On 30 January, Cardiff Rugby played host to Chambers Wales South East, South West and Mid’s first Men’s Health Network event of 2025. Led by performance lifestyle coach Dai Rees, the event aims to promote discussions around men’s health and wellbeing within the Welsh business community.
Dai Rees, a qualified transformational mentor and coach, has been instrumental in the launch and facilitation of the Men’s Health Network since 2024 and this month’s event marked his first in his new role as the Chamber’s Director of Membership. With around 50 attendees, the event fostered a dynamic and supportive environment for conversations related to important men’s health issues.
Alongside Dai, the event featured two distinguished guest speakers: former international rugby player Scott Baldwin and founder of Lads & Dads, Rob Lester.
Changing pitch: from rugby to business
Scott Baldwin, a former Wales international rugby player with 34 caps for his country, shared his journey from professional sports to the world of business. Known for his strength on the field as a hooker, Scott’s career highlights include competing in major tournaments and an infamous incident in South Africa where he was bitten by a lion, an episode that made global headlines.
Beyond his rugby career, Scott spoke candidly about his struggles with gambling addiction and the challenges of transitioning into life after sport. Now working at industrial electronic repairs specialist and Chamber member Kontroltek in Bridgend, he uses his experiences to inspire resilience, mental health awareness and personal transformation among others navigating career shifts.
Creating a thriving community
The second speaker, Rob Lester, founded the Lads & Dads men’s mental wellbeing and support group in Bridgend in 2019. Rob’s journey began following the loss of his father to pulmonary fibrosis. Struggling to find timely bereavement support, and aware of the startling statistics of male suicide rates, Rob recognised the urgent need for accessible mental health services for men and reached out to his local community as he set plans in motion to create a group.
The Lads & Dads group has since grown into a thriving community with over 2,000 active members. The group offers peer support, open discussions, wellbeing events, and even dips in the sea to encourage mental resilience and camaraderie among its members.
Addressing men’s health in Wales
In Wales, men are 3.3 times more likely to die by suicide than women. Chambers Wales South East, South West and Mid established the Men’s Health Network to encourage insightful conversations and inspire workplace wellbeing improvements. The success of the network highlights the growing importance of such discussions in the business community, with future sessions set to build upon this strong foundation.
With engaging speakers and experiences such as the Upbeat Music and Arts Service, the event helps attendees step outside of their comfort zones and open up in a welcoming environment. Many familiar faces returned, but the event also introduced new attendees to the network, fostering fresh connections and conversations.
For more information about the next men’s health network event, keep an eye on our website, or sign up to our newsletter.
