2026 FAO WELLBEING AWARENESS EVENT Remarks

Thank you, Ben Ben!

Good morning colleagues!

Today, I want to address Wellbeing Awareness and Innovation - Building a Healthier, Future-Ready FAO.

In today’s workplace, health and wellbeing are not optional benefits, but foundations of performance.

For an organization like FAO, whose mandate depends on the dedication and energy of colleagues worldwide, supporting the wellbeing of all employees is a strategic imperative.

The 2026 FAO Wellbeing Awareness Event highlights this truth by focusing on cardiovascular health, diabetes and obesity prevention.

Prevention begins with awareness, and awareness begins with daily choices: healthy nutrition, regular movement, stress management, and early detection.

It also reminds us that a strong well-being culture must be inclusive, leaving no employee behind.

Yet, wellbeing is more than the absence of illness. It is a conscious practice of noticing, understanding and responding to our physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual states.

Wellbeing awareness means recognizing what supports or drains us; identifying early signs of stress or burnout; and taking action to restore balance.

It includes self-awareness, health literacy, emotional literacy, social awareness, mindful attention, and help-seeking.

These skills help people manage stress, build resilience, maintain relationships and reduce burnout.

In workplaces, they strengthen psychological safety, productivity and a culture where people can speak up.

Building such a culture requires more than yoga classes or awareness days. It demands normalized conversations, supportive leadership, manageable workloads, flexible policies and access to counselling.

Leaders must model openness; managers must be trained to notice changes and respond with curiosity; and staff must feel safe to say, “I am struggling” without career damage.

A useful formula captures this: Wellbeing Awareness = Knowledge + Self-awareness + Permission + Habits + Supportive environment.

Structure beats slogans; workload and culture shape wellbeing more than posters or apps.

At the same time, FAO is embracing innovation.

The presence of our humanoid friend Ben Ben reflects how AI, robotics and digital tools are transforming the way we live and work.

These technologies can improve access to information, strengthen analysis and connect colleagues across locations.

But they must remain human-centred. Technology should support our values, judgement and collaboration—not replace them.

Ultimately, the goal is a workforce that notices early, speaks up safely and accesses support, and a workplace that does not make people sick in the first place!

By combining wellbeing awareness with responsible innovation, FAO can build a healthier, more inclusive and future-ready organization—one that truly embodies the “One FAO” spirit.

This is how we enable colleagues to contribute effectively to FAO’s mandate, while protecting their health and dignity.

Thank you.