[Principals' Conference] Panel Discussion: Well-being at Every Level – How to Engage the Whole School to Make It Work

Overview

[Principals' Conference - by Invitation Only] Workplace well-being is a proven driver of performance, not a luxury. The 2024 Gallup report shows a continued decline in employee well-being since its 2022 peak of 35%. Burnout stems not only from overwork but also from feeling disconnected or unsupported. When employees feel valued and have room to grow, they take fewer sick days, perform better, and stay longer.

In a school setting, when teachers feel disengaged, their well-being suffers — directly impacting their teaching effectiveness. The data is clear: investing in well-being is not only good for people — it’s essential for long-term organisational success.

In a world grappling with what some describe as a ‘mental health pandemic’, creating conditions that foster psychological safety, belonging, and purpose is more urgent than ever. This requires a whole-organisation commitment, embedded values, and leadership at every level — not just from HR or school counsellors.

This panel discussion, Well-being at Every Level – How to Engage the Whole School to Make It Work, will explore how institutions can move beyond rhetoric to meaningful action.

Dr Andrew Tay, Chief Well-being Officer at the National University of Singapore, will share lessons from implementing institution-wide well-being strategies in higher education. Dr Esther Ho, Principal of Carmel Secondary School, will offer insights from the frontline of school leadership and student well-being. The session will be facilitated by Mr Kenny Cheung, Head of Strategy and Partnerships at Yeh Family Philanthropy, and will provide school leaders with practical, scalable strategies to embed well-being at the heart of their culture.