The SHE Show North West, held on Tuesday at Old Trafford, Manchester, once again delivered a standout experience for Safety, Health and Environment professionals.
With a packed agenda, exceptional speakers and a buzzing exhibition floor, the event proved to be both energising and deeply insightful.
Shirley Parsons was delighted to welcome around 40 invited guests to the event and host an exhibition booth that stayed busy throughout the day. Our team had a number of excellent conversations with Health & Safety Directors looking to strengthen their teams, as well as professionals considering their next career move.
Among a strong speaker programme, several sessions were particularly memorable.
Guy Bloom – Making Culture Change Stick
Guy Bloom brought high energy and straight-talking realism to his session. Opening with the striking statistic that only 34% of organisational change programmes succeed (Gartner), he encouraged delegates to reflect on why change often stalls — and what leaders can do differently.
He broke culture change into a seven-step process, making it practical rather than abstract, and rounded off with ten “change hacks” designed to boost the likelihood of success. His final hack — “beat the drum” — became a live demonstration as he pulled out a large drum and led the entire audience through a rousing Viking-style hand-clap routine.
A brilliant, high-energy reminder that leaders must set the rhythm behind any cultural shift.
Helen Garr – Building Mental Resilience With Humanity and Humour
GP and wellbeing specialist Helen Garr delivered one of the warmest and most uplifting talks of the day. Her framework for mental resilience — the five F’s: Feed, Fail, Friends, Float and Focus — struck the perfect balance of simplicity and depth.
In a moment that had the whole room smiling, Helen encouraged everyone to stand up and dance to Wham!, proving her point that small, joyful actions can reset mindset and mood. Her session was honest, relatable and packed with practical guidance for leaders and teams alike.
Kate Richardson-Walsh – Lessons From a Gold Medal Team
Olympic Gold Medallist Kate Richardson-Walsh offered a compelling look into what truly builds a world-class team. Drawing on her experience leading the GB Women’s Hockey team to victory in Rio 2016, she emphasised trust, communication and collective accountability.
Her “trust jar” metaphor — adding a marble each time trust is earned — resonated strongly. As she reminded everyone, trust is hard-earned and easily lost, and maintaining it requires consistent, everyday behaviours.
Rob Muldoon – A Powerful Personal Story
Rob Muldoon’s heartfelt and courageous session explored his personal experience of a mental breakdown while managing a construction site. His honesty created an immediate connection with the audience.
Rob’s message to leaders was simple but profound: share your fears and vulnerabilities. Doing so creates a safe space where others feel comfortable discussing their own mental health challenges — and opens the door to genuinely supportive workplace cultures.
A Great Day for the HSEQ Community – and a Thank You
Overall, the event delivered an inspiring mix of insight, personal stories and practical learning. At Shirley Parsons, we were thrilled to spend the day with so many clients, candidates and partners.
A sincere thank you to all our guests who joined us. It was a pleasure hosting you. And a special thank you to Vicki and the entire organising team for putting on such a fantastic event once again.
