Simon Blake OBE is the Chief Executive Officer of Mental Health First Aid England, Chair of the Support After Suicide Partnership, Non-Executive Director of Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, and an Advisor to Headspace Health.

Previously he was Vice Chair of Stonewall and worked at the National Children’s Bureau where he led the children’s sector campaigns to equalise the age of consent for gay men and repeal Section 28. As a gay man, Simon is passionate about equality, inclusion, and social justice as well as a campaigner, trainer, and writer.

Simon’s lived experiences growing up in Cornwall through the AIDS epidemic in the 80s he quickly learned about bullying, prejudice, the importance of empathy, inclusion, and fairness as well as solidarity. This drive has seen him advocate the power of allyship and belonging.

Simon believes that performance, inclusion and wellbeing fuel one another, and that fun, courage and gratitude are important ingredients for both life and the workplace. Simon’s story draws on that understanding and his passion to drive cultural change at work, in communities and wider society.