Jesse O'Sullivan
Jesse O’Sullivan’s journey into men’s health began at just 12 years old, when his father suffered a heart attack. At an impressionable age, the fear of losing his dad combined with the influence of a teacher who championed the benefits of physical activity in every class. That spark set Jesse on a path of purpose.
By 16, he had earned his 2nd Dan Black Belt and was already coaching as a karate instructor. He launched kids’ fitness programs at his local PCYC and mentored younger students in motor skills, laying the foundation for a life in coaching. Pursuing this passion further, Jesse studied Exercise Science and Clinical Exercise Physiology, majoring in Public Health & Health Promotion, and graduated in 2019.
But his early career was far from smooth. Entering the workforce at the height of COVID, Jesse battled depression, anxiety, and addictions to alcohol and weed. Later diagnosed with ADHD and mild autism, he found himself at rock bottom: anxious, reactive, inconsistent, and stuck in a cycle of chasing cheap dopamine.
His turning point came when he joined a local gym and connected with a community of men training together. The structure, discipline, and strength he developed in the gym began to transform his mental health. From there, Jesse rebuilt his life brick by brick — investing in mentors, building habits and systems, forging a strong physique, and cultivating what he calls an Unfuckwithable Purpose.
Now an Accredited Exercise Physiologist and founder of Project U.P., Jesse works with men across Australia — from CEOs to fathers to young blokes — to reclaim their resilience and mental health through strength training, structure, and community. Inspired by the loss of his friend Jack to suicide, Jesse has made it his mission to explore the physiology of the brain, neuroscience, and male psychology, designing systems that give men both purpose and tribe.
Today, Jesse also represents Technogym Australia as an Educator and runs corporate wellness programs with W Brisbane. His work combines science, stoicism, and lived experience to show how body-first strategies can rewire the brain, reduce depression, and empower men to thrive.
At the National Men’s Health Gathering, Jesse brings a thought-leader’s perspective and a coach’s practicality, leading the way in making coaching a mainstream solution for men’s health.
Abstracts this author is presenting: