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International Men's Day Event: Breaking the Silence: Embracing Vulnerability and Mental Resilience in Project Management for Men's Well-Being
APM event hosted by the London Network on 26 November 2025. Speakers: Stuart Fawcett - Regional Lead South for ANDYSMANCLUB in the South-East and London Dr Yvonne Thompson CBE|DL - Founder WinTrade Global Women in Business Network Rajeev Nayak – CEO & Founder of Exponentium Consulting & Coaching Ltd, And CEO & Founder of Biobalance Healthcare Ltd. Chris Blockley-Webb FAPM, IRMCert, SIRM, MOR_P, IRCA, MBSi - Head of Risk Management - Civils Works Alliance (CWA) – Sizewell C Brent Leyshon - Senior Project Manager, Transport for London Dr Mehtab Khan (FHEA), Professor in CEPS, MSc Project Management This theme underscores the significance of open conversations around mental health, particularly for men in project management roles. It encourages men to express their feelings and seek help without stigma while emphasizing the need for mental resilience to navigate workplace stress and challenges. By fostering supportive practices in project environments, we will promote overall mental well-being among men and create a culture that values vulnerability and resilience. An inspiring and eye-opening session where Stuart shared his personal journey through poor mental health and the extraordinary growth of ANDYSMANCLUB. From just nine men meeting in a single room in Halifax in 2016, the movement has grown into a lifeline for thousands of men across the UK every week. Stuart explored how open, honest conversations can dismantle the stigma around men’s mental health, reinforcing the vital message that “It’s OK to talk.” He shed light on the club’s powerful impact, the lives it has changed, and the importance of safe spaces for men to share their struggles without fear or judgement. Following Stuart’s talk, a panel of high-profile professionals lead an engaging discussion on how men in the professional world can speak openly about their mental health, the barriers they face, and practical ways workplaces can foster a culture of support and understanding. Attending this event offered a unique opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions about mental health, specifically tailored for men, particularly those in project management roles. Participants gained insights into the importance of vulnerability and open communication, which helped dismantle societal stigmas surrounding mental health. By understanding these concepts, attendees fostered stronger connections with colleagues and created a more supportive work environment, ultimately enhancing team dynamics and productivity. Additionally, the event equipped participants with practical tools and strategies to build mental resilience in the face of workplace stress. Through interactive sessions, attendees learned effective coping mechanisms and supportive practices that promote well-being. This not only benefited individual mental health but also contributed to a healthier organisational culture, paving the way for enhanced performance and job satisfaction in high-pressure project environments.
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International Men's Day Event: Breaking the Silence: Embracing Vulnerability and Mental Resilience in Project Management for Men's Well-Being
- 1. International Men's DayEvent Breaking the Silence: Embracing Vulnerability and Mental Resilience in Project Management for Men's Well-Being 26 November 2025| 18:00 – 21:00 GMT Forvis Mazars 30 Old Bailey, London, EC4M 7AU, United Kingdom apm.org.uk/event
- 2. Image goes here (imageto fill entire white space) Keynote Speaker: Stuart Fawcett - Regional Lead South for ANDYSMANCLUB in the South- East and London Stuart Fawcett is Regional Lead South for ANDYSMANCLUB in the South East and London. Stuart has been attending ANDYSMANCLUB for just over 3 years as a user volunteer and facilitator for their club in Basildon Essex. He now works for ANDYSMANCLUB opening the door to that one man every Monday. To find your nearest club please go to andysmanclub.co.uk and search for your nearest club or join online every Monday 7-9.
- 4. Image goes here (imageto fill entire white space) Speaker: Dr Yvonne Thompson CBE|DL - Founder WinTrade Global Women in Business Network Honoured by Queen Elizabeth II, with a CBE in 2003, she has also received 2 doctorates for her work in the Entrepreneurship, Global Diversity and Equality arena, and has 4 fellowships from the prestigious St George’s House, Leadership organisation based at Windsor Castle, Fellowship by Kings College London University, the Radio Academy and She published “7 Traits of Highly Successful Women on Boards", promoting greater gender and race diversity in company boardrooms and sits on several boards, and public appointment committees. Her most former appointment was Chair of the Radio Academy, representing the UK’s Radio Industry, and Advisory Panel for OFCOM, Dr Thompson is also a founding member of the UK’s first Black owned Radio Station Choice FM, now known as
- 5. Image goes here (imageto fill entire white space) Speaker: Rajeev Nsyak – CEO & Founder of Exponentium Consulting & Coaching Ltd, And CEO & Founder of Biobalance Healthcare Ltd. Rajeev Nayak is Certified Leadership Coach & Business Strategy Consultant Serial Entrepreneur. A dynamic and purpose-driven leader with over 25 years of cross-functional experience in General Management, Business Strategy, Leadership Development, and Entrepreneurship, with experience and proven track record of leading multicultural teams and businesses across Asia, Europe, the UK, and the CIS region.
- 6. Image goes here (imageto fill entire white space) Speaker: Chris Blockley-Webb FAPM, IRMCert, SIRM, MOR_P, IRCA, MBSi - Head of Risk Management - Civils Works Alliance (CWA) – Sizewell C Chris was born and educated in Sheffield before joining the Royal Navy. He served on several platform types in various theatres. He was medically retired following a car accident resulting in rehabilitation in RAF Headley Court. He chaired committees responsible for maritime carriage requirements of electronic equipment in European and international domains. At his time in the MCA, he moved into Human Element and Risk Management (RM) where his approach to RM was adopted into the parent department (Department for Transport (DfT)).
- 7. Image goes here (imageto fill entire white space) Speaker: Brent Leyshon – Senior Project Manager TFL A senior Project Manager with nearly 30 years of experience delivering major infrastructure programmes, including leadership roles on Transport for London’s Bakerloo Line Upgrade and Piccadilly Line Integration. Beyond his professional achievements, Brent has been a Mental Health First Aider for 16 years and openly shares his own journey with anxiety and depression. Following the tragic loss of colleagues to suicide, he has become a passionate advocate for change, leading initiatives within TfL’s Capital Delivery Directorate to break the stigma, raise awareness, and ensure suicide prevention becomes a core part of wellbeing conversations.
- 8. PANEL DISCUSSION Host: DrMehtab Khan (FHEA) - Lecturer in CEPS, MSc Project Management - University of the West of Scotland, London Campus. Panellists: ▪ Dr Yvonne Thompson CBE|DL - Founder WinTrade Global Women in Business Network ▪ Rajeev Nsyak – CEO & Founder of Exponentium Consulting & Coaching Ltd, and CEO & Founder of Biobalance Healthcare Ltd. ▪ Chris Blockley-Webb FAPM, IRMCert, SIRM, MOR_P, IRCA, MBSi - Head of Risk Management - Civils Works Alliance (CWA) – Sizewell C ▪ Brent Leyshon – Senior Project Manager TFL
- 9. THE SILENT CRISIS WorkplaceSuicide Prevention 7,000 lives lost to suicide annually in the UK International Men's Day 2025 | Association for Project Management
- 10. THE MALE CRISIS 75% ofall suicide deaths are men 4x higher in construction vs national average The biggest lesson from our training: We need to TALK about suicide
- 11. THE CONSTRUCTION CRISIS 4X Suiciderates in construction are FOUR TIMES the national average — yet INVISIBLE to H&S practices
- 12. THE SOLUTION: ACTNOW TALK Break the silence. Open the conversation. H&S Put suicide on the Health & Safety agenda. ACT Learn intervention. Train your teams. If you or someone you know needs help: Samaritans: 116 123 Available 24/7, free to call | www.samaritans.org SHARE Those left behind Share your experience Being clinical and cold – it makes good business sense Now Let’s think for 30 seconds....
- 13. The Key Takeaways:1 Mates in Mind BS 30480 - Suicide and the Workplace
- 14. The Key Takeaways:2 Sincere thanks for listening Zero Suicide Alliance Training – (20mins approx.)
- 15. APM London Network LinkedIngroup APM LONDON NETWORK INFORMATION apm.org.uk/event https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/apm-london-network/
- 16. Date: 4th December| Time: 12:00 – 13:00 GMT Venue: Online Webinar Creating Inclusive Environments for Employees with Disabilities. apm.org.uk/event