RCP London Events names mental health champion

RCP London Events has created a dedicated Mental Health Champion role as part of a broader push to embed conscious inclusion into its event design and venue operations. The initiative is intended to strengthen support for both attendees and staff by putting mental wellbeing on an equal footing with accessibility, sustainability and social responsibility in the planning process.

Senior meetings and events planner Natasha Camenzuli has stepped into the position after completing formal Mental Health Champion training with MHFA England. The move signals a growing focus within venue management on structured mental health support and the integration of wellbeing frameworks into everyday event delivery.

Background and industry context

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Event organisers and venues are increasingly expected to address mental health as part of duty-of-care obligations, particularly as conferences and business events return to pre-pandemic volumes. Delegates, exhibitors and staff routinely face long days, intense networking schedules and high cognitive load, which can heighten stress and anxiety.

At the same time, corporate clients and professional associations are placing greater emphasis on inclusive practices when selecting venues and partners. This includes not only physical accessibility and sustainability credentials, but also evidence that wellbeing considerations are built into the event lifecycle rather than added on as isolated initiatives.

Against this backdrop, appointing a dedicated Mental Health Champion positions venues to respond more systematically to emerging expectations. It also reflects a wider shift in the sector, with some event businesses starting to train specific team members in mental health literacy and early-support skills, rather than relying solely on informal peer support.

Key developments in the RCP London Events initiative

The new role at RCP London Events is designed to formalise how mental health is considered in both event planning and internal operations. Camenzuli’s MHFA England training provides her with tools to better recognise signs of mental distress, offer initial support and signpost individuals to appropriate professional help when needed.

Within the business, this Mental Health Champion function is expected to underpin several areas:

Event design input: Advising colleagues on how meeting formats, scheduling, content intensity and networking structures can impact delegate wellbeing, and suggesting adjustments where appropriate.
Staff support: Acting as an initial point of contact for team members who may be experiencing stress or mental health challenges related to event delivery pressures.
Policy alignment: Helping to ensure that wellbeing principles sit alongside accessibility, sustainability and social responsibility in RCP London Events’ documented approaches and checklists.
Awareness building: Supporting internal conversations about mental health so that managers and colleagues become more confident in identifying and responding to potential issues.

The conscious inclusion strategy at RCP London Events already spans areas such as inclusive catering, accessible room layouts and environmentally responsible operations. By positioning a Mental Health Champion within its planning team, the venue is aiming to ensure that psychological safety and wellbeing are considered at the same strategic level as these other pillars.

Industry impact and potential influence

Although Mental Health First Aid and related training are becoming more common in corporate environments, formal Mental Health Champion roles are still relatively new within the events and venue sector. RCP London Events’ move may encourage other venues, agencies and organisers to identify specific individuals responsible for driving wellbeing initiatives, particularly where hybrid working and fluctuating event calendars have increased pressure on teams.

For venue operators, the initiative provides a practical example of how wellbeing responsibilities can be embedded without restructuring entire departments. Having a trained champion within an existing planning function allows mental health considerations to be factored into core workflows, from initial proposal discussions to onsite delivery and debriefs.

Should similar roles become more widespread, the industry could see more formalised checklists and guidelines for mental health-sensitive event design, covering areas such as:

Quiet spaces and breakout areas for delegates seeking time away from busy environments.
Scheduling patterns that reduce fatigue, such as balanced session lengths and adequate breaks.
Clear information for attendees on where to seek help if they feel overwhelmed.
Staff training pathways that align with venue risk assessments and safeguarding measures.

Such developments would complement existing frameworks around physical accessibility and health and safety, positioning mental health as a core risk management and experience design concern rather than an optional extra.

Why this matters for event professionals and technology providers

For planners, associations and corporate event owners, the emergence of roles like Mental Health Champion highlights a growing expectation that wellbeing is deliberately planned for, not just acknowledged in principle. When evaluating venues and partners, event professionals may increasingly ask for evidence of trained personnel, documented procedures and practical measures that support mental health on site.

Technology providers and hybrid event platforms also have a stake in this shift. Digital tools used for registration, agenda planning, mobile apps and virtual participation can be configured to support conscious inclusion and wellbeing, for example by:

Offering clear, upfront information on session intensity, duration and interaction levels.
Allowing delegates to build personalised agendas that reflect their energy levels and preferences.
Providing easy access to wellbeing resources, venue maps showing quiet areas, and contact details for help on a mobile app or event portal.
Using analytics to identify pinch points in the schedule that may lead to overcrowding or extended screen time in virtual components.

As more venues adopt conscious inclusion frameworks, collaboration between operations teams, event designers and technology suppliers will become increasingly important. Tech partners that can demonstrate alignment with wellbeing goals – through user-friendly interfaces, accessible design and thoughtful notification strategies – are likely to be better positioned in RFP processes where duty of care is a key criterion.

Conclusion

RCP London Events’ appointment of a Mental Health Champion marks a further step in the integration of wellbeing, accessibility, sustainability and social responsibility into venue-based event design. By equipping a senior planner with MHFA England training and clearly defining their remit, the organisation is signalling that mental health is now a core operational consideration rather than a peripheral concern.

While the role is specific to a single venue, it reflects a broader trend across the business events ecosystem: expectations around inclusive, responsible event experiences are rising. Event professionals and technology providers that proactively engage with mental health and wellbeing, build relevant expertise and adapt their products and processes accordingly are likely to find themselves better aligned with client and delegate priorities in the years ahead.