Founder of Men At Work
Michael is founder of Men At Work, and creator of the 'Foundations: 12 Dialogues’ training and resource package for professionals working with boys and young men.
After working in secondary education for 16 years, he has focused since 2021 on training (currently over 3000) educators, youth workers and social workers in facilitating constructive dialogues with young males on envisioning positive, abuse-free futures for themselves and others - and how to realize them. Using a no-frills and frank approach, the program explores a range of themes like misogyny, peer-pressure, objectification, status-seeking, unrealistic expectations and diminished empathy.
In addition to training, Michael often speaks in the press and media on a wide variety of issues relating to the safe development of boys and young men and their role in ending male violence against women and girls. Appearances include BBC Newsnight, Today, Woman's Hour and Politics Live, as well as Westminster Parliamentary Select Committee on Sexual Harassment in Public Spaces and APPG sessions on Sex Education and Commercial Sexual Exploitation, and interviews/features in The New York Times, The Guardian, Observer, Le Monde and The Times.
Michael’s core message for adults is to show up (as positive, curious, reliable adults in the lives of boys and young men) and to find out (what is going on in their lives, emerging beliefs and values). Showing up informs finding out - and vice versa.