We are passionate about spreading messages to organisations, staff networks and community groups around topics relating to fatherhood, equal parenting, dad’s mental health and redefining masculinity.
Hello, Elliott (MFF founder) here. I am looking forward to talking to you about how I can help to support your event and your goals. I am hugely passionate about equality and I enjoy using my voice to connect with people, raise awareness and understanding of some important issues and inspire behaviour change.
Before I go on to talk about the talks that I do, the topics I specialise in and the speaking packages I offer, here is a bit of background to me and my professional experience as a speaker and champion of equal parenting, dads in the workplace, dad’s mental health and redefining masculinity.
About me
I founded MFF in 2016 while needing a space to reflect after the traumatic birth of my daughter. As well as running MFF, I am also an experienced D&I leader, writer, speaker and one of the leading voices around fatherhood in the UK. I have held senior D&I roles, most recently as Head of D&I delivery at HM Treasury. While working at the Department for Transport, I set up and chaired the organisations first ever working parents staff network which was used as a model of best practise across the Civil Service.
I have been involved in many research projects which look at the experiences of dads in the workplace, having assisted with the research and spoke at the launches of both the ‘Equal Lives’ report by Business In The Community and the ‘Fatherhood toolkit’ by University of Birmingham. My work has been recognised by the United Nations when I was lucky enough to be awarded the 2019 #HeForShe ‘Change-maker of the Year’ UN Women UK award for my work on engaging men in conversations around gender equality.
My forthcoming book, DAD: untold stories of fatherhood, love, mental health and masculinity, out on 1 June, is a deeply moving collection of 20 stories that represent the diversity of modern fatherhood and challenges the traditional ideas of masculinity.
I have written for many mainstream publications, including The Independent and I have even had my work shared online by none other than The Rock!!
What are my signature keynote talks?
I regularly speak to, and facilitate workshops for, private and public sector organisations, staff networks, parenting networks, charity and educational audiences.
Keynote talks include:
Why it is important to support dads in the workplace and how you can go about doing it: this talk explores how fatherhood has changed over the last few decades and current expectations from working dads (particularly since the pandemic), the benefits to supporting working dads (including reducing the gender pay gap and retaining talent) and how organisations can support working dads through policy (including parental leave and flexible working policies), line management and culture.
This talk is perfect if you are aiming to:
- engage more dads in your parenting network,
- prompt discussion around the dad’s experiences in your organisation,
- engage more men in conversations around gender equality,
- explore some practical actions to support working parents as we emerge from lockdown and pandemic, and
- improve gender equality in your organisation.
Redefining masculinity and engaging men in conversations around gender equality: this talk explores the societal structures that define gendered parenting roles, looks at the pressures on men to live up to traditional (and outdated) concepts of masculinity, explains how patriarchy is damaging to men, women and families and offers up some practical ways that men can help in working towards gender equality.
This talk is perfect if you are aiming to:
- engage more men and dads in your parenting and gender network,
- engage more men in conversations around gender equality,
- explore some practical actions that men can take to work towards gender equality,
- improve gender equality in your organisation.
The truth about mental health, men & new dads and what organisations can do to help: this talk explores the experiences of men and dads in the workplace in regards to mental health, uses research and data to uncover the truth about men and dad’s mental health (and why the outcomes are so poor) and outlines some of the things that organisations can do to support staff and improve mental health and wellbeing.
This talk is perfect if you are aiming to:
- engage more men and dads in your parenting and gender network,
- create a more understanding and empathetic workplace culture, and
- improve mental health, wellbeing and staff engagement.
How to run an effective staff parenting network: this talk explores how your parenting network can support colleagues through each stage of their parenting journey, engage more dads in your work and successfully champion change in regard to HR policies to see concrete outcomes and a better, more inclusive culture, for working parents.
This talk is perfect if you are aiming to:
- create and maintain a successful parenting network which supports staff and creates real change,
- engage more men and dads in your parenting network,
- improve gender equality in your organisation.
- create a more understanding and empathetic workplace culture,
- improve mental health, wellbeing and staff engagement, and
- improve gender equality in your organisation.
Finding your purpose; combining mission, vision and vocation: this is an inspiring talk that explores how participants connect their purpose, mission and profession in their career, work towards career progression and reach their personal goals. This is an interactive and immersive talk which involves a nice level of participation from attendees.
This talk is perfect if you are aiming to:
- Inspire and motivate staff,
- Increase staff engagement, and
- Improve staff performance and productivity.
All my talks are immersive, grounded in personal stories and incorporate the latest research, data and best practise. I like to package this up in a friendly and relaxed approach with a nice sprinkle of humour. The sessions will typically run for one hour, including a 30 minute talk and 30 minutes of Q&A.
I am always keen to tailor my talks to fit your event and organisational objectives. Although the keynote talks detailed above are an overview of the main areas I cover, if there is a slightly different angle that you would like me to come from or you have specific areas of focus within any of the topics I have outlined, please do let me know and I will ensure my contribution is tailored to fit your needs.
The full speaker package
To ensure you receive a full service which helps to embed the desired change, my speaker service includes:
- A pre-meeting so I can understand your event objectives and help me to prepare the specifics of my talk
- The talk and Q&A
- My slides which you can circulate to participants (or other staff members) after the event
- 2 copies of my book, DAD, which you can use as a giveaway before, during or after the event (or keep for yourself!). I will cover the cost of p&p and deliver to any UK address.
Next steps
I look forward to discussing your event with you.
Please contact me on hello@musicfootballfatherhood.com.
Here are some of the organisations I have worked with
