Photo: Michael White Photography
Phil McAuliffe
Phil McAuliffe (he/him) is a dad, partner, friend—and an unapologetic plane nerd. If you’re up for a real conversation over a good coffee, you’ll get along just fine.
Phil’s a cis-gendered gay man who realised that he was experiencing loneliness as he entered midlife. Coming out of the closet was one thing, but admitting he was lonely in midlife? That was unexpectedly harder.
At the time, Phil had what many would call a "good life": a loving family, a successful career, and all the markers of privilege. But that didn’t make him immune to loneliness. And when he went looking for help, he found a gap—few resources spoke to his experience in a way that felt real or useful.
So he created what he wished had existed: honest, human, and practical ways to talk about loneliness and build real connection.
Phil now sparks and leads conversations that break down stigma and bring people together—in the media, at conferences, in workplaces, and even in the halls of government.
His mission? To help people take care of their social health, to make communities more connected, and to help workplaces become places where people don’t just survive—they thrive.
professional
bio
Phil McAuliffe (he/him) is a speaker, author, connection mentor, and global loneliness thought leader.
He draws upon his lived experience to start and lead kind and honest conversations that de-stigmatise loneliness and help humans get the authentic connection they need within themselves, their workplaces and communities.
He is the founder of HUMANS:CONNECTING, a social enterprise promoting human connection and de-stigmatising loneliness.
He serves on the Board of the Global Initiative on Loneliness and Connection and the Advisory Board of Lonely-EU. From 2022 to 2024, he co-chaired Ending Loneliness Together's Lived Experience Advisory Panel.
Phil was an Australian Public Servant for 23 years. He’s lived and worked in Canberra, Darwin, Ho Chi Minh City, Seoul, and Tokyo as a diplomat and in Caracas and Wellington as an accompanying diplomatic spouse. He worked as a journalist and teacher in Caracas.
His lived experience of loneliness and insights on human connection have appeared in Science, the BBC World Service and various Australian television, radio and print media.
He lives in Canberra (on Ngunnawal and Ngambri country) with Jeff, his partner, and their twin teenage sons.
photos
this is me
I’m a country kid with a city education who can talk to just about anyone. I like putting people at ease and feeling at home wherever I am.
I love bringing people together—with a bit of determination and a dry sense of humour—and I’m always up for challenging myself, others, and the status quo.
Moving my body is a big part of who I am. I feel better now in my late 40s than I did in my 20s. I enjoy swimming, running, lifting, yoga, and eating well.
I adore my partner Jeff, our two kids, and our circle of family and friends. Watching them figure out life is one of my greatest joys.
Music is the soundtrack to my life, and photography helps me stay present. I’m always spotting interesting things to capture—clouds, buildings, quirky signs, or people just being themselves.
I lean socially progressive and financially conservative. I can’t stand unfairness, laziness, or intolerance—and I can’t just sit by when I see it.
Curious by nature, I love exploring new ideas, cultures, and places. When I’m not planning our next trip, I’m probably flying around the world in Flight Simulator.
I’m also into languages, even if I mix them up mid-sentence—it keeps me laughing. Minimalism speaks to me, not just for its simplicity, but for how it helps me focus on what really matters: the people I love, living consciously, and doing good where I can.