Conference speakers and presenters

Dr Ray Swann, Executive Director of Foundation for Positive Masculinity, is an honorary fellow at the University of Melbourne. He leads change in wellbeing programs and evidence-informed practice with experience across government, independent, and single-gender schools.

Dr Matt Englar-Carlson, PhD, is a professor of counselling and the Director of the Center for Boys and Men at California State University, Fullerton. His work focuses on educating and training professionals about male mental health needs as well as how to work more effectively with boys and men.

Dr Kylie King, is a Senior Research Fellow at the Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health at Monash University. She has a decorated career as a psychologist, with her work centered around developing, implementing and evaluating interventions that can have positive impacts on men’s mental health and suicide prevention.

Professor Nathan Lawrentschuk is the Director of The Royal Melbourne Hospital Department of Urology, founding Director of the EJ Whitten Prostate Cancer Research Centre at Epworth Hospital and a Urologic Oncologist in the Division of Cancer Surgery at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.

Dean Lusher is social network analysist and a Professor of Innovation Studies at Swinburne’s Centre for Transformative Innovation. Dean’s applied research focuses on social and technological innovation, organisational culture, learning and education, and network effectiveness. Dean has conducted social network research with the AFL, Boeing, CSIRO, DHHS Victoria, VicHealth and a variety of schools and community groups.

Ingrid Howren is a Leadership and Instructional Coach at the Crowther Centre, supporting school leaders, teachers, and coaches to develop leadership capacity and boys' wellbeing. A passionate expert in Health and Physical Education, she has led teams and coordinated elite sports programs, fostering inclusive cultures. Within the Positive Masculinity Foundation, Ingrid is a presenter, content creator and coach with experience presenting leadership development to schools across Australia.

Mark completed his Doctor of Education and Masters in Education Policy (International) at the University of Melbourne. His role is to drive school improvement, with a specific focus on increasing the engagement and learning of boys in the classroom. Mark consults internationally on culture, belonging, and behaviour and has also been acknowledged for his contributions to multiple books on coaching and staff development.

Rachel's PhD research explored boys’ experiences of becoming men in an all-boys’ school and the role of health and physical education in constructing masculinities. Rachel is passionate about using research to inform pastoral care in schools and has designed and implemented a positive masculinities program at Trinity. She has recently completed a project using Positive Masculinity Theory to develop an intervention to build boys’ masculine strengths.

Kristen leverages her background in English and Psychotherapy, along with her experience as Head of English in single-sex schools, to emphasise the interplay between academic success and personal development. Kristen also fosters a holistic approach to education through workshops, information sessions, and research-based support for parents.