Event Information

Guest speaker

Ibrahim Hasan is a solicitor and director of Act Now Training Limited which he founded 20 years ago. Ibrahim is recognised as a leading authority on information rights law. He writes a regular column for the Law Society Gazette and is the editor of the UK GDPR Handbook. Ibrahim is often called upon by the media to provide comment and analysis on news items. He has also taught information rights law at postgraduate level and presented papers at conferences around the world.

As the course director for Act Now Training, Ibrahim is responsible for creating innovative curricula, through designing certificate programmes, that have helped a global audience of practitioners develop their competencies and understanding of information rights law.

Keynote speaker

Alison Unsted is the CEO of MindForward Alliance, a leading global not-for-profit membership organisation transforming workplace culture into one that supports the mental health of its employees. Alison’s role is instrumental in setting the standards for workplace mental health globally, through leadership of MindForward Alliance’s Thriving at Work programmes.

Alison has over 25 years’ experience gained in both operational and specialist global HR leadership roles across professional services, retail and STEM industries working for employers such as law firm Hogan Lovells, the John Lewis Partnership and BAE Systems plc. She is a subject matter expert in the field of diversity, inclusion, and workplace wellbeing.

Alison has two children and a dog which keeps her busy outside of her work. Alison enjoys Pilates, walking the dog, tennis and reading.

Guest speaker

Helen Houghton joined Acas in 2008 and has held a range of roles during that time including working on the Acas Helpline giving advice about employment law on a daily basis. Helen has also drafted guidance pages for the Acas website.

Helen’s current role as Senior Business Adviser for Acas involves her working with a wide range of organisations across all sectors. Helen often works with organisations to help them identify strengths and areas for improvement within their business. Helen covers all areas of employment relations and has specific interest in conflict management, mediation skills and mental health awareness.

GUEST SPEAKER

Alice received her PhD in Criminology and Law from the University of Sheffield in July 2021. She also holds a first-class degree in Counselling, Coaching and Mentoring and an MSc Psychology degree. Throughout her studies, Alice continued to gain experience in the criminal justice field and the neurodiversity sector. She has worked with North and West Yorkshire Police, and the Independent Office of Police Conduct. She also lectured at the University of Sheffield and York St John University, where she worked primarily with neurodivergent students.

 Alice now works at Creased Puddle as a Specialist Neurodiversity Consultant, continuing her personal and professional passion for neurodiversity, delivering training and consultancy to a wide range of businesses and organisations.

Guest speaker

Susan Bright, CEO of Employers' Initiative on Domestic Abuse joined EIDA in December 2022. EIDA is a network of over 1,500 employers who collectively employ more than 25% of the UK’s workforce and who are committed to taking effective action against domestic abuse by supporting their employees. EIDA focuses on raising awareness, inspiring and supporting employers to tackle domestic abuse impacting their people and providing the tools and resources an employer needs to take effective action against domestic abuse. They also share best practice so employers can learn from each other, through creating resources and hosting events; and collaborate with government, partners and academics to provide the latest guidance and to champion change.

Previously Susan was a partner for more than twenty years at global law firm, Hogan Lovells. She held a number of senior leadership positions, including as a member of the firm’s global executive, Managing Partner for the UK and Africa, and the firm’s first Global Managing Partner for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Responsible Business. Susan has been committed to tackling domestic abuse for many years and led the firm’s introduction of its domestic abuse policy. Hogan Lovells became one of EIDA’s early Beacon members.

Susan is also Chair of 50:50, which helps women to progress in politics and is a Non-executive Director of MindForward Alliance, a network of businesses working together to support and create positive mental health for their people.

Sue is a partner within our charities and social economy team at Wrigleys

Sue advises charities and other not for profit, voluntary and community organisations and social enterprises on all aspects of employment law including strategic issues involving TUPE and restructuring.

Sue has experience of advising on severance packages and on senior executive service agreements. She also represents employers throughout the Employment Tribunal process.

She manages Wrigleys HR Response, our telephone and email employment law helpline for charities including academies and independent schools.

Alacoque is a partner in our charities and social economy team.

Alacoque specialises in working with third sector and education sector clients on all aspects of employment law. She advises on complex employee relations issues, employment status, policies and procedures, employment contracts, settlement agreements and the defence of tribunal claims, including holiday pay, discrimination, whistle-blowing and trade union related claims. Alacoque also advises on redundancy and restructure projects and on TUPE transfers, including the requirements of collective consultation.

She has a particular interest in equality law and has considerable experience of the realities of managing staff and resources within the education and public sectors.

Alacoque edits Wrigleys’ monthly Employment Law Bulletin and regularly speaks on employment law and HR topics.

Michael is an associate within our charities and social economy team at Wrigleys Solicitors LLP.

Michael has experience working with employer clients across the charity, third, education and private sectors on a variety of employment matters from boardroom disputes and senior terminations to advising on the employment aspects of mergers and restructures and helping clients navigate employment tribunal claims and internal investigations.

Michael has experience helping organisations to grow by advising on draft contracts as well as assisting with the development of robust internal policies and procedures and also has experience advising clients on how to deal with Data Subject Access Requests.

A regular speaker at Wrigleys’ Employment Law Brunch Briefings, Michael aims to orientate listeners so that they can navigate complex topics, with a focus on helping to identify problem areas and the key issues so that appropriate advice can be taken at the right time.

Chris has over 25 years' experience of advising charities and social enterprises and leads the employment team at Wrigleys

Chris is a member of the Charity Law Association, Education Law Association and the Employment Lawyers Association. 

Chris advises on a wide range of issues including governance, contracts, data protection and employment matters. His particular work at present focuses on education charities, including schools and academies.

Chris is an academy governor at an outstanding secondary school and a trustee of a local charity looking to build a new community sports and social club.