Claire Russell - CEO, Founder, Trainer, Speaker & Coach
Claire has had a corporate career spanning 20 years, having managed and directed businesses in the financial services sector since she was just 20 years old.
This has given her a very broad business knowledge and a great deal of experience in facing and overcoming the challenges that all business owners face at some time in their business careers. Latterly, since selling her Insurance business, she has worked in a consultancy capacity as a strategic development director, helping businesses to look at all areas of development of their business.
Claire started to use some of her time to help others as a volunteer with Samaritans, after experiencing a difficult period in her life. She realised that she wanted to use her skills and experiential knowledge to help other people facing difficult times; and in particular, mental health issues. This led her to undergo various additional training programs via Samaritans, Mental Health First Aid England and as a Coach; to begin volunteering and working privately with people; and to start speaking candidly about issues relating to mental health and suicide.
In March 2018 Claire experienced a double tragedy- the loss of her partner due to suicide and shortly after the loss of their unborn child. Experiencing loss like this has made Claire all the more determined to take her experience, training and knowledge and help as many people as possible. Her vision is to lead a global shift in attitudes towards mental health and suicide.
In the last few years, having become increasingly concerned by the growing epidemic of mental health problems, she has become passionate about helping to effect change by educating people, by breaking down taboos and opening up the conversation about mental health.
Claire leads our program development, delivers training and coaching; and is a prolific speaker. She continues to be a committed volunteer, giving much of her time to her local Samaritans branch.
As well as being a listening volunteer with The Samaritans, Claire is also qualified as a Mental Health First Aider and CLARITY Practitioner
Steve Heath – Founder, Director & Lead Trainer
Steve is a director and one of the co-founders of MHIB - and his vision is to lead a global shift in mental health in the workplace. He is passionate about helping businesses to create meaningful and impactful wellbeing programmes.
As well as being a major driving force in the business Steve is also an experienced Mental Health First Aid instructor and has travelled the length and breadth of the UK to deliver MHFA courses and manager & leadership training for workplace mental health.
Steve has 15+ years of business ownership experience, having established, run, and sold a successful media production business. His focus is now on mental health in the workplace and he has considerable experience working, volunteering and advising in this area.
Jay Unwin - Training & Development Director
Jay is a highly-regarded professional speaker and our Training & Development Director at Mental Health in Business Ltd. With a diverse career spanning education, fitness, and psychology, Jay brings a unique blend of academic expertise, professional insight, and personal experience to his work.
Holding an MSc in Psychology and a BSc (Hons) in Biology, Jay is a graduate member of the British Psychological Society, and an associate member of both the International Stress Management Association, and the British Society of Lifestyle Medicine. His academic grounding is complemented by his background as a science teacher and former functional fitness coach and gym owner, giving him a holistic perspective on wellbeing and performance.
Jay’s passion for mental health and resilience is deeply rooted in his own lived experience. He has navigated challenges including burnout, cancer, depression, and fibromyalgia, which has shaped his innovative and compassionate approach to helping individuals and organisations manage stress, enhance resilience, and foster wellbeing.
At MHIB, Jay leads the design and delivery of cutting-edge training programmes, equipping teams with evidence-based tools and strategies to support mental health and performance. His engaging and practical style as a trainer and speaker has made him a trusted voice in mental health education across diverse sectors.
Whether delivering workshops, keynote speeches, or one-on-one coaching, Jay is committed to driving cultural change and empowering individuals to thrive in both work and life.
Clare Crouch – Operations Director
With more than 25 years' experience in accountancy, Clare has supported organisations of all sizes across a wide range of sectors with financial management, business operations and compliance.
Following her own experience of burnout, Clare retrained as a holistic health and naturopathic nutrition coach, specialising in supporting women to prevent and recover from burnout. Alongside building and running her own successful wellness business for more than a decade, this experience has given her valuable insight into the pressures faced by business owners, managers and leaders, and the importance of creating workplaces where people can thrive.
At MHIB, Clare combines strong commercial experience with a genuine understanding of the relationship between wellbeing, leadership and organisational performance, bringing both practical business knowledge and compassionate insight.
Rosie Russell – Chief Cuddle Officer
Rosie joined MHIB with no previous corporate experience but quickly established herself as an expert in team wellbeing.
Her key responsibilities include boosting morale, encouraging regular wellbeing breaks and reminding the team that a walk in the fresh air can solve more problems than another meeting. She specialises in welcoming visitors, offering emotional support on demand and ensuring everyone receives a warm greeting.
Rosie’s favourite rewards include tummy rubs, treats and enthusiastic praise for a job well done.
Outside of work she enjoys long walks, chasing squirrels and maintaining a healthy work-life balance through regular naps.
