20 June

Meet the new This is Me Steering Committee!

Our This is Me Steering Committee has undergone a few changes in the last quarter, with five new members coming on board, plus Phil Canale taking on the role of Chair.

To celebrate, we thought we’d ask the new group a bit about themselves, why they decided to join and help end the stigma around mental health in the workplace. 

Phil Canale – Senior Vice President, International Management and Chair of This Is Me SteerCo

Phil works in the International Management Team in London. His role is broad, encompassing governance, strategic meetings, business planning, special projects and employee engagement. 

He became involved with HEART (BNY’s diverse abilities network) in London when the chapter was formed in 2014, becoming London Co-Chair in 2016, and served as global Co-Chair of HEART from 2021-2024, leading the resource group to global awards in 2024 with MindForward Alliance (Leadership Award) and Disability:IN (EBRG of the Year). 

Phil took on the role of SteerCo Chair of This is Me in February 2025, having been a member of the SteerCo for 8 years, and is a passionate advocate for mental wellbeing, supporting both those with a lived experience, and allies. 

He says: 

“While we all know that prioritising metal health is the right thing to do, there is also a very strong commercial business case. I want to encourage all businesses in the City to prioritise mental health in their wellbeing strategy”

Anastasia Vinnikova - Suicide Prevention and Project Officer, City of London Corporation, Chartered Human Resources professional and Member of This Is Me SteerCo

Anastasia Vinnikova is an award-winning speaker, writer and mental health advocate. Currently the Suicide Prevention Officer at the City of London Corporation, Anastasia has many years of experience and expertise in mental health, in part driven by her own lived experience.  

She previously led the wellbeing agenda at the Bank of England and spent 2 years on the Commission for Equality in Mental Health with the Centre for Mental Health.

During her time as Head of Workplace Wellbeing with the MindForward Alliance, she also acted as Interim Chair of the Board of InspireUK - a mental health services charity.

Dedicated to shifting the mental health landscape, today Anastasia sits on the Samaritans External Engagement and Research Committee, as well as acting as a Lived Experience Advisor on their Online Excellence Programme. 

She says: 

"This is Me is a powerful initiative, which has profoundly impacted the lives of many people, including my own. The Green Ribbon campaign was an important part of my own mental health journey, and I am delighted to now have an opportunity to support the onward development of this work, and to grow its reach even further." 

Jessica Cobb – Director, BlackRock Multi-Asset Strategies & Solutions and Member of This Is Me SteerCo

Jessica is the EMEA COO for the BlackRock Multi-Asset Strategies & Solutions business based in London. In this role, she is responsible for coordinating day-to-day business management functions and the execution of business strategy, talent and development initiatives. 

Jessica has been a Mental Health Ambassador at BlackRock since 2021, becoming the EMEA Programme Co-Lead in 2023.

She joined the This Is Me SteerCo in March 2025 and is committed to ending the stigma around mental health by championing awareness, fostering community, and embedding wellbeing into the everyday fabric of the workplace. 

She says:  

“Mental health isn’t a side conversation—it’s central to how we work, lead, and support one another. Small actions—like sharing a resource or checking in on a teammate—can create real change.”

Donna Smith – HR Partner and member of This Is Me SteerCo

Donna is a HR Partner at Lambert Smith Hampton, where she leads initiatives across Employee Engagement, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (ED&I) and Workplace Wellness within the real estate sector. 

A passionate advocate for mental health, Donna brings both professional insight and personal experience to her work, having navigated mental wellbeing challenges herself and alongside close family members.

Her advocacy began during her tenure at KPMG, where she led the firm’s Mental Health Network and was first introduced to the This is Me campaign—a movement she has championed in every subsequent role. 

In 2021, Donna was honoured with the Mind Wellbeing Champion Award UK, a recognition she deeply values. Since then, she has intentionally sought roles that align with her mission to embed wellbeing at the heart of workplace culture. 

Known for her authentic leadership style, Donna brings her whole self to both her personal and professional life. She is proud to join the This is Me Steering Committee, which she sees as a natural continuation of her commitment to mental health advocacy.  

She says: 

“I will continue to use my voice and actions to advocate for those with ‘invisible’ disabilities and conditions to help them bring their whole selves to work, feel seen, and have a voice at the table.”

Steven McCann – Founder and Director, MCG Consulting and member of This Is Me SteerCo

Steven McCann is the Founder of MCG Consulting, a specialist consultancy helping organisations create recovery-informed, inclusive workplaces.

After 18 years in the legal sector, he now advises global law firms, financial institutions and national bodies on addiction awareness, mental health and mentoring for social mobility.

Steven has lived experience of recovery from addiction and speaks openly about the challenges he faced, as well as the hope and change that followed. His work has been featured by the Legal Services Board, LawCare, The Law Gazette and Law Societies across the UK, including the Law Society of Scotland, where MCG’s work forms part of their permanent wellbeing resources.

Steven is also Deputy Chair of the Board of Trustees at ReachOut, a national mentoring charity supporting 11 to 14-year-olds from underserved communities, where he is also a mentor.

He has delivered talks in prisons for The Forward Trust and previously served as a mental health champion for the Lawn Tennis Association, culminating in a short film aired on Sky Sports. He brings both professional insight and lived experience to the This Is Me Steering Committee and is passionate about reshaping how workplaces respond to hidden struggles.

He says:

"For years, I worked in the City while struggling in silence. Now, I help organisations create the kind of workplaces I wish had existed back then; where people feel seen, supported and safe to ask for help."

Sienna Holcombe - Senior Supervisor, UK Deposit Takers Directorate, and Pillar Lead on the Mental Health Network, Bank of England and This is Me SteerCo Member

Sienna works as a Senior Supervisor in the UK Deposit Takers Directorate at the Bank of England. Alongside this, she is a Pillar Lead on the Bank's Mental Health Network and is focused on strengthening connections with other networks both internally and externally to explore intersectionality. 

Sienna joined the This Is Me SteerCo in 2025 to advocate for mental wellbeing around the city. 

She says:  

"Mental health impacts everyone individually yet is still considered a taboo subject. We need to foster an environment which enables people to openly and honesty discuss mental health and empower them to gain support with whatever challenges they face." 

Join the This is Me movement here