Welcome to PathForge
We help men and boys forge a meaningful, purpose-driven lives and take on valued roles in fair and equal societies. Through research-based guidance, training, and narratives, we equip them and those working with them, with the tools to improve their well-being, build a strong identity, and grow as partners, fathers, and citizens.
Vision and Values
We envision a world where all people can consciously shape their identities and actively choose paths that allow them to reach their potential, find meaning and purpose in life, and build lasting relationships. A fair world where we can use our strengths and virtues for the benefit of all and be genuinely valued for doing so.
Unlocking Potential
Many boys and men feel lost, unmotivated, or without purpose. Wherever they are, we think they have potential for good and help them realise it.
Positive Engagement
We focus on solutions, not criticism, meeting challenges with curiosity, dialogue, and a commitment to finding common ground.
Community & Inclusion
People need spaces where they feel welcomed and encouraged. With us, they can explore social norms and identities in ways that feel supportive, achievable, and meaningful.
Pragmatism & Progress
Change takes time and perfection is not the goal. We celebrate progress and recognize that expecting too much to quick can lead to alienation and defensiveness.
Assumption of Goodwill
While people can be misguided or confused, they are rarely evil. They just need to find the right path, and we are here to help them.
Evidence-Based & Actionable
We ground our work in research and communicate complex issues in clear, compelling ways, that makes them practical, accessible, and applicable in real life.
What We Do
PathForge conducts independent research into topics related to social norms, equality, masculinity, and ethics, and produces research-based policy advice documents, training courses, and public outreach materials. We address problems boys and men struggle with, develop positively framed narratives helping them to critically engage with traditional masculine norms and conceptualise their place in a fair and equal world, and promote paths they can take towards living a life of purpose and personal fulfilment.
Our main thematic areas include: living a purposeful life, healthy relationships and sexuality, emotional intelligence and development, virtuous masculinity, critical engagement with masculine gender norms. The guiding principle in each, is to help men reach their potential in ways which respect the rights of others and are consistent with the principles of diversity, equality and inclusion.
We seek regular collaborators to develop joint research and outreach projects.
Get in touch now to explore potential for working together
Who We Are
Adrian McMahon – Policy and Research Specialist
Adrian is a senior policy, research and program specialist, with 15 years of experience in the public and civil society sector. He has delivered advice and guidance to governments and practitioners on various topics, including the prevention of and response to domestic violence. He is from Australia and is based in Berlin.
Jui Mahind – Project Manager
Jui comes from a technical and project management background, with experience working on digital products, cross-functional projects, and process improvement. She enjoys working with people from different backgrounds, organising ideas and tasks, and helping projects move from discussion to action. At PathForge, she focuses on supporting work that helps people find purpose and build stronger communities.
Kemal Burak Ecir – Finance and Operations Specialist
Kemal is an accounting and finance professional based in Montréal, Canada, with experience in financial operations, reporting, and process improvement. As Finance & Operations Officer at PathForge, he supports financial processes, systems, and operational development. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and is passionate about technology and mission-driven organizations. Outside of work, he enjoys sports, traveling, and exploring different cultures.
Marceli Fokt – Director of Operations
Marceli is a Head of Operations at Lisk, ensuring processes, systems, and teams run seamlessly as the company scales. With 12 years of experience across operations, PMO leadership, and IT back-office management, he optimizes workflows, improves cross-team coordination, and drives productivity through robust internal infrastructure. Previously, Marceli held senior roles at OLX Group and Onchain Ventures, where he helped support global teams of up to 15,000 employees and standardized operational processes across continents. He holds multiple professional certifications including Harvard Leadership Principles, PRINCE2, ITIL, and Agile Project Management.
Nils Zosel – Partnerships and Development Specialist
With a background in psychology and positive psychology, Nils Zosel combines research, coaching, and leadership experience. Alongside leading a sales team and bringing several years of sales experience, his main focus lies in positive psychology, masculinity coaching, and research. At PathForge, he supports evidence mapping, intervention development, and translating research into practical, evidence-based approaches.
Dr Ralf Puchert – Director of Research
Dr. Ralf Puchert is a Berlin-based sociologist specializing in critical masculinity studies, gender equality, and violence prevention. Co-founder of the Dissens Institut and a key contributor to Bundesforum Männer, his work extends beyond research into educational practice, institutional gender training, and social intervention. He actively develops prevention strategies, designs training modules, and advises organizations on systemic reform and policy.
Shruti Iyer – Social Media Coordinator
Shruti is an educator with over seven years of experience working with young people. She coordinates PathForge’s outreach on social media to engage wider audiences. She cares deeply about empathy, communication, and helping people feel heard and understood. She enjoys creating open spaces for honest conversations and exploring how society, relationships, and expectations shape the way we see ourselves and others.
Dr Simon Fokt – CEO and Founder
Simon is a philosopher, teacher, and writer with over a decade of experience working at universities in the UK and Germany. He founded the Diversity Reading List, a leading online resource which promotes equality in the academia; and TELdesign Limited, which designed and developed academic and corporate online courses and training programs. He serves on the Board of MenEngage Europe where he runs the Working Group on Positive Narratives.
Sofia Savushkina – Communications Specialist
Sofia is a researcher and writer working at the intersection of education studies, social epistemology, and feminist theory. She holds a BA in Liberal Arts and Sciences and an MSc in Education Research. Sofia brings experience in student representation, academic quality assurance, as well as editorial and journal review work. In her role at PathForge, Sofia translates research and organisational work for different audiences and supports communication with stakeholders.
Advisory Panel
PathForge maintains its high quality of work thanks to the quality assurance and accountability processes offered by the MenEngage Alliance community and the help of the distinguished scholars and activists working in the field, including:
Angelica Pino
Angelica Pino is a feminist human rights lawyer and Program Coordinator for the Mobilising Men for Feminist Peace initiative at the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF). With extensive legal experience across Latin America and Africa, her work focuses on countering militarized masculinities, advancing feminist peacebuilding, and engaging men and boys to dismantle patriarchal structures and armed conflict.
Professor Debbie Ging
Debbie Ging is Professor of Digital Media and Gender at Dublin City University and Director of the DCU Institute for Research on Genders and Sexualities. Her research focuses on gender, sexuality, and digital media, particularly digital hate, online anti-feminist politics, the manosphere, youth experiences of online harassment, and educational interventions to address these issues.
Ilse Wermiuk
Ilse Wermink is Director of MenEngage Europe, leading its regional Secretariat. A Dutch feminist policy and program leader with nearly two decades of international experience in gender justice and feminist peace, she previously spent nearly ten years at PAX leading programs on gender, peace, and security, and co-founded the Community of Practice on Engaging Men Towards Feminist Peace.
José Campi Portaluppi
As Director of Communications and Advocacy, José leads Equimundo’s communications and advocacy teams, amplifying research and programming on masculinities and gender justice to inspire action and drive impact in personal opinion, community norms, and public policy. Before, he worked with different international organizations in capacity strengthening, educommunications, political incidence, research and learning experience design. José has a master’s degree in gender and media from the University of Sussex.
Professor Liza Mügge
Liza Mügge is Professor of Politics of Diversity at the University of Amsterdam, leading the Politics of Diversity research group. Her work focuses on political equality, representation, intersectionality, and gender. She serves as the Scientific Coordinator for MEN4DEM, a Horizon Europe-funded project investigating how engaging men and transforming masculinities can strengthen democratic resilience and counter anti-gender backlash.
Dr Marc Gärtner
Marc Gärtner is a social scientist and consultant specialising in gender, organisations and diversity. Since 2001, he has worked with political, business and civil-society organisations in Germany and internationally on gender equality, work and the role of men. He is a consultant for international gender equality policy at Bundesforum Männer and a member of the Executive Board of EAF Berlin.
Professor Michael Flood
Michael Flood is a leading international researcher on men’s roles in building gender justice. He has contributed to scholarship on engaging men in violence prevention, men’s shifting gender roles, and other areas. Professor Flood is the author, among other books, of Engaging Men and Boys in Violence Prevention and Engaging Men in Building Gender Equality.
