Helping Boys Navigate Online Influence

An IBSC Online Program

December 2, 2026

Boys today grow up with more access to influencers than any generation before them. Much of what those voices say about being a man is not new, but the delivery is: algorithm driven, monetized, and available at three in the morning.

Andrew “Bernie” Bernard engages educators, students and communities around the world in conversations about masculinities, healthier relationships, and the role schools can play in supporting boys’ development. Drawing on his new book, Masculinity, Relationships and Respect in Education (Routledge, 2026), and current research on the content young people encounter online, Bernard explores how these narratives reach boys, what they appear to offer, and why they can be so compelling. He also examines how schools can help boys develop healthier, more authentic understandings of themselves, their relationships, and their place in the world.

Attend this interactive online session to:

  • Trace how ideas about manhood move from online content into everyday language, friendships, and relationships.
  • Examine what current research tells us about respect, influence, and control in young people’s relationships, and consider the implications for boys’ schools.
  • Explore why these narratives resonate with boys, including their needs for belonging, status, and purpose, and how schools can respond in intentional and meaningful ways.
  • Identify practical strategies for creating spaces where boys can speak honestly, build healthy relationships, and become positive influences within their school communities.

Who Should Attend?

Heads of school, deputy and division heads, heads of pastoral care and wellbeing, counselors, directors of sport and coaches, advisors, educators, and anyone working with boys on relationships, respect, and life online.

Format

The interactive session hosted on Zoom includes a 45-minute presentation, followed by 15 minutes for Q&A.

Wednesday, December 2, 2026, 4:00 PM EST, 9:00 PM GMT, 10:00 PM CET, 11:00 PM CAT / Thursday, December 3, 2026, 5:00 AM AWST, 7:00 AM AEST, 7:30 AM ACDT, 8:00 AM AEDT, 10:00 AM NZDT

Check the event time in your time zone.
 

All attendees registered for the live session also gain access to the event recording and any associated resources for 21 days after the event. Even if your schedule cannot accommodate the live event, register so you can watch the recording at your convenience.

Please note: The recording of this event is exclusively for registered attendees’ individual use. We kindly request your cooperation in maintaining the integrity of the content.

Registration

  • IBSC member rate for 1–3 people from the same school: US$185
  • IBSC member rate for 4+ people from the same school: US$165
  • Nonmember rate: US$240

Register before 2:00 PM EST, December 2, 2026.

Group Screening Access for IBSC Members

Interested in using this session for professional development? IBSC member schools can access the recording for group screenings at a discounted rate. Access to the recording is available for 21 days starting Friday, December 4, 2026. Contact Bruce Collins at collins@theibsc.org for more details.

IBSC member rate: US$1,500

To register for group access, choose the group screening rate option on the registration form. The group screening option includes the recording of the presentation and the Q&A. This option does not include access to the live event. One person will have access to the recording to screen it for colleagues at their member school.

Cancellation Policy

If you are unable to attend, you must cancel your registration in writing by emailing ibsc@theibsc.org by November 18, 2026. IBSC will refund 90% of registration fees if a written request is received via email by this date. No refunds will be made for cancellations received after this date. Schools seeking to register an alternate to replace a participant unable to attend should contact ibsc@theibsc.org.

Please note: Watch your email for login information on November 29, 2026. If you registered for the event later than this date, watch for login information within 24 hours.

Participation certificates: Participants present for the live online session will receive a certificate of participation within two weeks of the event.

Questions? Please contact Bruce Collins at collins@theibsc.org.

Presenter

Andrew "Bernie" Bernard

Andrew “Bernie” Bernard has worked with young people and organizations since 2006. After an early career that took him in several directions, he found his calling in education and has since spoken to more than 170,000 people worldwide in  schools, sports stadiums, Parliament, and at The Royal Society.

Following 18 years delivering enterprise and careers education, Bernard founded What Makes A Man Ltd in 2024 to focus on masculinities, healthier relationships, and the prevention of violence against women and girls. He is a Fellow of the Professional Speaking Association, a TEDx speaker, and a former Director of National Careers Week. His work has been featured on Sky News, ITV, BBC Radio 5, The Times, and the iPaper. In May 2026, Sky News Education highlighted his work with schools on the influence of the manosphere.

Bernard is the author of two books: The Ladder (Crown House, 2021), a guide to career education in schools, and Masculinity, Relationships and Respect in Education (Routledge, 2026), which explores how schools can address misogyny and support health relationship development. His Instagram account @_WhatMakesAMan_ has more than 200,000 followers.

Questions?

Please contact Bruce Collins at collins@theibsc.org.