Leading the charge of speakers is Callum MacPherson, the visionary creator and host of the nationally acclaimed men’s mental health video podcast, Young Blood – Men’s Mental Health.

MacPherson will host a live podcast with Dr Matthew Iasiello, an internationally recognised mental health and wellbeing researcher at Be Well Co, the first spin-out company from the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI).

A former news reporter and current media specialist at SAHMRI, MacPherson was crowned the 2022 South Australian Young Achiever of the Year, for his volunteer work in establishing Young Blood – Men’s Mental Health, as a platform for young men from around Australia to share their lived experience stories publicly.

He launched the initiative after losing a close friend to suicide in 2019, recognising the need to create a space for men to show each other they’re not alone.

After four years and 150 episodes, Young Blood has evolved into a preventative health strategy, building community mental health awareness and literacy through storytelling.

With a background in health science and neuroscience, Iasiello focuses on translating academic knowledge into real-world applications.

His extensive research has been presented on both national and international stages, including the International Wellbeing and Public Policy Conference, the Positive Education Schools Association National Conference and the European Positive Psychology Conference.

Joining MacPherson and Iasiello on stage is a panel of business-focused speakers including Jodie Hawkes, CEO of Bowhill Engineering and Michael Cornish, Head of Work Health Safety and Environment at SA Power Networks, who will be interviewed by event MC Sonya Feldhoff, exploring crucial themes related to mental health in the workplace.

Now in its fourth year, this is a must-attend event on SA’s business calendar.

Business SA CEO Andrew Kay expressed his enthusiasm about the upcoming breakfast, saying they anticipate a “fantastic turnout at Adelaide Oval again this year”.

“We encourage business leaders to bring along their staff and join together to better understand the role of positive mental health and wellbeing in the workplace,” Kay said.

The theme for this year’s event is ‘Have the Conversation’, aiming to encourage open dialogues about mental health and personal struggles.

“Initiatives like the Young Blood – Men’s Mental Health podcast play a pivotal role in normalising these conversations,” Kay said.

The event will include an overview of South Australia’s workplace mental health environment, featuring a presentation by Mardi Webber from ReturnToWork SA and Glenn Farrell from SafeWork SA, highlighting the importance of businesses identifying, addressing and preventing psychological hazards within the workplace.

With more than 300 tickets already sold, it is anticipated this event will sell out soon.

Final tickets are still available here.