I help HR leaders create healthier, happier, and more productive workforces by replacing outdated EAPs with evidence-based wellbeing strategies that deliver real results.

Since 2011, I’ve worked across industries from mining to pharmaceuticals to early learning - designing programs for tens of thousands of employees that improve wellbeing, boost engagement, and cut turnover.

If you want to work with me, here are the ways you can:

1. Replace your EAP with our Wellbeing Enrichment Program - guaranteed higher engagement, value, and results than any EAP on the market (yes, even that one). 

2. Hire me as a consultant: To help you figure out where to start, what to do and how to do it when it comes to workplace wellbeing.

3. Access our Sustainable High Performance program - a 12-week, value-packed program that teaches your entire organisation how to perform at a high level without burning out. 

4. Get your very own Workplace Wellbeing Specialist: To upskill your people in health and wellbeing (through regular individual consultations) and work with you to optimise your work environment to make it easier for your people to be healthy and well.

5. Book me as a speaker: This is my favourite way to engage people and give them a whole lot of value in a short space of time. Our talks and workshops focus on practical knowledge and skills your people can use to improve their wellbeing and performance. 

6. Get some wellbeing initiatives: Want to book a massage therapist? Skin checks? Health checks? Meditation sessions? Group yoga? Group training? Healthy cooking demonstrations? Mental Health First Aid training? Regular First Aid training? Easy. We do it all so just ask.

If any of these look like something you could use, send me a DM.

Phil Wolffe

Welp, if there’s a better way to start the year, I don’t know what it is. 

We’d planned to go to the South Coast for a week with friends when a client asked if I would run a workshop to get their team switched on and ready for a big year - on the South Coast. 

Since that’s my favourite part of this job (and it was literally on the way to holidays) I of course said yes. 

Word got out and 1 workshop turned into 4 and a quick stop into 2 full days but still, pretty good universal alignment, I would say. 

Here’s to plenty more of that this year and to choosing the work that makes you happy. 

Let’s go!

Workplace Wellbeing Specialist | Building Sustainable High Performance in Teams | Replacing EAP with a Better Way

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Something that's not talked about much with burnout is how it erodes your sense of purpose.

That's what it does to a lot of people and that's why it can be so hard to shake - because you lose a big piece of yourself.

Shelley Johnson and I talked about this and heaps more when we caught up to talk all things work and wellbeing.

This one's for the leaders, the workers, and anyone trying to figure out how to work well while staying healthy.

Give it a listen and let us know what you thought in the comments (which is where the link will be).

#burnout #leadership

Giving 100% effort at work is a trap.

Not only do you get diminsihing returns over time, but there's nowhere to go but down.

I'm a real 85% type of guy.

You can give that level of effort indefinitely and it gives you room to ramp things up when you need to.

Plus, chances are you'll actually enjoy your work and your life if you're not absolutely spent at the end of each day.

Shelley and I talked about this and heaps more in our chat, so make sure you check it out and let me know your views!

#burnout

I don’t put a lot of stock in awards. 

I think most of them are performative nonsense you can easily buy - but this one I’ll gladly accept. 

My nieces think I’m smart, kind and funny. 

As far as recognition goes, that’s about as good as it gets.

I thought 2024 was going to be the best year ever, and it was. 

Then, I thought 2025 was going to be even better, and it was.

Now, I reckon 2026 is going to be even better than those two. 

This is not a wait-and-hope type thing.

I'm sowing the seeds of the life I want to live, and actively working to create the conditions to make that life a reality.

That means two things above all:

1. Saying no to things that don't align with the life I want to live, even if they're easy and/or tempting.

2. Saying yes to things that do align with the life I want to live, even if they're hard and/or scary.

I don't always get to do what I want (none of us do) but I've made a conscious choice to build a life that allows me to do more of what I want to do.

So, for that reason, I reckon 2026 is going to be the best year ever. 

Let's see how it pans out.

Ahh January 27th, the day the year actually starts.

And it's going to be a big year!

This is what we're doing at Kinex Health:

1. An alternative to outdated EAPs
I'm sick of reactive, low-value programs that don't do what they say on the tin - so we created something proactive, holistic, and accountable instead. It's called the Welbeing Enrichment Program and its the end of traditional EAPs. 

2. Backing early childhood educators (with Macquarie Uni)
We've co-designed a comprehenisive wellbeing program with the Early Childhood Educators Wellbeing Project and we're running an RCT to prove that it works. 

3. Showing up for regional and remote communities
Phil and Ciara are taking Kinex on the road all around Australia with a roving office (caravan) to reach communities that often miss out on PD and wellbeing initiatives. 

4. Sustainable high performance
We’re expanding our Sustainable High Performance Program and teaching teams how to perform at a high level without burning out. 

5. Elevating great practitioners
We’re backing the people doing wellbeing properly and bringing more and more exceptional practitioners into our work this year. 

2026 is going to be our biggest year yet, and I can't wait to get stuck in. 

If any of this piques your interest or aligns with what you're tackling this year, send me a DM and let's chat.

This is a PSA to all the extroverts from us introverts. 

You’re great. 

We like you. 

We love spending time with you. 

But it’s an energy cost for us. 

So if we say no to stuff, it doesn’t mean we don’t want to hang out. 

It just means we need to replenish our energy.

Sincerely, the people who pretend they’re busy when they’re home on the couch recharging.

My best longevity hack for anyone in (or wanting to be in) business for themselves:

Do whatever it takes to maintain enthusiasm in what you do.

That might mean:

- Changing your environment.

- Taking more breaks or holidays. 

- Tweaking your offerings so they excite you again. 

- Outsourcing or automating the tasks you hate.

- Finding an audience that you vibe with more. 

It might mean you move more slowly than you thought.

It might mean you make less money than you thought.

But it might also mean you stay in business longer.

And it'll definitely mean you have more fun doing it. 

If you like it, it's a lot easier to find the energy to do it.

If you hate it, everyday is a battle.

Find a way to do s**t you like and business gets easier.

Do away with the 'new year, new me' garbage and make this year a good one not by hoping, but by following a process.

Check out the article for some practical steps to get you off to a good start.

View newsletter: Workplace Wellbeing Specialist

The magic you’ve been looking for is in the work you've been avoiding. There’s something powerful about the start of a new year. A clean slate. A psyc

Open article: How to Make 2026 a Good Year by Phil Wolffe • 3 min read

Most businesses pay for an EAP.

The problem is the s**t ones cost the same as the good ones.

Here’s a quick checklist to separate a “tick box” EAP from a modern support system.

What to look for in an EAP (or EAP alternative):

- Fast access
If support isn’t available within 48 hours, it’s often too late to be useful.

- Multiple ways to engage
Not just appointments. Look for options like a 24/7 text line, email support, short resources, and self-paced courses so people can start small and build trust.

- Proactive support (not just crisis counselling)
Modern programs help prevent burnout and injuries before they become claims, with practical support across stress, sleep, habits, physical niggles, nutrition, workload management and more.

- A strong onboarding and activation plan
If the provider just “turns it on” and hopes people use it, engagement will be low. Look for a proper launch, education, and ongoing prompts so the benefit actually gets used.

- Tailored support (needs discovery, not generic content)
The best programs start by understanding what your people are dealing with, then tailor resources, training, and focus areas to match.

- Leader support and clinical supervision
Managers need backup too. Supervision, coaching, and upskilling helps leaders handle workload stress, tough conversations, and early mental health flags without becoming the therapist.

- Critical incident capability
If something serious happens, leaders need a clear, supported response pathway, plus training before the incident occurs.

- Psychosocial hazard controls
A modern EAP should support identification, reporting, risk assessment, and mitigation of psychosocial hazards, plus practical training for managers.

- Zero waste pricing
Avoid pay-up-front models where you prepay for sessions you never use. Pay-as-you-go keeps incentives aligned with engagement and impact.

- Monthly reporting that’s actually usable
Not just annual utilisation stats and a bill for the next year. Look for themes, emerging risks, what’s working, what isn’t, and clear recommendations. 

If you’re reviewing your EAP this year, this list will make sure you get a lot more out of the same budget.

What’s the one feature you wish your EAP had, but doesn’t?



P.S. You may have worked out that Kinex Health has an EAP alternative that hits all of these points.
Check it out in the comments and ask any questions you like.

If the only way to learn resilience is to go through hard things, then the only way to teach resilience is to make people go through hard things.

Not a great strategy as a leader.

Instead, look at resilience not just as ‘grit’ or the ability to bounce back, but as a set of skills that can be taught. 

That’s what functional resilience is.

What we generally mean when we say “resilience” is actually: “How much s**t can this person take before they break?”

If that’s the case, then resilience can be broken down like this:

Resilience = energy + skills + grit + connection x purpose

As a leader, this is a much more practical view that allows you to actually intervene. 

Energy: help people understand and optimise for energy, and allow them the flexibility to work within their performance patterns.

Skills: teach performance and self-management skills (conflict management, communication, good habits, health and wellbeing fundamentals, nervous system regulation etc.).

Grit: Can’t be taught but can be learned.

Connection: provide meaningful support and connection (internal and external) at different levels and with various touch points. 

Purpose: connect people to the overall purpose of their work i.e. get clear on where you’re headed and (crucially) why.

Resilience is a set of skills that can be learned, and the sooner we realise this the sooner we can start teaching/acquiring these skills.


BTW, this is exactly the kind of thing we do at Kinex Health, so reach out if you want to bring this to your team.

Novartis

Lead the global team of People & Organization Business Partners (HR) that directly supports Novartis Global Functions and related Executive Committee members: Finance, People & Organization, Legal, Ethics Risks Compliance, Communications & Patient Engagement, Strategy & Growth, Internal Audit, Global Health & Sustainability (~11000 associates around the world).
Transform every function into globally integrated and centralized functions to enable Novartis’ growth (new operating models, business processes, talent profiles, change management etc)
Develop the talent pipeline of the future.
Coach and grow leaders and teams towards an unbossed curious and inspired culture.

Head People & Organisation Global Functions

Lead the People & Organization team that enables all Novartis support functions to re-imagine medicines and deliver globally on their business strategies

Head People & Organization Novartis Corporate Functions and Business Services

- Create and lead the HR Team that provides HR business partnering support to the 11000 Associates and leaders entering in the newly created Novartis Business Service organization (90 HR professionals worldwide)
- Design change management approach to facilitate the creation of Novartis Business Services (NBS) and ensure smooth transition of the 6 cross divisional functional domains. 
- Create NBS identity and culture together with associates
- Establish NBS people strategy ensuring the organizational, talent, culture and operational needs of NBS are successfully met in order to support the long-term business strategy
- Drive all HR aspects of the global business transformation:   from decentralized services to fully cross-divisional and state of the art services, footprint shifts, digitalization and automation, new working models etc

Head HR Novartis Business Services

- Build and lead the OD&TM team supporting all related needs for Pharma Marketing & Sales, Finance & Administration, IT, Communications, Legal, Sourcing, Business Development & Licensing
- Drive all OD& TM aspects of the pharma commercial strategy to win in Specialty Care. Implement on a global, regional and country level ( top 20 countries).
- Lead all organisation development and talent management aspects of following business transformations in Global Commercial: 
1. Transform Market Access function globally into a best in class patient access organisation
2. Design a division-wide capability building Academy to accompany all learning and capability building efforts within marketing, sales, market access, medical affairs, primary and specialty care

Head Organization Development & Talent Management, Pharma Global Functions

Lead HR function for Technical R&D globally (2100 associates in US, Switzerland, UK, China, India).

Together with Global Head Technical R&D, drive transformation of organization, culture and processes:
- Using LEAN methodology, optimize business processes;
- Remove silos by implementing flat, self-directed and cross-functional teams focused on projects, science and technologies; 
- Establish and implement change management and training plans to facilitate change, ensure sustainability and build high performing teams
- Adapt people processes to new structure and culture (implement team objectives, establish people KPIs, replace standard performance management process by peer reviews, people development in flat organization, recruitment process and criteria....)
- lead all HR aspects of global footprint shift, from US and Switzerland to China and India: restructuring process for 400 job cuts, agressive expansion in India ( +300 in 1.5y) including onboarding and training,, retention plans, change management....

Talent Development:
- Establish career tracks and career pathing tool to highlight development opportunities in new organizational structure
- Identify key talents and establish targetted talent development for each one of them in order to accelerate their development into key leadership positions
- Establish mentoring program
- Establish talent pools and agressive plans to fill succession gaps for key leadership and scientific positions

Lead team of 13 HR professionals.

Global Head HR Technical R&D

Senior HR business partner for 2 global functions in Technical Operations on all HR aspects: Global Supply Chain Management (600 associates in Switzerland and 60 country organizations) and Global Quality Operations (130 associates)

Together with business leadership team, drove re-organization of the supply chain management function globally: 
- Implementation of flat brand oriented teams;
- Streamlining of business processes using the LEAN methodology
- Change management and training plans to facilitate changes, as well as all people related topics on the re-organization

Responsible for all HR aspects for both functions (recruitment, training, performance management, talent management/succession planning, organization development, customers' requests and support)

Lead team of 3 HR professionals

Senior HR manager Global Technical Operations

Responsible for Organization Development for Technical Operations Globally (10'000 associates worldwide)

- Design and implement change management toolkit, trainings and global change agent network in order to development change management skills within the entire line organization
- Provide consulting support to Senior Line and HR Managers on all aspects of Organization Development and Change in relation  to critical business issues and initiatives
- Implementation of Global employee survey and follow-up actions
- Led implementation of Pathways, a competency development tool, with assessment and development planner
- Design and facilitate workshops for the line based on needs

Global Technical Operations OD Manager

Responsible for recruitment for Technical Operations in Switzerland ad interim, in addition to permanent position. 
Recruited for Quality, IT, supply chain management, at all levels.

Senior Staffing Manager ad interim

Manage Change management projects in Corporate HR and later on in Technical Operations

Change Management Consultant

ST Microelectronics

Change management Consultant

SOLLAC

Steel industry.
R&amp;D project to optimize productivity and lifetime of oxygen nozzles' noses

R&D Engineer

A global HR Leader with 20 years of experience in leading large scale organizational and individual transformations, unlocking and developing people‘s true potential and coaching senior business leaders. 
A leader of large global teams, an expert in managing changes and a passion to make the impossible possible, together.  
An aspiration to help as many people as possible to live their best possible life, by combining the unique power of the material and energy worlds for faster and easier results, in private and business life. The power is within us, let‘s unleash it and democratize it with simple, practical and fun approaches: www.hoist-the-colors.com



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