Latest news with #ScottishWomen'sWellbeingSummit
Edinburgh Reporter
2 days ago
- Business
- Edinburgh Reporter
Keynote speakers announced for wellbeing summit
Keynote speakers have now been announced for the first Scottish Women's Wellbeing Summit in November. Bringing together two hundred women, a committed and highly engaged mix of leading female professionals, entrepreneurs, business owners, and corporate business leaders, the summit will provide an opportunity to network, collaborate, and inspire, with exhibitor stalls from Scotland's leading wellness and leadership industries, along with networking sessions and workshops to attend. The summit will provide an opportunity for those attending to mentally and physically renew, with a series of immersive experiences, including ice bathing, yoga, and even fire walking. For delegates who chose to stay overnight, they will have access to the hotel's swimming pool, hot tub and sauna. Fittingly described by organiser, Lesley Canis, as 'game changers', with whom she 'cannot wait to get into the room', the speakers include Britain's first female Fighter-Jet Pilot, Dr Jo Salter, Kate Muir, leading Scottish writer, women's health campaigner and documentary maker, and Lee Donald, the seventh Scottish woman ever to summit Mount Everest. The owner and director of Lee Donald Personal Training, she is a multi award winning fitness entrepreneur who has represented Scotland at European and World Championship obstacle course racing. Voted into the BBC's 50 most inspiring women in the world, Dr Jo Salter is a PWC Global Transformational Leadership and Director of People & Organisation, overseeing 240,000 people in 157 territories. Rejected twice by the RAF, as women weren't allowed to fly, she was instrumental in changing the test policies for allowing new recruits into the air force – creating a stronger more modern RAF as the first female lead of an all-male squadron. An inspiration for the recent Top Gun Maverick film Jo was personally invited by Tom Cruise to its UK premiere. Kate Muir's book, How to Have a Magnificent Midlife Crisis was published in 2025, following Everything You Need to Know About the Menopause (But Were Too Afraid to Ask), and Everything You Need to Know About the Pill (But Were Too Afraid to Ask). She is the creator and producer of two documentaries on the menopause including Davina McCall's: Sex, Myths and the Menopause for Channel 4, and the Pill Revolution documentary. She was chief film critic for The Times for seven years, and is the author of three novels. Additionally, Liberal Democrat councillor, Sally Pattle will speak at SWWS. Cllr Pattle represents the Linlithgow Ward on West Lothian Council and is the party's Mental Health spokesperson. Sally was the first Liberal Democrat to be elected at any level in West Lothian for more than thirty years. Away from politics, she owns the Far From The Madding Crowd Bookshop. Sharon Miller, the founder of innovative, holistic team building & training business, Joyworks! which specialises in fully accredited laughter yoga leadership training is also one of the keynote speakers. Lesley said:' I am thrilled beyond words to unveil, what I can only describe, as five truly inspirational women to speak to us at this keynote summit. I am confident that delegates interested in coming along to the summit will agree with me that the achievements and remit of these five women is jaw dropping. There can be seldom opportunities in life to engage with women at this level, all in the one location. They have the ability to take us to another level. 'I'd like to thank all my speakers for taking time out of their incredibly busy schedules to come along,' continued Lesley. 'Lee Donald, particularly, is now in training to summit K2 in 2026, the steepest and hardest mountain in the world. When she reaches the summit, she will the first Scottish woman ever to do it, and one of only three women ever to have submitted K2 and Everest. Having beat a fifteen year eating disorder, as well as depression and alcohol addiction, Lee is now a pioneer for mental health awareness. 'I'm sure she, and my other speakers, will get a rapturous reception. 'I am delighted with how things are going so far with the Summit, with strong numbers on my ticket waitlist. I am taking applications for exhibitors now. We have Biomel UK, a prestigious gut health brand, on board as a sponsor. Fife based Vivimus Water are supplying the water for the event.' Delegates can gain exclusive access to a networking Drinks Reception, and a Leadership Dinner afterwards. Designed to be an empowering experience which might become a regular fixture in influential women's yearly calendars, facilitating and staging the summit is the realisation of Lesley's idea to present an event that combines wellbeing with leadership for women. Jo Salter Kate Muir Lee Donald Cllr Sally Pattle Like this: Like Related
Scotsman
3 days ago
- Health
- Scotsman
Keynote speakers announced for inaugural Scottish Women's Wellbeing Summit
Lesley Canis, the passionate women's wellbeing advocate behind the inaugural Scottish Women's Wellbeing Summit, set to take place at the Old Course Hotel in St Andrews on 15th November, has released details of the five truly inspiring female speakers, four of whom are Scottish, that she has assembled to inspire and motivate delegates at this one of a kind event. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Bringing together two hundred women, a committed and highly engaged mix of leading female professionals, entrepreneurs, business owners, and corporate business leaders, the summit will provide an opportunity to network, collaborate, and inspire, with exhibitor stalls from Scotland's leading wellness and leadership industries, along with networking sessions and workshops to attend. Additionally, the summit will provide an opportunity for those attending to mentally and physically renew, with a series of immersive experiences, including ice bathing, yoga, and even fire walking. For delegates who chose to stay overnight, they will have access to the hotel's swimming pool, hot tub and sauna. Fittingly described by Lesley as 'game changers, with whom she 'cannot wait to get into the room', the speakers include Britain's first female Fighter-Jet Pilot, Dr Jo Salter, Kate Muir, leading Scottish writer, women's health campaigner and documentary maker, and Lee Donald, the seventh Scottish woman ever to summit Mount Everest. The Owner and Director of Lee Donald Personal Training, she is a multi award winning Fitness Entrepreneur who has represented Scotland at European & World Championship obstacle course racing. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Voted into the BBC's 50 most inspiring women in the world, Dr Jo Salter is a PWC Global Transformational Leadership and Director of People & Organisation, overseeing 240 000 people in 157 territories. Rejected twice by the RAF, as women weren't allowed to fly, she was instrumental in changing the test policies for allowing new recruits into the air force - creating a stronger more modern RAF as the first female lead of an all-male squadron. An inspiration for the recent Top Gun Maverick film Jo was Personally invited by Tom Cruise to its UK premiere. Kate Muir is another of the speakers Kate Muir's book, How to Have a Magnificent Midlife Crisis was published in 2025, following Everything You Need to Know About the Menopause (But Were Too Afraid to Ask), and Everything You Need to Know About the Pill (But Were Too Afraid to Ask). She is the creator and producer of two documentaries on the menopause including Davina McCall's: Sex, Myths and the Menopause for Channel 4, and the Pill Revolution documentary. She was chief film critic for The Times for seven years, and is the author of three novels. Additionally, Councillor Sally Pattle will also take to the stage at SWWS. Representing the Linlithgow Ward on West Lothian Council for the Scottish Liberal Democrats, where she is their Mental Health Spokesperson, Sally was the first Liberal Democrat to be elected at any level in West Lothian for over thirty years. Away from politics, she owns the award winning Far From The Madding Crowd Bookshop. Bringing the number of speakers secured so far to five is Sharon Miller, the founder of innovative, holistic team building & training business, Joyworks!, which specialises in fully accredited laughter yoga leadership training. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Commenting on the speaker selection so far, Lesley Canis said:' I am thrilled beyond words to unveil, what I can only describe, as five truly inspirational women to speak to us at this keynote summit. I am confident that delegates interested in coming along to the summit will agree with me that the achievements and remit of these five women is jaw dropping. There can be seldom opportunities in life to engage with women at this level, all in the one location. They have the ability to take us to another level.' Sally Pattlel is a local Councillor and runs a bookshop 'I'd like to thank all my speakers for taking time out of their incredibly busy schedules to come along,' continued Lesley. 'Lee Donald, particularly, is now in training to summit K2 in 2026, the steepest and hardest mountain in the world. When she reaches the summit, she will the first Scottish woman ever to do it, and one of only three women ever to have submitted K2 and Everest. Having beat a fifteen year eating disorder, as well as depression and alcohol addiction, Lee is now a pioneer for mental health awareness.' 'I'm sure she, and my other speakers, will get a rapturous reception.' Lesley finished by saying that she was 'delighted with how things are going so far with the Summit, with strong numbers on my ticket waitlist. I am taking applications for exhibitors now. We have Biomel UK, a prestigious gut health brand, on board as a sponsor. Fife based Vivimus Water are supplying the water for the event.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Delegates can gain exclusive access to a networking Drinks Reception, plus a Leadership Dinner afterwards. Lee Donald is an inspirational Personal Trainer Designed to be an unforgettable and empowering experience that could well become a regular fixture in influential women's yearly calendars, facilitating and staging the summit is the realisation of Lesley's long-held dream to present an event that combines wellbeing with leadership for women.
Edinburgh Reporter
24-05-2025
- Edinburgh Reporter
Entrepreneur launches first Scottish Women's Wellbeing Summit
Lesley Canis, from Kennoway in Fife, is looking to help women to make real change by staging an inaugural Women's Wellbeing Summit at the Old Course Hotel in St Andrews, later this year. Motivated by her own incredible life journey, which has taken her from Fife, to the Caribbean, and back to Scotland, she has become a fierce advocate for women's wellbeing in the workplace along the way. Once declared homeless, following the break-up of her first marriage, Lesley fought back by achieving a degree in English and creative writing, and became a lecturer & journalist. The whole experience demonstrated to her that childcare provision was woefully inadequate for working women, and especially for single parents. At the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, she was isolated alone with her young child. Taking a huge gamble, as a result of seeing the Welcome Stamp Visa Programme, she moved to Barbados to work as a freelance writer, staying there for a year before returning to Scotland with a new husband, with whom she now shares young twins. She was then working for an advocacy charity called Voiceability, in Fife, and she found that very little progress had been made in addressing the mental and physical needs of women facing obstacles to study and work. The Scottish Women's Wellbeing Summit, or SWWS, is aiming to ensure meaningful change in this area starts to happen now. It will be held on 15 November at the Old Course Hotel. Bringing together 200 women, a committed and highly engaged mix of leading female professionals, entrepreneurs, business owners, and corporate business leaders, the summit will provide them with the opportunity to network, collaborate, and inspire, with exhibitor stalls from Scotland's leading wellness and leadership industries, along with networking sessions and workshops to attend. Keynote speakers will take to the stage, aiming to attract column inches on what can be done to improve the situation for working women in Scotland. Additionally, the summit will provide an opportunity for those attending to mentally and physically renew, with a series of immersive experiences, including ice bathing, yoga, and even fire walking. For delegates who chose to stay overnight, they will have access to the hotel's swimming pool, hot tub and sauna. Having qualified as a Kundalini Yoga Teacher back in 2022, running Living Fierce Yoga in the community, with chair yoga and mum & baby yoga classes part of her repertoire, Lesley took the logical next step, given her passion for wellbeing in the workplace, and launched her own yoga business, entitled calmandcofficeyoga, which, although still in its infancy, and run alongside her current advocacy job, is attracting businesses to think about workplace wellbeing in a new way. Lesley explained that facilitating and staging this important summit is the realisation of a long-held dream: 'This summit, a combination of a wellbeing & leadership summit for women, means the absolute world to me. I have wanted to do something like this for a long time,' she said. ' 'I know there are a lot of local summits doing great things and driving change, but with SWWS, I want to get in front of women who are in leadership roles or entrepreneurs in wellness. As a group of women sitting down together, they can facilitate change at high levels, and raise incredible awareness that drips down through their organisations, and onto their customers.' Lesley went on to say that other aims of the summit were to directly discuss the issues that matter to working women, 'whether they have been affected by menstrual issues, menopausal concerns, or pregnancy. There are so many innovative, non hormonal, treatments for women's health issues, such as menopause, that can be accessed in non medical settings if more women knew about them, for example. Sadly, they tend not to be available in traditional settings.' 'But, even more importantly for me personally, is my hope that this summit will be profitable enough for me to use some of these profits to start a childcare charity within Fife, not dissimilar to Flexible Childcare Services Scotland. I'd also like to run luxury wellbeing retreats for women in Barbados that allow for two funded spaces for women who financially wouldn't be able to access them otherwise. Doing what I did was life changing in so many ways, and I want other people to experience that.' Describing the childcare provision across Fife, as 'shocking', Lesley said that 'as a mum of young children in the workplace twenty five years ago, and a mum of young children in the workplace now, not much has changed at all. I know what it's like to be down on your luck, and to feel that you're not valued in either the workplace or society, just because you're a single mother. I felt I had nowhere to turn at that point in my life, so I want to make a difference.' Lesley explained that staging the summit was 'at a very high cost to me, with huge risks and outlay. It's a wellbeing summit that is also a luxury retreat, partnering one of Scotland's premier Hotels. 'I wanted to make it as luxe and commercially appealing as possible, in order to attract the level of corporate sponsorship and support I need. I have negotiated special overnight rates with The Old Course Hotel, for summit delegates who may wish to stay overnight on the day, which would certainly give them the very best experience. Staying overnight gives them exclusive access to a networking Drinks Reception, plus the exclusive Leadership Dinner afterwards. I want to make the summit an unforgettable and empowering experience that could well become a regular fixture in influential women's yearly calendars.' 'I'd like to thank The Old Course Hotel for its assistance, and support so far,' continued Lesley. 'They have been absolutely fantastic in seeing my vision for this event.' Facing, what she calls, 'a full on summer ', Lesley is now busy securing summit speakers, tweaking the itinerary, and seeking key sponsorship. 'Any sponsors or exhibitors who would like to get involved, please reach out to me at [email protected],' said Lesley. 'I am delighted to say that I have already secured Biomel UK, a prestigious gut health brand, on board as a sponsor, along with the incredible Viking Heat Retreat in Cupar, so things are starting to move. Fife based Vivimus Water has agreed to supply the water for the event too, which is fantastic news. 'JoyWorks!, one of Scotland's leading holistic teambuilding companies, has been confirmed as our first speaker.' 'I always felt like a square peg in a round hole in the workplace,' finished Lesley. 'I've always been a bit rebellious, not seeing the point in a lot of structures. This always made me feel like a failure because of it. It took me a long time to realise that a lot of women felt the same in the workplace, as its structure simply isn't set up for single mothers, or for women in general.' 'This summit is for women tired of asking for approval, or trying to make changes within the current system. It's for the rebels and the changemakers who aren't asking for permission anymore, for people who know there's a better way to lead. If Covid proved anything, it's that there are other ways to work that still work.' Tickets for the Scottish Women's Wellbeing Summit are now on sale through the website Like this: Like Related
Scotsman
21-05-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Launch of inaugural Scottish Women's Wellbeing Summit
Once declared homeless, following the break-up of her first marriage, Lesley fought back by achieving a degree in English and creative writing, and became a lecturer & journalist. The whole experience demonstrated to her that childcare provision was woefully inadequate for working women, and especially for single parents. At the outbreak of the Covid 19 pandemic, she was isolated alone with her young child. Taking a huge gamble, as a result of seeing the Welcome Stamp Visa Programme, she moved to Barbados to work as a Freelance Writer, remaining there for a year before returning to Scotland with a new husband, with whom she now shares young twins. Then working for an advocacy charity called Voiceability, in Fife, Lesley found that very little progress had been made in addressing the mental and physical needs of women facing obstacles to study and work. To be held on the 15th of November at the iconic Old Course Hotel, the Scottish Women's Wellbeing Summit, or SWWS, is aiming to ensure meaningful change in this area starts to happen now. Bringing together two hundred women, a committed and highly engaged mix of leading female professionals, entrepreneurs, business owners, and corporate business leaders, the summit will provide them with the opportunity to network, collaborate, and inspire, with exhibitor stalls from Scotland's leading wellness and leadership industries, along with networking sessions and workshops to attend. Keynote speakers will take to the stage, aiming to attract column inches on what can be done to improve the situation for working women in Scotland. Additionally, the summit will provide an opportunity for those attending to mentally and physically renew, with a series of immersive experiences, including ice bathing, yoga, and even fire walking. For delegates who chose to stay overnight, they will have access to the hotel's swimming pool, hot tub and sauna. Having qualified as a Kundalini Yoga Teacher back in 2022, running Living Fierce Yoga in the community, with chair yoga and mum & baby yoga classes part of her repertoire, Lesley took the logical next step, given her passion for wellbeing in the workplace, and launched her own yoga business, entitled calmandcofficeyoga, which, although still in its infancy, and run alongside her current advocacy job, is attracting businesses to think about workplace wellbeing in a new way. Lesley explained that facilitating and staging this important summit is the realisation of a long-held dream: 'This summit, a combination of a wellbeing & leadership summit for women, means the absolute world to me. I have wanted to do something like this for a long time,' she said. ' 'I know there are a lot of local summits doing great things and driving change, but with SWWS, I want to get in front of women who are in leadership roles or entrepreneurs in wellness. As a group of women sitting down together, they can facilitate change at high levels, and raise incredible awareness that drips down through their organisations, and onto their customers.' Lesley went on to say that other aims of the summit were to directly discuss the issues that matter to working women, 'whether they have been affected by menstrual issues, menopausal concerns, or pregnancy. There are so many innovative, non hormonal, treatments for women's health issues, such as menopause, that can be accessed in non medical settings if more women knew about them, for example. Sadly, they tend not to be available in traditional settings.' 'But, even more importantly for me personally, is my hope that this summit will be profitable enough for me to use some of these profits to start a childcare charity within Fife, not dissimilar to Flexible Childcare Services Scotland. I'd also like to run luxury wellbeing retreats for women in Barbados that allow for two funded spaces for women who financially wouldn't be able to access them otherwise. Doing what I did was life changing in so many ways, and I want other people to experience that.' Describing the childcare provision across Fife, as 'shocking', Lesley said that 'as a mum of young children in the workplace twenty five years ago, and a mum of young children in the workplace now, not much has changed at all. I know what it's like to be down on your luck, and to feel that you're not valued in either the workplace or society, just because you're a single mother. I felt I had nowhere to turn at that point in my life, so I want to make a difference.' Lesley explained that staging the summit was 'at a very high cost to me, with huge risks and outlay. It's a wellbeing summit that is also a luxury retreat, partnering one of Scotland's premier Hotels.' 'I wanted to make it as luxe and commercially appealing as possible, in order to attract the level of corporate sponsorship and support I need. I have negotiated special overnight rates with The Old Course Hotel, for summit delegates who may wish to stay overnight on the day, which would certainly give them the very best experience. Staying overnight gives them exclusive access to a networking Drinks Reception, plus the exclusive Leadership Dinner afterwards. I want to make the summit an unforgettable and empowering experience that could well become a regular fixture in influential women's yearly calendars.' 'I'd like to thank The Old Course Hotel for its assistance, and support so far,' continued Lesley. 'They have been absolutely fantastic in seeing my vision for this event.' Facing, what she calls, 'a full on summer ', Lesley is now busy securing summit speakers, tweaking the itinerary, and seeking key sponsorship. 'Any sponsors or exhibitors who would like to get involved, please reach out to me at team@ said Lesley. 'I am delighted to say that I have already secured Biomel UK, a prestigious gut health brand, on board as a sponsor, along with the incredible Viking Heat Retreat in Cupar, so things are starting to move. Fife based Vivimus Water has agreed to supply the water for the event too, which is fantastic news. 'JoyWorks!, one of Scotland's leading holistic teambuilding companies, has been confirmed as our first speaker.' 'I always felt like a square peg in a round hole in the workplace,' finished Lesley. 'I've always been a bit rebellious, not seeing the point in a lot of structures. This always made me feel like a failure because of it. It took me a long time to realise that a lot of women felt the same in the workplace, as its structure simply isn't set up for single mothers, or for women in general.' 'This summit is for women tired of asking for approval, or trying to make changes within the current system. It's for the rebels and the changemakers who aren't asking for permission anymore, for people who know there's a better way to lead. If Covid proved anything, it's that there are other ways to work that still work.' Further details Tickets for the Scottish Women's Wellbeing Summit are now on sale through the website 3 . Contributed A special dinner and drinks reception will be staged Photo: Submitted Photo Sales 4 . Contributed Immersive experiences will be available at the summit Photo: Submitted Photo Sales
