Gary Barker is the founder and CEO of Equimundo: Center for Masculinities and Social Justice, one of the world’s leading organizations working at the intersection of gender equality, masculinity, and social justice. For more than two decades, Gary has been at the forefront of global research into the lives of boys and men, working to engage them as allies in the mission for gender equality. His work has shaped policy, practice, and public debate on a global scale, influencing how governments and communities around the world think about care, masculinity, connection, and fatherhood. Gary is also co-founder of MenCare, a global campaign promoting engaged fatherhood in over 70 countries, and co-founder of MenEngage, a global alliance of more than 1000 NGOs working with men and boys to achieve gender justice. In 2024, Gary was selected by Melinda French Gates as one of 12 global leaders to distribute $20 million to charitable organizations doing innovative and impactful work to advance women’s health and wellbeing worldwide. He is a recipient of a Vital Voices of Solidarity Award, honouring his work to engage men in ending gender-based violence. His recent Ted Talk on an empathy-focused reframing of masculinity has been viewed over 600k times, and calls for a rethink of traditional ideas of masculinity, shifting from norms based on dominance, to ones rooted in care. Gary lived more than 20 years in Latin America and holds a PhD in Developmental Psychology. He currently lives in Washington, DC, with his bi-national family, and is the author of four novels.
