Keynotes, Panels & Workshops

From economic instability and restructuring to digital overload and “always-on” culture, the pressures on men at work are compounding — and most organisations only notice when someone burns out, disengages or leaves. In this Keynote, Zac connects clinical evidence with real organisational experience to expose what’s driving men’s declining mental health, performance and help-seeking in high-pressure environments. He names the systemic issues leaders rarely address and provides a practical framework for building psychologically safe cultures where sustainable performance replaces cycles of crisis. Drawing on his work with some of Australia’s largest organisations and a global body of research, this is a direct, evidence-led Keynote for leaders who want to act, not just acknowledge the problem.

The online ecosystems shaping how boys and men think about identity, relationships and power are growing fast, and most adults and organisations are struggling to keep up. In this Keynote, Zac breaks down how the manosphere works: from mainstream YouTube influencers to radicalising subcultures, and the psychological drivers that make these ideas stick. He connects this to the broader media and cultural landscape, examining how algorithmic feeds, advertising and popular culture produce, reinforce and monetise the masculine narratives that shape what men believe about themselves, what they aspire to, and whether they feel permitted to seek help. Without alarmism or moral panic, he gives audiences a clear framework for understanding what’s happening, why it resonates, and how to respond with confidence.

Most organisations know they need to act on violence prevention, but few have a framework that actually engages men rather than alienating them. Grounded in national prevention frameworks and emerging social research, this Keynote moves beyond awareness campaigns into evidence-based culture change. Zac provides a direct, research-led perspective on what drives harmful behaviours and, critically, what works to bring men into the solution rather than positioning them as the problem.

Men are experiencing a loneliness crisis that is both a symptom and a driver of poor mental health. Research consistently shows that men’s social networks shrink dramatically after their twenties, that men are less likely to sustain close friendships, and that isolation is one of the strongest predictors of mental illness and suicide. Yet most wellbeing strategies rarely address this directly or effectively. In this Keynote, Zac draws on social connection research, clinical insight and his work with men across a wide range of settings to explain the unique barriers men face around connection and the organisational and community-level responses that actually work.

Boys are falling behind academically, emotionally and socially, and the data is unambiguous. Yet much of the public discourse focuses on symptoms rather than causes, and most intervention programs are designed without a clear understanding of how boys actually develop. At a time when boys are increasingly turning to online influencers to understand what it means to be a man, the question of who shapes their identity, and how, has never been more urgent. In this Keynote, Zac bridges developmental psychology, masculinity research and clinical experience to give parents, educators and community leaders a practical, evidence-based framework for raising boys who are resilient, emotionally capable and connected.

This Keynote explores the unique mental health challenges faced by fathers, including expectations, responsibilities, and societal pressures. Dr Zac will share practical strategies based on current research for promoting positive mental health in the context of fatherhood.

Psychological safety is the most reliable predictor of team performance, yet most leaders have never been shown what it looks like in practice or how to build it deliberately. This Workshop moves past theory to give leaders specific, applicable tools for creating environments where people speak up, set boundaries and sustain performance without burning out.

Most people want to help the men in their lives but don’t know how. This workshop gives participants the language, the listening skills, and the confidence to have conversations that matter — including when someone is struggling, shutting down, or in crisis.