Teesside to host wellness event with star power

A groundbreaking wellness and high-performance event is set to take place at The Riverside Stadium in Middlesbrough, uniting leaders and entrepreneurs across the North.

‘Hearts & Minds’ will feature inspirational speakers, including former British & Irish Lions rugby star turned A380 airline captain Tony Underwood, to explore ways to cultivate health, happiness and high-performance in teams.

Former Newcastle Falcon Tony, who was capped 27 times for England in an illustrious playing career, will be giving a session entitled ‘Caring Unlocks Excellence’.

He said: “I’ve been fortunate to have two very different careers – one in elite rugby and the other in aviation.

“Both are high pressure environments. Both require high-performance teams and leadership.

“During the event, I’ll share what I’ve learned about how to unlock excellence – how to help people perform at their best and build great teams.”

Nick Parkes, open water swimming world champion who had a cardiac arrest during the UK Championships in Sheffield in 2023, will be delivering a session called ‘Heart Matters’.

He added: “I am a world champion swimmer who had a cardiac arrest in the water, during a race.

“It’s shown me how important it is to prioritise our health. It’s also shown me how resilience and a positive mindset can get us through the toughest challenges.

“That’s why I’m passionate about inspiring others to take control of their health, mindset and performance.”

The final session, ‘World Class Mindset – from Foundation to Podium’ will be delivered by Simon Hartley, elite sport psychology consultant and chief executive officer of Be World Class.

Simon added: “There are a lot of high-performance events around the world, but this one is unique.

“And it features a couple of amazing speakers who live and work in Teesside.

“It’s great to see that truly innovative, global thought-leadership emanates from right here in Teesside”.

Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen added: “Events like Hearts & Minds showcase the incredible talent and innovation we have here in Teesside. 

“By focusing on physical and mental health in the workplace, alongside high-performance leadership, this event not only helps our businesses grow but also improves the lives of the people who power them. 

“It’s another example of how our region is leading the way in creating healthier, happier and more productive workplaces.”

The event is taking place on February 27, with tickets priced at £25. Proceeds will support CEO Sleepout and The British Heart Foundation. 

For more information, visit be-world-class.com/hearts-and-minds.

Read more, in our sister publication N, about Tony’s work with Newcastle Rugby Foundation’s Rugby+ Futures programme, in which he is aiming to boost emotional intelligence, self-awareness and self-belief in youngsters.

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