Simon Roe (Ritual Leader)
Simon originally trained as a body psychotherapist with Nick Totton and Em Edmondson and has nearly 30 years’ experience of working with individuals and groups For the past twenty five years he has focused on working with men and teenage boys in a variety of settings including group work, 1-1 psychotherapy and Rites of Passage events. He has worked extensively with perpetrators of domestic violence, both adult and teenage and is a Respect (www.respect.uk.net) approved trainer and supervisor. From 2009-2017 he co-developed and delivered the ‘Do it Different’ programme, working with teenage boys using violent and abusive behaviour at home, which is recognised as an example of best practice.
Simon has been greatly influenced by teachers such as Robert Bly, Malidoma Some and Martin Prechtel. Most recently he has completed a foundation course in Process Oriented Psychology, an approach which increasingly informs his practice.
Simon is a fully accredited member of The Association of Facilitators. Please visit www.simonroe.net for more information about his work.
Ben Howarth (Co-Leader)
Ben was first introduced to men’s work in 2007 and has been deeply engaged in the field ever since. He is an active member of the Leeds Men’s Group, where he has found long-term community and support. In addition to his ongoing involvement there, Ben is a facilitator with Mandorla Men’s Rites of Passage, helping guide men through transformative experiences that reconnect them to purpose, authenticity, and a deeper sense of belonging.
Ben proudly joined the Kingfisher Team at the beginning of its journey, bringing his warmth, grounded presence, and practical skills to the project’s development. His approach to men’s work is rooted in openness, compassion, and a deep respect for nature and community.
Beyond his work with Kingfisher and Mandorla, Ben runs a garden design and landscaping business in West Yorkshire, where he channels his creativity into cultivating beautiful, sustainable outdoor spaces. Recently, he has also embarked on a new venture — developing a small-scale farm that grows chemical-free fruit and vegetables for the local community. This initiative reflects Ben’s ongoing commitment to ecological living, local resilience, and reconnection with the land.
Lee Stagles (Co-Leader)
Lee began his journey into men’s work in 2006 with Mandorla Men’s Work, attending all of their events and now serving as Tenzo, supporting the smooth running of their gatherings with dedication and care. With a foundation in engineering and extensive training in embodied facilitation, ritual leadership, counselling, and coaching, Lee brings a balance of structure, empathy, and grounded presence to his work with men.
For ten years, Lee worked in domestic abuse prevention, helping men develop healthier relationships and greater emotional awareness. As a founding board member of Men’s Circle, an online men’s community, he designed and delivered their facilitator training programme, equipping others to lead with skill and integrity.
Now based in East Yorkshire, Lee divides his time between his role as a vehicle technician, training therapists in effective ways to engage men, and coaching private clients. He also hosts a monthly online storytelling group, exploring myth and meaning through shared narrative.
A valued member of the Kingfisher team since its first event, Lee now serves on the leadership team as weekend coordinator. He lives with his wife and enjoys spending time with his daughter and grandchildren.
Jeremy Hawkey (Co-Founder)
Jeremy is the Director of a food supplement company that equips healthcare practitioners with tools and education rooted in a holistic approach to health and well-being. Alongside his professional work, he is a devoted father to two teenage children, drawing daily inspiration from family life and the values of care, presence, and integrity.
Jeremy’s journey into men’s work began with his initiation through the Mankind Project’s (MKP) New Warrior Training Adventure — a powerful turning point that opened a lifelong path of growth and self-discovery. Since then, he has been a committed participant in MKP, Celebration of Being, and Sovereign’s Journey communities, as well as regular men’s groups. Through these experiences, Jeremy continues to explore what it means for a man to live with integrity, love, and courage.
As a founding member of the Kingfisher Project, Jeremy is passionate about creating spaces where men and boys can learn, heal, and grow — reconnecting to their authentic strength and purpose. For him, true well-being extends far beyond the physical: it encompasses emotional resilience, spiritual connection, and a deep sense of community and belonging. Jeremy is dedicated to fostering environments where people feel seen, supported, and empowered to step fully into themselves.
Sean Taylor (Co-Founder)
Sean Taylor is a poet, storyteller, and the author of more than sixty books for children and young readers. His creative work celebrates imagination, connection, and the wisdom of story — qualities that also underpin his deep involvement in men’s work.
Sean’s journey in this field began in 1997, when he attended the Teaching the Male Soul gathering led by Robert Bly, Martín Prechtel, Richard Olivier, and Mark Rylance. The experience proved transformative, offering a wellspring of inspiration, well-being, and lasting friendships. Over the years, Sean has continued to explore and share this work through poetry, storytelling, ritual, and community gatherings, helping men reconnect with meaning and creativity in their lives.
In 2019, drawing on more than two decades of men’s work, Sean co-founded the Kingfisher Project with a vision to offer boys a rites of passage experience marking their transition from childhood to young adulthood. His dream was to provide his own sons — and others of their generation — with the same kind of soulful initiation that had enriched his own life.
Both of Sean’s sons have now completed their Kingfisher rites of passage, fulfilling the vision that first inspired the project.
William Ayot (Mentor & Co Founder)
William is an award-winning poet, international facilitator and ritualist. He has been leading men’s retreats, rites of passage and initiatory events since 1992. He teaches and coaches around the world and holds rituals at his purpose-built site in Wales. Writing includes, “Email from the Soul” (poetry) & “Re-enchanting the Forest: Meaningful Ritual in a Secular World” (prose.)
William Ayot began leading men’s and mixed workshops in rehab and prisons during the early nineties. He later joined Wild Dance Events, organising and hosting large-scale men’s events for teachers like Robert Bly, Michael Meade, James Hillman, Malidoma Somé, Martín Prechtel and others, while leading initiatory rites of passage retreats at Cae Mabon. As a co-founding director of Olivier Mythodrama, he worked around the world, teaching leadership through story, theatre practice and ritual. He currently teaches on the Advanced Management Programme at INSEAD.
William leads workshops and seminars on personal development topics and creates and conducts private rituals and ceremonies. He lives in Monmouthshire with his wife, the psychotherapist and teacher, Juliet Grayson.
The Kingfisher Project team also includes Eric Maddern, Marcus Joseph, Anthony Haddon, & David Edwards.
The project is led and staffed by experienced men’s work facilitators. Each of these men will have undergone their own initiations years before, establishing them as ‘ritual elders’ ready to oversee, advise and support the men of trust, while providing pastoral care for the teenagers themselves.
Safeguarding all participants is our absolute priority, and all participating men have enhanced DBS clearance.