• April 23, 2026

MEN launches to support men’s mental health in the events industry

MEN launches to support men’s mental health in the events industry

MEN launches to support men’s mental health in the events industry 1024 683 micebook.

A new initiative aimed at supporting men across the live events, experiential and MICE sectors has officially launched, creating a confidential space for open conversation and connection in a high-pressure industry.

MEN – Meetings & Event Network has been founded by Robert Kenward and James Hitchen, with James Capell-Abra and Mark Green joining as ambassadors.

The initiative responds to a growing need for connection and honesty within a sector known for its energy and creativity, but which can also be demanding, isolating and emotionally intense behind the scenes. It also reflects wider challenges around men’s mental health, where many still feel pressure to appear resilient and are less likely to seek support.

MEN has been designed as a professionally supported, judgement-free environment where participants can talk openly or simply listen, without expectation.

Speaking about the launch, Kenward said: “Since the pandemic, I have had my own challenges with my mental health, and I had nowhere obvious to turn apart from professional help. Through that process, something became clear – there isn’t really a space for these conversations to happen openly in our sector. This is about creating one.”

The network will host facilitated, in-person sessions held quarterly in small groups, each co-hosted by a trained therapist, counsellor and safeguarding specialist to ensure a safe and structured environment.

Importantly, MEN is not positioned as a mental health intervention or replacement for professional support, but rather as a complementary space offering shared understanding within an industry-specific context.

Hitchen added: “I didn’t feel like there was anywhere to go when I was struggling in the industry. MEN is about creating something that just didn’t exist then – somewhere people can talk or feel less on their own.”

Green described MEN as “a vital and well-timed safe space for our industry,” while Capell-Abra highlighted its role in breaking down barriers, adding that it creates “a space where those barriers can come down and conversations can happen properly.”

The first session will take place on 13 May in London, with places limited to maintain a supportive environment. Those interested in attending can register here to secure their place.

Open to all men, and those who identify as male, across the events and experiential ecosystem, MEN aims to rebuild a sense of community at a time when the industry continues to evolve under increasing commercial pressure, hybrid working and heightened scrutiny.

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