As our 2025 conference approaches, here are all our fantastic speakers for the event. The conference takes place on 2 October. Please email info@nhsforest.org for free tickets. Alternatively, to donate as well as book your place, please use Eventbrite.
For timings and details, please check our timetable for the day.
Our chair will be Dr Radha Modgil. Radha has been an energetic, trusted and creative voice for wellbeing since 2008. As an NHS GP, broadcaster and author she is on a mission to bring about positive change and empower anyone to take small but powerful steps to improve their quality of life. Her love for this work comes from a desire to connect people across the world by highlighting a universal human need for authentic wellbeing. She featured on the Big Issue’s 100 Change Makers 2022 List and was listed as one of the inspiring people who are leading the way when it comes to mental health awareness by Positive News. Radha is the medical expert for BBC Radio 1’s daytime show, Life Hacks, and a regular contributor to BBC Radio 5Live’s weekly Mental Health Clinic show. She has also broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio 2 championing mental and emotional wellbeing.
The keynote speaker will be Kate Tantam, Specialist Research and Education Sister ICU at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust. Kate is a nurse researcher in rehabilitation after critical illness and the founder of the #Rehablegend campaign. The campaign shares patient stories to promote best practice, improve patient experience, support quality improvement and clinical research and raise awareness of the importance of rehabilitation for all. Her work was recognised with a Parliamentary Award for care and compassion in 2019 and National Patient Experience Award in 2019 and 2024. Her work during 2020/2021 supporting patients with COVID saw her awarded with a British Empire Medal for services to improve patient experience. She has been the driving force behind the award-winning ICU garden at Derriford Hospital and is currently campaigning to have gardens made a compulsory part of the building regulations for new intensive care units.
Sam Gamblin, Regional Centre Manager at Thrive Birmingham
Sam Gamblin is the Regional Centre Manager at Thrive Birmingham. She previously worked in Higher Education with expertise in supporting Disabled students, accessibility and student mental health. She has personal and professional interest in equity and the natural world and describes herself as a “neurodivergent nature nerd”.
Karen Buckman, Nursing Manager, Hillis Lodge
Karen Buckman is the Nursing Manager of Hillis Lodge, a low secure forensic hospital in South Birmingham. The patient group have come through the criminal justice system and are at the discharge end of their pathway. Karen and the team at Hillis Lodge work closely with the patient group to directly support their recovery and rehabilitation and provide them with all the knowledge and skills they need to reintegrate successfully back into life outside of hospital.
Dr Victoria Wilkes, Consultant Lead Psychologist for Reaside Clinic and Hillis Lodge
Dr Victoria Wilkes is the Consultant Lead Psychologist for Reaside Clinic and Hillis Lodge Secure Hospitals in South Birmingham, and Honorary Associate Professor of Forensic Psychology at the University of Birmingham. Victoria has over 20 years experience of working within Forensic Services and has a particular interest in how eco-therapies and nature benefit and support mental health and risk recovery and wellbeing.
Dr Patrick Bogue, Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust
Patrick Bogue is a Camberwell-based gardener, writer and doctor. He’s interested in how nature can support mental health and bring people together. He recently completed a Garden Design diploma at KLC-West Dean college after retraining in horticulture. He is motivated to improve shared spaces using visual art, storytelling and local ecology. Patrick blends his background in NHS psychiatry with a hands-on approach to community action, making spaces that feel welcoming, diverse and alive. He shares his work through writing for Hortus and giving talks (mostly outdoors!). You can find out more at patrickbogue.com.
Dr Katie Hall, NIHR Doctoral Research Fellow at the Centre for Academic Mental Health, University of Bristol and ST6 doctor in General Adult Psychiatry at Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (Perinatal Team)
Dr Katie Hall is an NIHR Doctoral Fellow at the University of Bristol, and ST6 doctor in General Adult Psychiatry at Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. Her current research explores nature-based approaches to perinatal mental healthcare. She works with diverse communities, whose wisdom and knowledge continue to shape this research.
Dr. Russell McIntire, Associate Professor in the College of Health at Lehigh University
Dr. Russell McIntire is an Associate Professor in the College of Health at Lehigh University. He studies the influence of neighborhood and place-based characteristics, social and behavioral risk factors, and interventions on chronic diseases, with a particular focus on the health effects of green spaces. For many of his studies, he collaborates with community-based organisations who work to increase the amount of, and access to, quality green spaces. His major topical interests include healthy parks, gardening and greening interventions, mental health and cancer outcomes.
Emma Lacy, founder of Earth & Mind and Emily Nurse, Earth & Mind
Emma Lacy is the founder of Earth & Mind, a non-profit organisation focused on reconnecting people with the natural world and with their own innate, often forgotten, human nature. Her work explores the intersections of physical and mental wellbeing, education, and ecological connection, offering nature-based experiences that support resilience, belonging and a deeper sense of place.
Emily Nurse is the Nature Wellbeing Officer at Earth & Mind. Her recent research explores how connection with the natural world and the creative self supports the rediscovery of inherent human potential and strengthens mental and emotional wellbeing. She creates opportunities for people to nurture a sense of belonging, cultivate resilience, and deepen connectedness at personal, community and planetary levels.
Through Earth & Mind, Emma and Emily partner with communities, educators, healthcare partners, and local organisations to revive natural ways of being—promoting not only environmental awareness, but also a reconnection to the behaviours and rhythms that have been eroded in modern society.
Dan Loveard, Green Space for Health Project Manager, Centre for Sustainable Healthcare
Dan is an experienced community lead having spent a decade managing and delivering a diverse range of environmental and health projects across the UK. Before joining CSH, he worked for Warwickshire Wildlife Trust where he played an active role both operationally and strategically in bringing about nature’s recovery and connecting people from all walks of life with nature. This included managing a successful green health project during Covid, focussing on reducing loneliness and social isolation in communities along with delivering habitat creation and restoration projects in collaboration with communities and partner stakeholders to help transform those spaces for nature and people. Dan is the Green Space for Health lead at CSH, supporting and advising NHS sites looking to improve their estates for biodiversity, climate and human health.
Victoria Shearing, Wellbeing Garden Programme Manager, The Royal Horticultural Society
Victoria Shearing leads the RHS Wellbeing Garden Programme, enhancing community wellbeing through horticulture across healthcare sites. She collaborates with the NHS and other partners to expand wellbeing gardens and shares research with RHS Science. Previously, she managed the RHS Garden Wisley NLHF project, delivering major capital projects and social programmes. With a Master’s in Socially Engaged Practice and extensive experience in the gallery sector, Victoria is passionate about creating healthier lives and stronger communities.
Emma Heinicke, Corporate Fundraising Officer, NorthCare Charity
Emma Heinicke is the Corporate Fundraising Officer at NorthCare Charity, where she leads the grants programme and crafts compelling applications to trusts and foundations. With over 15 years of experience in fundraising, her journey began after becoming a parent and discovering a passion for making a difference. Outside of work, Emma is a fitness enthusiast and a mum of two young children.
Sarah Jordan, Green Space for Health Director at the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare
Sarah’s background is in environmental psychology, exploring the relationship between people and our natural environment. She has experience at a director level in both environmental and healthcare organisations, formerly as one of the founders and director of Hope for the Future, a climate and nature communications charity that supports communities to influence and achieve change. Sarah is passionate about the need for environment and healthcare sectors to work together for the benefit of people and our planet.
John Preston, Business Development Executive with The Conservation Volunteers
John works to develop and secure funding for projects across the UK including health and wellbeing programmes. Prior to 2018, John was responsible for managing and developing TCV’s Hollybush Conservation Centre into a vibrant hub supporting over 500 people each year. He represents the third sector on the Healthy Adults Population Board for Leeds ICB, is a trustee of Love Leeds Parks and helps run the Friends of Burley Park.