherick, Nattasha Freeman, Jan Vickery, Joanna Wilde, Hilary Todd, Christina Butterworth, Olivia Carlton, Karin Bishop, Mike Goldsmith, Bev Messinger, Tom Stewart Joy Reymond, and Robin Cordell.