Highlights from the Occupational Health Practitioners Conference Wales 2026

Insight Workplace Health was proud to partner with the Society of Occupational Medicine to host the Occupational Health Practitioners Conference in Wales earlier this year. I caught up with the Insight team to hear their highlights from a fantastic day of learning, networking and professional development.

Bringing practitioners together

The conference welcomed almost 100 delegates, including a number of physicians and nurses from diverse clinical backgrounds exploring occupational health as a potential new career direction.

Insight's Clinical Operations Manager and nurse leader, Matt Higginson, was on hand throughout the day to discuss pathways into occupational health and answer questions from prospective practitioners.

As the specialty continues to grow, Insight Workplace Health remains committed to developing new talent and has extensive experience supporting clinicians from a wide range of specialty backgrounds as they transition into occupational health practice.

Other members of the Insight team attending the conference included Director Chris Terry and display screen equipment specialist Caroline O-Connor-Podmore. Caroline brought a range of ergonomic technologies for delegates to see and try first-hand, adding a practical dimension to the day.

Session highlights and hot topics 

One of the standout sessions was delivered by Nina Parson, Insight’s neurodiversity lead and principal occupational psychologist who explored neurodiversity in the workplace. The session highlighted the increasing demand for expert support in this area and the importance of multidisciplinary approaches to workplace health.

Reflecting these evolving needs, Insight has invested in expanding its in-house psychological expertise, enabling clients to access specialist psychological input where appropriate, alongside scalable support services delivered with robust clinical supervision.

Delegates also really enjoyed the session on drug and alcohol issues in the workplace, led by Helen Vangikar, Independent Toxicology Consultant. As occupational health practitioners encounter increasingly complex cases, including those involving medical cannabis, keeping pace with emerging evidence and best practice is essential. Helen's session provided valuable practical insights for clinicians navigating this rapidly developing area. Insight has created some high-yield resources on medical cannabis here. 

While new workplace health challenges continue to emerge, many traditional occupational illnesses remain highly relevant. Prof Jo Szram, consultant in occupational lung disease and asthma delivered an excellent session on respiratory disease in occupational health, including key updates on occupational asthma and other workplace respiratory hazards.

For those who were unable to attend, Insight Workplace Health will soon be hosting Professor Szram for a dedicated webinar, creating another opportunity to engage with this important topic.

Looking ahead

The Insight team was delighted to see so many colleagues come together in Cardiff. Insight Workplace Health supports organisations across Wales and beyond, including Cardiff University, the Welsh Government and Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, as well as a wide range of employers across England, including the provision of an on-site occupational health clinic in Devon.

Events like this demonstrate the strength of the occupational health community and the shared commitment to developing the specialty, supporting practitioners all with the aim of improving the health of working populations!

Looking for expert occupational health support?

From management referrals and health surveillance to neurodiversity services, ergonomics and psychological support, our multidisciplinary team helps organisations create healthier, safer workplaces across the UK.

Find out more about our occupational health services or speak to our team about how we can support your organisation.