To help men & boys flourish, we need to stop assuming & start asking.
Dr Zac Seidler is a Clinical Psychologist, the Global Director of Men's Health Research at Movember and an Associate Professor with Orygen at The University of Melbourne.
Dr Seidler has devoted several years to the goal of reducing the staggering male suicide and domestic violence rate, treating and researching men’s mental health with over 100 peer-reviewed articles and 2 books published.
Dr Seidler has worked clinically with men of different ages and presentations across the country. He provides expert consultation and advice to government's on mental health and domestic and family violence policy and research at a state, federal and international level. Dr. Seidler appears regularly on the ABC, BBC, Sky News and in The Guardian, The Sydney Morning Herald and AFR for his work.
Talking Points
Men, Pressure and Performance: Building Workplaces That Don’t Break People
Audiences: Corporate leaders, HR, people and culture teams, executive groupsMen, Pressure and Performance: Building Workplaces That Don’t Break People
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.
Key Takeaways:
• How economic volatility, restructuring and cultural pressure are changing men’s behaviour, risk-taking and engagement at work
• The early warning signs of burnout and withdrawal that leaders consistently miss
• Why psychological safety is the strongest predictor of team performance, and what undermines it in male-dominated or high-demand environments
• Practical tools for reducing overwhelm, redesigning team norms and helping men engage with support before crisis point
Keynote or Workshop: Inside the Manosphere: Online Influences, Radicalisation and How to Respond
Audiences: Schools, corporate, HR, parent groups, community leaders, councils, media and communications professionalsKeynote or Workshop: Inside the Manosphere: Online Influences, Radicalisation and How to Respond
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. Designed for schools, corporates, parent audiences, media professionals and community leaders who need practical direction on a rapidly evolving issue.
This topic is also available as an interactive Workshop.
Key Takeaways:
• A clear understanding of what the manosphere is, why it’s accelerating and why it appeals to young men
• How algorithmic feeds, media narratives and online subcultures interact to shape identity, attitudes and behaviour in men and boys
• The psychological and social vulnerabilities that make men susceptible to online radicalisation
• Non-confrontational techniques for having productive conversations that don’t entrench resistance
• Early detection frameworks for educators, HR teams and organisational leaders
• How AI, algorithms and emerging platforms are shifting the risk landscape, and what a more effective response looks like beyond digital literacy alone
Healthy Masculinity and Violence Prevention: From Awareness to Culture Change
Audiences: Government, councils, NFPs, education, prevention organisationsHealthy Masculinity and Violence Prevention: From Awareness to Culture Change
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. Ideal for councils, government agencies, NFPs, education providers and any organisation committed to creating safer, more respectful environments.
Key Takeaways:
• What actually drives harmful behaviour, and why many common engagement approaches backfire
• How to promote accountability and responsibility without blame or alienation
• Practical tools for embedding respect, safety and accountability into organisational culture
• Constructive approaches to addressing harmful norms that create genuine behavioural change
• Actionable steps organisations can implement immediately
The Loneliness Epidemic: Why Men Disconnect and What Brings Them Back
Audiences: Corporate, community organisations, health services, governmentThe Loneliness Epidemic: Why Men Disconnect and What Brings Them Back
Topic Synopsis:
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.
Key Takeaways:
• The data on male loneliness and why it matters for health, performance and safety outcomes
• Why men’s social networks collapse and the specific life transitions that trigger disconnection
• The gap between perceived and actual social support in men, and why it matters clinically
• What workplaces, communities and individuals can do to foster genuine connection among men
• Emerging programs and approaches showing real promise in reducing male social isolation
Raising Boys Well: What Parents, Schools and Communities Need to Know
Audiences: Parent forums, schools, education leaders, youth-serving organisations, sporting clubsRaising Boys Well: What Parents, Schools and Communities Need to Know
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. He challenges the idea that positive masculinity requires perfection and shows what effective male role modelling actually looks like in practice: in families, in schools, in sporting clubs and in everyday life. Without nostalgia or moral panic, this Keynote offers actionable insight grounded in the science of how boys thrive.
Key Takeaways:
• What the research tells us about boys’ developmental needs and where we are currently failing them
• The specific role of identity formation, emotional learning and safe relationships in boys’ wellbeing
• What makes male role modelling genuinely effective, and why traditional models are under threat from online alternatives
• How school environments, family dynamics and community factors either protect or undermine boys’ mental health
• Practical strategies parents, educators and mentors can apply immediately to foster empathy, emotional literacy and healthy identity in boys
• The warning signs that indicate a boy needs additional support, and where to find it
Panel Participant: Zac as Expert Panellist
Zac is a highly effective panel contributor who brings clinical authority, research depth and the ability to translate complex evidence into clear, audience-ready insights. He is equally comfortable on corporate stages, government roundtables, education summits and media panels. His value on a panel is precision: he cuts through generalities with specific evidence, challenges assumptions constructively, and grounds the conversation in what the data actually shows. Zac is particularly well suited to panels on men’s mental health, masculinity, workplace wellbeing, youth and digital culture, violence prevention, loneliness and fatherhood. He engages generously with co-panellists and audiences, and consistently elevates the quality of discussion without dominating it.Panel Participant: Zac as Expert Panellist
Best Suited To:
• Conference panel discussions requiring credible, evidence-based contributions on men’s health, mental health or masculinity
• Corporate or government roundtables exploring workplace wellbeing, psychological safety or culture change
• Media panels where nuance and clinical expertise are essential
• Cross-sector panels that benefit from a panellist who can connect research, clinical practice and real-world application
Panel Facilitator: Zac as Moderator
Zac brings the same rigour to facilitating panels as he does to delivering Keynotes. As a moderator, he draws on his clinical training, research expertise and experience across corporate, education, government and community settings to guide conversations that are structured, substantive and genuinely productive. He is skilled at drawing out quieter panellists, redirecting surface-level discussion toward depth, managing audience questions with confidence and ensuring every panel leaves the room with something concrete. Zac is particularly effective moderating panels on complex or sensitive topics where the conversation needs to be both candid and carefully held.Panel Facilitator: Zac as Moderator
Best Suited To:
• Conference or summit panels on mental health, masculinity, workplace culture, youth, violence prevention or social issues
• Corporate offsites or leadership forums where panel discussions need strategic direction and genuine depth
• Community or government forums on sensitive topics requiring a moderator who can hold space for difficult conversations while keeping the discussion productive and respectful
• Events where the moderator needs subject-matter credibility, not just presentation skills
Workshop: Psychological Safety for Leaders: Building Teams That Perform and Last
Duration: 60–90 minutes | Corporate leaders, people managers, executive teamsWorkshop: Psychological Safety for Leaders: Building Teams That Perform and Last
Workshop Synopsis:
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. Participants examine how digital saturation, “always-on” expectations and constant connectivity are compounding pressure across their teams, and work through practical strategies to redesign norms that protect capacity. Using real organisational case studies and interactive exercises, participants identify what’s undermining safety in their own teams and leave with a concrete action plan. Particularly valuable for leaders managing male-dominated, hybrid or high-pressure teams.
What Participants Walk Away With:
• A working understanding of psychological safety and its direct link to performance, retention and wellbeing
• The ability to identify specific behaviours, norms and digital habits that erode safety in their teams
• Practical tools for reducing “always-on” culture, reclaiming boundaries and building sustainable team rhythms
• A personalised action plan they can implement within their first week back
Workshop: How to Talk to Men and Support Them in Crisis: A Practical Toolkit
Duration: 60–90 minutes | HR teams, people leaders, managers, partners, parents, community members.Workshop: How to Talk to Men and Support Them in Crisis: A Practical Toolkit
Workshop Synopsis:
Most people who care about a man’s wellbeing have at some point not known what to say, how to say it, or whether to say anything at all. And when a male employee, colleague or family member is visibly struggling, most people know they should act but aren’t sure how. This Workshop closes both gaps. Drawing on clinical evidence and Zac’s decade of experience training practitioners and supporters, participants learn practical, adaptable frameworks for initiating conversations about mental health, navigating deflection and minimisation, and supporting men who are in distress or at risk, without overstepping, making assumptions or escalating unnecessarily. Using role-play, scenario exercises and guided reflection, this session builds real confidence rather than just theoretical knowledge. It is one of the most practically impactful sessions Zac delivers, and consistently receives the highest participant feedback.
What Participants Walk Away With:
• A clear framework for approaching a man who may be struggling, regardless of relationship type
• Skills for navigating deflection, minimisation and disengagement without giving up
• The ability to recognise early behavioural indicators of mental health decline
• Clear guidance on boundaries: when to support, when to escalate and how to connect someone with professional help
• Practical conversation starters and approaches adapted to different relationships and contexts
• A plan for following up that sustains support without overwhelming or alienating
Fatherhood & Mental Wellness: It's Not All Dad Bods
This Keynote explores the unique mental health challenges faced by fathers, including expectations, responsibilities, and societal pressures.Fatherhood & Mental Wellness: It's Not All Dad Bods
Dr Zac will share practical strategies based on current research for promoting positive mental health in the context of fatherhood.
Video
Dr. Zac Seidler, Masculinity Keynote - Happiness & It's Causes Conference 2023
Impressionable young men under the spell of a dangerous phenomenon called looksmaxxing. Dr Zac Seidler is the expert voice in this documentary.Dr Zac Seidler at IQ2 Masculinity
Dr Zac Seidler Raising Boys | All About Women 2026
From Andrew Tate to algorithmic rabbit holes, this panel will unpack the real forces shaping boys today — and what parents can do beyond panic and blame. Bringing up boys isn’t getting any less complicated. One minute they’re sweet, funny little humans. The next, they’re parroting some podcast bro who insists “patriarchy isn’t real” and “grindset” is a personality. Shows like Adolescence and books like The Anxious Generation tapped a nerve. As toxic masculinity is loudly (and often rightly) called out, a generation of boys is confused and ashamed — and the algorithm is happy to lead them down dark alt-right rabbit holes. It’s part of the reason the Australian government introduced age restrictions for social media accounts. So how do we cut through the bro-fluencer noise to raise resilient, emotionally literate boys? Investigative journalist Jess Hill (See What You Made Me Do) and men’s mental health researcher Zac Seidler unpack the cultural forces shaping boys today and how adults can guide them with compassion.WHAT IS THERAPY EP1: IT’S F*CKING EXCELLENT | Movember
Audio
A big thank you to Zac — staff and students thoroughly enjoyed the presentation, with students leaving equipped with key takeaways they can apply in their everyday lives. ... keep reading The Geelong College
Zac was great to work with. He was very natural in his space of expertise. He guided and supported others on the panel through his thoughtful and inclusive approach.
