Addressing challenges and priorities in workplace mental health and wellbeing
The high-stakes space of workplace mental health and wellbeing presents urgent, complex challenges for researchers, managers and workers. Systemic approaches are increasingly recognised as necessary to connect individual experiences, organisational processes, and accelerate wider social change.
Our event brings together leading academics and practitioners to examine the state of workplace mental health and wellbeing research and practice, and chart a shared agenda to guide future research directions, policy development, and workplace strategies.
The event will open with a keynote speech from the University of Cambridge’s Prof Thomas Roulet, drawing on his highly influential research connecting stigma and mental health, and highlighting opportunities for practical impact.
A panel discussion will then bring together complementary expertise. Prof Helen De Cieri will contribute research expertise in human resource management focused on psychosocial hazards, and experience evaluating organisational interventions to improve mental health. Keith Govias has extensive practitioner experience in workplace health and safety, workers' compensation, injury management, ethical leadership and regulatory reform across major Australian organisations. A/Prof Carly Moulang will apply a distinctive lens connecting management accounting, performance management, innovation, creativity and psychological wellbeing.
Attendees can expect a clearer understanding of emerging academic and practitioner priorities in workplace mental health and wellbeing, practical insights into how organisations are managing psychosocial hazards, and opportunities for future collaboration between researchers and practitioners.
Speaker
Professor Thomas Roulet, Social Scientist, University of Cambridge
Prof Roulet researches and teaches how individuals and organisations can lead social change, and adapt to a changing workplace, especially around wellbeing. He consults for and advises policy makers, public and private organisations on those issues. Prof Roulet’s work has appeared regularly in publications including The Academy of Management Journal, Review, Organization Science, Harvard Business Review and the MIT Sloan Management Review, and featured in The Economist and the Financial Times.
Panelists
Professor Helen De Cieri, Professor of Management, Monash Business School
Prof De Cieri is a Vice Chancellor's Distinguished Professor and Director of Research. Her research spans international HRM, diversity and inclusion, and employee health, safety and wellbeing, including how employers design innovative solutions to support wellbeing amid changing workplace demands. As 2026 Program Chair for the Academy of Management's HR Division, and with extensive collaborative research across public and private organisations, Prof De Cieri brings deep scholarly and applied insight to future workplace wellbeing priorities.
Keith Govias, Workplace Safety and Risk Principal, Client Solutions, EML Group
Mr Govias is a workplace health, safety and risk professional at EML Group, a leading Australian personal injury claims provider. He has more than 15 years’ experience leading safety, workers' compensation, injury management and organisational risk functions at major organisations including Myer, The Reject Shop and Kraft Foods. He holds a Master of OHSE Management and is a Vincent Fairfax Fellow in Ethical Leadership. Mr Govias has shaped workplace mental health, safety policy and legislative reform through government reference groups, Standards Australia committees, and chairing industry mental health initiatives.
Associate Professor Carly Moulang, Department of Accounting, Monash Business School
A/Prof Moulang has more than 25 years’ experience in higher education. She holds a PhD in Management Accounting and a Graduate Diploma in Psychology from Monash University. As a Fellow of Chartered Accountant (FCA) and CPA Australia (FCPA), A/Prof Moulang integrates psychological research into accounting and finance disciplines, focusing on areas such as wellbeing, psychological capital, burnout, creativity, decision-making, whistleblowing, performance management, and superannuation research. She is experienced in conducting experimental, survey and qualitative research.
Hosts
Dr Ui Young Sun, Department of Management, Monash Business School
Dr Sun is a Lecturer at Monash Business School. His research focuses on leadership, motivation, counterfactual thinking, regulatory focus, and the effects of destructive leadership approaches, such as abusive supervision, on employee well-being and behaviour. His recent work, published in the Journal of Organizational Behavior, examines how a counterfactual thinking intervention can enhance employee wellbeing by encouraging leaders to engage in servant leadership behaviours.
Associate Professor Glen Croy, Department of Management, Monash Business School
A/Prof Croy collaboratively develops people’s knowledge, capability, and confidence to craft better futures for those most marginalised by business activities. His research focuses on new understandings and prioritisations for the qualitative valuing and effectiveness of people, environment, and resources in business. In particular, A/Prof Croy researches how the adoption of circular economy and supply chain practices can create opportunities for those most marginalised by business activities and address the barriers traditional business models impose.
Event Details
- Date:
- 31 August 2026 at 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
- Venue:
- The Pavilion, Level 8, Building H, Monash University Caulfield campus
- Categories:
- Alumni; General; Management
Description
The high-stakes space of workplace mental health and wellbeing presents urgent, complex challenges for researchers, managers and workers. Systemic approaches are increasingly recognised as necessary to connect individual experiences, organisational processes, and accelerate wider social change.
Our event brings together leading academics and practitioners to examine the state of workplace mental health and wellbeing research and practice, and chart a shared agenda to guide future research directions, policy development, and workplace strategies.
The event will open with a keynote speech from the University of Cambridge’s Prof Thomas Roulet, drawing on his highly influential research connecting stigma and mental health, and highlighting opportunities for practical impact.
A panel discussion will then bring together complementary expertise. Prof Helen De Cieri will contribute research expertise in human resource management focused on psychosocial hazards, and experience evaluating organisational interventions to improve mental health. Keith Govias has extensive practitioner experience in workplace health and safety, workers' compensation, injury management, ethical leadership and regulatory reform across major Australian organisations. A/Prof Carly Moulang will apply a distinctive lens connecting management accounting, performance management, innovation, creativity and psychological wellbeing.
Attendees can expect a clearer understanding of emerging academic and practitioner priorities in workplace mental health and wellbeing, practical insights into how organisations are managing psychosocial hazards, and opportunities for future collaboration between researchers and practitioners.
Speaker
Professor Thomas Roulet, Social Scientist, University of Cambridge
Prof Roulet researches and teaches how individuals and organisations can lead social change, and adapt to a changing workplace, especially around wellbeing. He consults for and advises policy makers, public and private organisations on those issues. Prof Roulet’s work has appeared regularly in publications including The Academy of Management Journal, Review, Organization Science, Harvard Business Review and the MIT Sloan Management Review, and featured in The Economist and the Financial Times.
Panelists
Professor Helen De Cieri, Professor of Management, Monash Business School
Prof De Cieri is a Vice Chancellor's Distinguished Professor and Director of Research. Her research spans international HRM, diversity and inclusion, and employee health, safety and wellbeing, including how employers design innovative solutions to support wellbeing amid changing workplace demands. As 2026 Program Chair for the Academy of Management's HR Division, and with extensive collaborative research across public and private organisations, Prof De Cieri brings deep scholarly and applied insight to future workplace wellbeing priorities.
Keith Govias, Workplace Safety and Risk Principal, Client Solutions, EML Group
Mr Govias is a workplace health, safety and risk professional at EML Group, a leading Australian personal injury claims provider. He has more than 15 years’ experience leading safety, workers' compensation, injury management and organisational risk functions at major organisations including Myer, The Reject Shop and Kraft Foods. He holds a Master of OHSE Management and is a Vincent Fairfax Fellow in Ethical Leadership. Mr Govias has shaped workplace mental health, safety policy and legislative reform through government reference groups, Standards Australia committees, and chairing industry mental health initiatives.
Associate Professor Carly Moulang, Department of Accounting, Monash Business School
A/Prof Moulang has more than 25 years’ experience in higher education. She holds a PhD in Management Accounting and a Graduate Diploma in Psychology from Monash University. As a Fellow of Chartered Accountant (FCA) and CPA Australia (FCPA), A/Prof Moulang integrates psychological research into accounting and finance disciplines, focusing on areas such as wellbeing, psychological capital, burnout, creativity, decision-making, whistleblowing, performance management, and superannuation research. She is experienced in conducting experimental, survey and qualitative research.
Hosts
Dr Ui Young Sun, Department of Management, Monash Business School
Dr Sun is a Lecturer at Monash Business School. His research focuses on leadership, motivation, counterfactual thinking, regulatory focus, and the effects of destructive leadership approaches, such as abusive supervision, on employee well-being and behaviour. His recent work, published in the Journal of Organizational Behavior, examines how a counterfactual thinking intervention can enhance employee wellbeing by encouraging leaders to engage in servant leadership behaviours.
Associate Professor Glen Croy, Department of Management, Monash Business School
A/Prof Croy collaboratively develops people’s knowledge, capability, and confidence to craft better futures for those most marginalised by business activities. His research focuses on new understandings and prioritisations for the qualitative valuing and effectiveness of people, environment, and resources in business. In particular, A/Prof Croy researches how the adoption of circular economy and supply chain practices can create opportunities for those most marginalised by business activities and address the barriers traditional business models impose.