A University of Wolverhampton human factors specialist will be speaking at a free virtual event focusing on workplace stress in the developing digital world.
Ellen Kay, who has recently been appointed Human Factors Specialist at the University’s joint venture, Cyber Quarter – Midlands Centre for Cyber Security, will be talking about managing stress levels at the free event taking place on Tuesday 25 May 2021 from 9.00 am until 11.00 am.

Ellen will be speaking alongside Paul Vicary, Co-Founder and Director of X Calibre MH, who served in the military for over 33 years.

Ellen’s focus is the human behind the technology. She applies successful formulas for reducing stress and optimising performance using a licensed neuroscience training programme, proven coaching models and a proprietary tool to measure results.

She said: “Stress in the workplace manifests itself in many forms and was already being recognised as having a huge impact on business and its productivity and that was before the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on both businesses and individuals.

“In 2019/20 stress, depression or anxiety accounted for 51% of all work-related ill health cases and 55% of all working days lost due to work-related ill health and we know there will be continued long term health problems with the UK population having been isolated, furloughed and facing an unsure future.

“Add to this, the fact that a UK-based SME is successfully hacked every 19 seconds, and you can see how and why stress levels are currently soaring. In fact, 48% of cyber professionals are suffering mental health issues due to overwhelming stress levels. So how secure are we?

“This event will explore how we can improve things for both the employee and the employer; we will talk about where businesses can find support in relation to dealing with new technology, returning to the workplace, taking on increased responsibilities and working with new staff members who may have never stepped foot in the office environment.”
Paul Vicary will also discuss the impact of not taking workplace mental health seriously and will offer workable realistic solutions demonstrating the positive outcomes of looking after yourself and your staff.

Ellen Kay, Co-Founder CyberMIND and Human Factors Specialist, will cover the definition of stress, using neuroscience, and will talk about how stress manifests in the workplace making your employee your greatest ‘insider threat’.

Ellen is part of a team that was selected for a Cyber Security Academic Start-ups Accelerator Programme aimed at supporting the commercialisation of cyber security research. The team was awarded £60,000 for the project, ‘CyberMIND: The leading AI based platform helping Cyber Security professionals detect, predict and manage stress’. www.cybermindtech.com

The Accelerator Programme is funded by DCMS (the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport) and delivered in partnership with Innovate UK and Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN).

The Cyber Quarter – Midlands Centre for Cyber Security is a £9 million joint venture between the University of Wolverhampton and Herefordshire Council and part-funded by the Government’s Local Growth Fund, via the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

The Cyber team offers a package of tailored security testing, training, Research & Development and sector expertise to businesses and investors.

Supported by the university’s Wolverhampton Cyber Research Institute (WCRI), the centre offers product testing and certification, CPD and short courses and cyber conferences like the recent Cyber Fringe Festival, attracting experts from across the globe.

The 2,000 square metre building also provides significant resources for research and development across three cyber laboratories, advanced training facilities as part of the University’s Wolverhampton Cyber Research Institute and additional business space for up to 16 cyber companies.

Book a place at the event: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/how-much-more-can-we-take-workplace-stress-in-a-developing-digital-world-tickets-154349857579

About the speakers

Paul Vicary

Paul is a military veteran after serving a varied career spread over 33 years where he earned a meritorious medal for his dedicated and exemplary service. During his time in the military, his own mental resilience and mental health were tested. He has also walked unsupported to both the Geographic North and South Poles, as well as safely leading groups in the Himalayas to Everest Base Camp, helping people reach their own goals, raising money for charities as well as environmental impact awareness.

Paul is a trained paramedic, mental health instructor and holds a Master’s degree.

Ellen Kay

Ellen’s focus is the human behind the technology. She applies successful formulas for reducing stress and optimising performance using a licensed neuroscience training programme, proven coaching models and a proprietary tool to measure results. Due to her passion for research, she also worked, as a visiting scholar, with the University of Wolverhampton’s two national leading research institutes to create CyberMIND the leading AI driven platform to measure and manage stress. She is a keynote speaker and presented on how to change brain wave states at the 3 Counties Defence Expo 2019.

After 25 years in business her consultancy has worked with multiple clients including High Performance Sports Athletes (Football and Motor Racing), Finance (Worldpay), Banking, Insurance, Defence and Security (One Ultra), Aerospace (Rolls-Royce), Design (Imagination) and Entertainment (Disney). She has a passion for personal transformation unlocking client potential, optimising performance and creating organisational profit.

Ellen is also part of a global network of consultants (NeuroChangeSolutions NCS) who show organisations how to apply the neuroscience of change to increase employee engagement, collaboration, creativity, productivity, and ultimately business results.

Ellen is a tech-entrepreneur, performance coach and holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree.

Find out more about the new Cyber Quarter- Midlands Centre for Cyber Security on the website.