EY Greece took part as Platinum Sponsor in the 5th International Wellbeingr Forum for the fifth consecutive year. The event was held to mark World Mental Health Day. This year’s forum took place on Friday, 9 October 2026, under the auspices of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.
According to the announcement, discussions focused on people’s changing needs, the skills of the next generation, the future of work and mental health in the context of business transformation.
People in a changing world
George Papadimitriou, CEO of EY Greece, moderated the Forum’s opening discussion, entitled “People in a changing world: seeking new points of reference”. The discussion focused on the impact of rapid geopolitical, technological and economic developments, as well as the wider sense of uncertainty, on mental health and wellbeing.
Participants included Minister of State Akis Skertsos; Theofanis Panagiotaropoulos, Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience in the Department of Psychology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens; Theofanis Tasis, Professor of Philosophy of Information and Digital Humanism at the Ionian University; and actress and director Olia Lazaridou.
George Papadimitriou put the role of the state in strengthening social cohesion at the centre of the discussion, alongside the effects of today’s relentless pace of life and information overload on people, and the tools that can strengthen mental resilience. The discussion also explored how AI is changing the role and values of the modern individual, as well as the contribution of art to authentic expression and coping with uncertainty.
The next generation and the future of work
Eftychia Kaselaki, Partner and Head of Organization, Change and People Consulting at EY Greece, took part in a panel entitled “The next generation and the future of work: what skills will tomorrow’s citizens need?”.
Also taking part in the panel were Olga Kafetzopoulou, Secretary General for Vocational Education, Training and Lifelong Learning at the Ministry of Education; Andreas Schleicher, OECD Director for Education and Skills; and Eleni Gkirtzimani, Talent Management & Acquisition Manager at Motor Oil Group. The discussion was moderated by Michalis Kakos, Associate Professor at the Carnegie School of Education at Leeds Beckett University.
The discussion focused on the skills and capabilities the next generation will need as technological progress and changes in the labour market transform businesses and society. In this context, Ms Kaselaki said that sound judgement, adaptability and the ability to connect with people, the wider environment and the market are key qualities for tomorrow’s workers.
She also stressed the importance of continuous learning, development and collaboration, including with artificial intelligence. Referring to the uncertainty created by AI, she said it was important to avoid fear that leads to inaction, and emphasised the value of staying alert and being confident while remaining humble. She added that shaping the future requires resilience, emotional management, flexibility, responsibility, sound judgement and a demonstrable commitment to action from both workers and leaders.
Mental health at the heart of workplace transformation
Nikolaos Dimitriadis, PhD, a Director in EY Greece’s Advisory Services department and Head of its Applied Neuroscience Lab, took part in the third discussion, entitled “Workplace transformation centred on mental health and wellbeing: a strategic choice for modern businesses”. Also taking part were Chris Cummings, Founder of Wellbeing at Work, and Anastasia Vordou, People & Culture Manager at Coca-Cola HBC.
The discussion, moderated by Ioanna Fanarioti, Head of Talent at EY Greece and for EY’s Southern sub-region of Europe Central, highlighted the importance of integrating mental health and wellbeing into business strategy, and the need for organisations to reshape the workplace experience and manage their transformation.
In this context, Dr Nikolaos Dimitriadis highlighted the need for businesses to use neuroscience as a practical tool to promote human wellbeing, noting that modern measurement methods can help identify symptoms of stress and burnout at an early stage.
He also spoke about the importance of human relationships for emotional health and wellbeing, highlighting the decisive role managers play in employees’ day-to-day lives. He stressed the need for a radical, human-centred redesign of work and the development of more effective leadership models, putting people and interpersonal relationships at the heart of a more meaningful, dynamic and honest approach.
He added that as AI takes on more functions, building strong human connections will become increasingly important for wellbeing at work.
By taking part in the 5th International Wellbeingr Forum, EY Greece contributed to the discussion on the place of mental health and wellbeing in the future of work. It also highlighted that investment in human skills, mental resilience and employee wellbeing is essential for organisations seeking to evolve responsibly and create sustainable value for the market and society of which they are part and in which they operate.