Embedding workplace wellbeing takes more than good intentions and one-off initiatives. It requires people across the organisation who are willing to champion it every day. In this episode of the Wellness Works mini-series on The HR Room Podcast, Dave Corkery and Laura Barry, Head of People Development at Insight HR, are joined by special guest Brian Crooke, Founder of Workplace Wellbeing Ireland and The Work Well Institute, to explore how wellbeing champions can bring strategy to life on the ground.

Together, they unpack what a wellbeing champion really is (and what they’re not), why peer-led influence is so powerful, and how champion networks help bridge the gap between wellbeing policy and everyday employee experience. The conversation covers how to select, train and support champions, the importance of role clarity and leadership backing, and how to avoid common pitfalls such as overload, lack of structure or tokenism.

Drawing on practical examples from organisations across Ireland, including Irish Life and ESB, this episode offers clear, actionable guidance for HR professionals and leaders who want to embed wellbeing in a sustainable, credible and inclusive way - not just as an initiative, but as part of organisational culture.

• Brian Crooke – Founder, Workplace Wellbeing Ireland & the Work Well Institute

• What wellbeing champions are, and how they differ from mental health first aiders
• Why peer influence is critical to embedding wellbeing
• Selecting champions through voluntary, inclusive processes
• The importance of role clarity, expectations and boundaries
• Training champions to take ownership and shape their role
• Supporting champions without overwhelming them
• Governance, structure and leadership sponsorship of champion networks
• Measuring impact without turning wellbeing into a tick-box exercise
• Common mistakes organisations make, and how to avoid them
• What “good” looks like when a champion network is working well

• Workplace Wellbeing Ireland – Wellbeing Champion Programmes
• Workwell Institute – Postgraduate Certificate in Workplace Wellness
• Insight HR – Workplace Wellbeing Consulting & Support
• Wellness Works Live Webinar – Designing Your Wellbeing Strategy (February 17)

If you’re not already following us on LinkedIn, please do. If you have suggestions for future episodes, or if you’d like to join us as a guest, reach out to Dave Corkery at dcorkery@insighthr.ie or connect with him on LinkedIn.

If today’s episode has you thinking about introducing or strengthening a wellbeing champion network in your organisation, you can arrange a confidential consultation with Laura Barry by emailing info@insighthr.ie.

The HR Room Podcast is brought to you by Insight HR — where we speak with HR leaders, experts and practitioners across Ireland about the issues shaping the world of work today.

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