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100 Best Safety Motivational Speakers (2026)

  • Writer: Jonno White
    Jonno White
  • Jan 6
  • 30 min read

The Definitive Guide to Finding the Perfect Speaker for Your Next Safety Event


Introduction: Why Safety Motivational Speakers Matter


When a workplace accident changes someone's life forever, the story carries weight that no safety manual ever could. Safety motivational speakers transform statistics into human experiences, creating lasting impact that drives real behaviour change. Whether you're planning your next safety event, annual safety day, or corporate conference, the right professional speaker can shift your entire safety culture.


This directory represents the most comprehensive resource ever compiled on safety keynote speakers and workplace safety speakers. I've analysed hundreds of practitioners across multiple continents, from accident survivors sharing their personal experience to safety leadership experts with expansive industry experience. Every speaker included genuinely serves the field of safety, whether through emotion-packed storytelling, safety protocols expertise, or proven track records of positive change.


Here's what many organisations miss: safety culture isn't just about hazard awareness. It's about how well your people understand themselves and each other. When teams genuinely understand how each person thinks, communicates, and contributes, they develop the empathy that makes them look out for one another. That's when safety stops being a compliance exercise and becomes embedded in your culture. Contact jonno@consultclarity.org to discuss how this approach can transform your safety events.


If you're planning a safety event and want a keynote or workshop that builds this foundation, book Jonno White for your next conference. I deliver Working Genius sessions, leadership workshops, and keynotes that help teams understand themselves and each other better, directly strengthening your safety culture. Email jonno@consultclarity.org to discuss your event.


Professional safety motivational speaker delivering a keynote on workplace safety to frontline workers, with a slide reading “Choices. Consequences. Everyone Gets Home Safe.

How to Choose a Safety Motivational Speaker


Selecting the perfect speaker for your safety events requires understanding what actually drives behaviour change versus what merely entertains. Business leaders and safety managers often struggle to distinguish between powerful message delivery and genuine safety culture transformation. Here are the key criteria that separate exceptional motivational speakers from average presenters.


1. Relevance of Personal Experience to Your Workforce


The most impactful safety speakers bring lived experience that resonates with your specific audience. A construction site crew connects differently with a fall-from-height survivor than with a general leadership speaker. Look for speakers whose workplace accident stories or safety expertise align with the hazards your teams face in their daily lives. This relevance creates an impactful safety message that workers remember long after the presentation ends.


2. Proven Track Record with Similar Organisations


Rave reviews and testimonials matter, but scrutinise them carefully. The best safety motivational speaker options can demonstrate repeat bookings from major organisations, specific outcomes achieved, and endorsements from safety managers with professional credentials. Ask for references from companies in your industry who can speak to the speaker's safety performance impact.


3. Customisation and Pre-Event Preparation


Exceptional practitioners invest time understanding your workplace hazards, recent incidents, and safety concerns before stepping on stage. They conduct pre-briefing calls, ask about your safety strategy, and tailor their engaging presentations to address your specific challenges. This preparation separates professionals who deliver lasting impression from those delivering generic content.


4. Post-Presentation Support and Follow-Through


A keynote alone rarely changes culture. The best safety speakers provide resources for continued reinforcement through their safety programs: video products, discussion guides, or follow-up programs. Some offer long video presentation libraries or safety awareness training tools that extend the message beyond the initial event. Consider what happens in the weeks and months after the speaker leaves.


5. Alignment with Your Safety Leadership Philosophy


Your speaker should reinforce, not contradict, your existing safety culture approach. If your organisation emphasises personal responsibility and own safety accountability, choose speakers who echo those values. If you focus on psychological safety and creating a psychologically safe environment, ensure the speaker's framework aligns. Misalignment confuses workers and undermines your safety leadership.


The Missing Piece: Team Understanding


Most safety events focus on hazard awareness and personal accountability. But there's a deeper layer that determines whether safety messages actually stick: how well your people understand and communicate with each other.


When team members understand how each person thinks and works differently, they develop genuine empathy. That empathy translates directly into looking out for each other's safety. When someone understands that their colleague processes information differently or responds to stress in a particular way, they're more likely to speak up, check in, and intervene before incidents occur. Jonno White specialises in building this foundation through Working Genius facilitation and leadership development.


This is why Jonno White brings Working Genius facilitation, DISC workshops, and leadership development to safety events. These sessions give your teams practical frameworks for understanding themselves and each other, creating the relational foundation that makes safety culture sustainable. Book Jonno White for a Working Genius session or leadership workshop for your safety conference by emailing jonno@consultclarity.org.


The Directory: 100 Safety Motivational Speakers


This comprehensive directory covers accident survivors, safety leadership experts, occupational safety specialists, and adjacent professionals who frequently address safety events. I've organised them into categories to help you quickly find the type of speaker most relevant to your needs.


Accident Survivor and Personal Story Speakers


These speakers bring unparalleled emotional impact through their personal experience with near-fatal accidents or life-changing injuries. Their stories create visceral connections that statistics cannot achieve.


1. Lee Shelby — Tennessee, USA


Lee Shelby delivers one of the most powerful safety messages in the industry through his workplace accident survival story. As a best selling author and founder of 1 Voice Matters, Lee has spoken to over 2,000 contractors and employees in single multi-session events for clients including ExxonMobil. His presentations address personal responsibility, mental health awareness, and Stop Work Authority programs with audiences across 50 nationalities.

Website: leeshelby.com

Specialty: Safety culture transformation, personal accountability

Best for: Energy, utilities, manufacturing, large-scale safety events


2. Charlie Morecraft — Florida, USA


Charlie Morecraft has built an extensive safety speaking empire around his near-fatal accident story. Beyond keynotes, he offers comprehensive video products, licensing programs, and streaming content. His emotion-packed storytelling approach keeps audiences on the edge of their seats while delivering important work messages. Charlie works on behalf of the most respected companies in heavy industry globally.

Specialty: Safety motivation, video-based safety programs

Best for: Manufacturing, construction, organisations wanting ongoing video resources


3. Ricky Rollins — South Carolina, USA


Ricky Rollins brings humor-filled motivational presentation style to serious safety topics. Named a National Safety Council Congress and Expo Top 5 keynote speaker, Ricky shares his story from five perspectives: father, husband, brother, friend, and supervisor. His unique experience resonates with workers at every level. Bring Ricky's humor-filled approach to your next safety event for a presentation that entertains while it educates.

Specialty: Engaging safety keynotes with humour

Best for: Safety conferences, annual safety days, diverse workforce audiences


4. Scott Burrows — Florida, USA


Scott Burrows transforms his life-altering seatbelt mistake into a compelling safety keynote speaker presentation built around Vision, Mindset, and Grit. As an author and former successful business leader, Scott addresses complacency, compliance, and creating safety-first culture. His presentations connect personal choices to organisational safety performance with valuable insights for leaders at every level.

Specialty: Resilience, mindset, compliance culture

Best for: Corporate offices, leadership teams, insurance and professional services


5. Kina Hart — Washington, USA


Kina Hart lost her arm in a workplace accident and now delivers powerful safety messages to industrial and manufacturing audiences. Her story combines personal tragedy with resilience and positive psychology, showing workers the real consequences of complacency. Kina's presentations on workplace hazards and personal responsibility create lasting impression with frontline teams.

Website: kinahart.com

Specialty: Industrial safety, workplace injury prevention

Best for: Manufacturing, industrial sites, safety stand-downs


6. James Gorry — Ireland


James Gorry was paralysed after falling from a roof at a Dublin galvanising plant in October 2005. His journey from successful construction business founder to wheelchair user provides a stark illustration of how quickly life can change. James speaks throughout the British Isles and Europe on personal accountability, awareness, and prevention through high-impact presentations.

Website: Via Front Row Speakers

Specialty: Construction safety, fall prevention

Best for: Construction industry, UK and European events


7. Phillip Smallman — Australia


Phillip Smallman became paraplegic following a workplace accident and now delivers two-hour safety presentations that change attitudes across Australian organisations. His powerful message centres on personal accountability as the final hurdle in building safety culture. Phillip has worked with clients including ITW Construction Asia Pacific, Ergon Energy, CSR Lightweight Systems, and Simplot Australia.

Website: Via Saxton Speakers

Specialty: Personal accountability, safety attitude transformation

Best for: Australian corporates, construction, utilities


8. Jason Anker MBE — United Kingdom


Jason Anker MBE founded Proud2bSafe (P2BS), a leading UK safety speakers organisation. His personal story and advocacy work have earned him recognition including his MBE. Jason specialises in reaching construction and industrial audiences with messages about choices, consequences, and the importance of safety at every level of an organisation.

Specialty: Construction safety, organisational safety culture

Best for: UK construction, safety days, leadership events


9. Chad Hymas — USA


Chad Hymas became quadriplegic following an accident and has transformed his experience into a powerful voice as a professional speaker addressing safety, resilience, and determination. He speaks internationally about the moments that change lives and how organisations can prevent tragic outcomes through strong foundation of safety protocols and personal commitment.

Website: Via Premiere Speakers Bureau

Specialty: Resilience, safety mindset, determination

Best for: Large conferences, leadership events, inspirational safety programs


10. Brad Livingston — USA


Brad Livingston delivers safety presentations grounded in his accident survival story. Working within the Charlie Morecraft ecosystem of safety speakers, Brad reaches audiences who need to hear firsthand accounts of workplace hazards and their consequences. His straightforward approach resonates with frontline workers in heavy industry.

Website: Via charliemorecraft.com

Specialty: Industrial safety, accident prevention

Best for: Manufacturing, construction, industrial safety events


11. Dave Sanderson — North Carolina, USA


Dave Sanderson survived the Miracle on the Hudson and now speaks about crisis survival, decision-making under pressure, and emergency response protocols. His story provides a dramatic illustration of how preparation and composure save lives. Dave connects his survival experience to everyday workplace safety decisions.

Specialty: Crisis survival, emergency preparedness

Best for: Aviation, transportation, corporate safety events


12. John O'Leary — Missouri, USA


John O'Leary survived burns over 100% of his body as a child and wrote the best selling author book On Fire. His presentations address resilience, gratitude, and the daily lives we build through our choices. While not exclusively a safety speaker, John frequently addresses safety conferences with messages about consequences and recovery.

Specialty: Resilience, burn survivor story, gratitude

Best for: Leadership conferences, corporate events, healthcare safety


13. Theo Venter — Australia


Theo Venter survived a 22,000 volt electric shock and uses his story to deliver powerful safety messages across Australian workplaces. His presentations address electrical safety, complacency, and the importance of following safety procedures even when shortcuts seem convenient. Theo works extensively with utilities and energy companies.

Website: Via Saxton Speakers and ICMI

Specialty: Electrical safety, utilities industry

Best for: Utilities, electrical contractors, energy sector


14. Matt Hazelton — United Kingdom


Matt Hazelton works with Proud2bSafe delivering safety presentations across UK worksites and conferences. His personal story and engaging presentation style connect with workers who have heard safety messages many times before but need fresh perspective on why the importance of workplace safety matters in their daily lives.

Website: Via Proud2bSafe

Specialty: Site safety, worker engagement

Best for: UK construction, manufacturing, safety stand-downs


15. Lisa Ramos — United Kingdom


Lisa Ramos survived a forklift accident and brings her story to audiences through the Proud2bSafe network. Her perspective on material handling safety and warehouse hazards provides specific relevance for logistics, distribution, and manufacturing environments where forklift incidents remain a significant concern.

Website: Via Proud2bSafe

Specialty: Forklift safety, warehouse operations

Best for: Logistics, warehousing, distribution centres


16. Paul Blanchard — United Kingdom


Paul Blanchard delivers fall-from-height safety presentations through Proud2bSafe. His personal experience with working at height incidents makes his message particularly relevant for construction, roofing, and industrial maintenance audiences where falls remain a leading cause of workplace fatalities.

Website: Via Proud2bSafe

Specialty: Fall prevention, working at height

Best for: Construction, roofing, industrial maintenance


17. Gary Gallagher — United Kingdom


Gary Gallagher presents through Proud2bSafe with his own compelling story of workplace injury and recovery. His presentations address the ripple effects of accidents on families, colleagues, and communities, extending beyond the individual worker to show how safety of others affects everyone connected to the workforce.

Website: Via Proud2bSafe

Specialty: Family impact, workplace accident consequences

Best for: UK sites, family-focused safety messaging


18. Tom Corfield — United Kingdom


Tom Corfield focuses on youth and apprenticeship safety through Proud2bSafe. His message resonates particularly well with younger workers who may feel invincible or discount safety warnings from older colleagues. Tom addresses how choices made early in careers can have lifelong consequences.

Website: Via Proud2bSafe

Specialty: Youth safety, apprentice engagement

Best for: Trade training, apprenticeship programs, young worker safety


19. Abbi Taylor — United Kingdom


Abbi Taylor brings a family impact perspective to safety speaking through Proud2bSafe. Her presentations remind workers that safety decisions affect not just themselves but everyone who loves them and depends on them. This emotional support angle creates powerful motivation for workers who might otherwise take shortcuts.

Website: Via Proud2bSafe

Specialty: Family perspective, emotional impact of accidents

Best for: Family safety days, sites with high-risk work


20. Darren Flanagan — Australia


Darren Flanagan was the man behind the Beaconsfield Mine Rescue, one of Australia's most dramatic emergency response operations. His story of working to save trapped miners provides unique perspective on risk management, crisis decision-making, and the importance of safety systems that protect workers in extreme situations.

Website: Via Saxton Speakers

Specialty: Mining safety, emergency rescue, crisis management

Best for: Mining, resources, emergency services


Want to complement your safety event with a session that builds lasting team understanding? Book Jonno White for a Working Genius workshop or leadership keynote that helps your people understand themselves and each other better. When teams have genuine empathy for how their colleagues think and work, they look out for each other's safety naturally. Email jonno@consultclarity.org to book Jonno White for your event.


Safety Leadership and Culture Experts


These speakers focus on safety systems, leadership behaviour, and organisational culture rather than personal accident stories. They bring frameworks and methodologies for sustainable safety improvement.


21. David Sarkus — USA


David Sarkus operates as The Safety Coach, a registered trademark reflecting his approach to safety leadership development. Rather than purely motivational content, David provides coaching, assessment processes, and capability building for safety leaders. His methodology includes psychological profiling and 360-degree reviews for comprehensive leadership development.

Website: davidsarkus.com

Specialty: Safety coaching, leadership development

Best for: Organisations seeking sustained safety leadership capability


22. Todd Conklin — New Mexico, USA


Todd Conklin brings Human and Organisational Performance (HOP) expertise to safety speaking. His approach challenges traditional blame-based safety cultures in favour of systems thinking and error prevention. Todd's work appeals to safety professionals seeking to move beyond behaviour-based safety toward more sophisticated approaches.

Website: Via AAE Speakers

Specialty: Human factors, organisational performance, safety systems

Best for: Safety professionals, leadership teams, culture transformation


23. Shawn Galloway — USA


Shawn Galloway serves as a safety keynote speaker through ProAct Safety, focusing on safety excellence and sustainable performance improvement. His approach combines motivation with practical implementation guidance, helping organisations translate inspiration into lasting change through proven methodologies.

Specialty: Safety excellence, performance improvement

Best for: Organisations seeking both inspiration and implementation


24. Terry L. Mathis — USA


Terry L. Mathis works alongside Shawn Galloway at ProAct Safety, bringing decades of experience in safety consulting and speaking. His presentations address culture of safety development, leadership behaviour, and creating sustainable safety systems that outlast any single initiative or program.

Specialty: Safety culture, leadership behaviour

Best for: Culture transformation, safety leadership programs


25. Jay Allen, Ph.D. — USA


Jay Allen created Safety FM, a media platform dedicated to safety content and thought leadership. As a corporate safety executive turned media creator, Jay brings unique perspective on communicating safety messages across organisations. His approach combines traditional speaking with modern content delivery methods.

Website: safetyfm.com

Specialty: Safety communication, media-based safety messaging

Best for: Forward-thinking safety programs, communication-focused organisations


26. John Drebinger — USA


John Drebinger has delivered safety presentations for over 30 years of experience, working with more than 400 companies to reduce injuries. His approach incorporates fun magic and engaging showmanship while maintaining serious safety content. John offers DVDs, eLearning platforms, and newsletters extending his impact beyond live events.

Website: drebinger.com

Specialty: Engaging safety presentations, entertainment-based learning

Best for: Audiences needing fresh approach, long-tenured workforces


27. Richard Hawk — USA


Richard Hawk built his reputation on making safety fun, an approach that resonates with audiences tired of dry, compliance-focused presentations. His engaging style keeps workers entertained while delivering serious messages about workplace hazards and prevention. Richard helps organisations combat safety message fatigue.

Website: richardhawk.com

Specialty: Entertainment-based safety, engagement

Best for: Safety conferences, organisations fighting complacency


28. Steven Kirby — United Kingdom


Steven Kirby addresses psychological safety and PTSD through Proud2bSafe. His focus on mental injury and emotional wellbeing complements physical safety messages, helping organisations address the full spectrum of workplace health. Steven speaks to chronic pain, trauma, and building supportive workplace environments.

Website: Via Proud2bSafe

Specialty: Psychological safety, mental health, PTSD

Best for: Mental health-focused safety programs, trauma-informed workplaces


29. Sylvia Marusyk — North America


Sylvia Marusyk brings occupational therapy and stress management expertise to safety speaking through Top Safety Speakers. Her wellness-focused approach addresses the human factors that contribute to accidents: fatigue, stress, and physical wellbeing. Sylvia helps organisations see safety as part of holistic worker health.

Website: Via Top Safety Speakers

Specialty: Wellness, stress management, occupational health

Best for: Organisations integrating wellness and safety


30. Curtis Weber — North America


Curtis Weber transformed tragic personal injury into safety leadership expertise, offering risk management tools and frameworks through Top Safety Speakers. His approach combines lived experience with practical systems for ongoing safety improvement, bridging emotional impact with operational sustainability.

Website: Via Top Safety Speakers

Specialty: Risk management, safety leadership systems

Best for: Organisations wanting both story and systems


Safety culture depends on how well leaders handle difficult conversations. When a supervisor notices unsafe behaviour, do they address it directly or avoid the confrontation? Jonno White's bestselling book Step Up or Step Out provides a proven framework for having these crucial conversations, with over 10,000 copies sold globally. Book Jonno White for a keynote or workshop on leadership communication at your safety event. Email jonno@consultclarity.org.


Aviation, Military, and High-Reliability Speakers


These speakers bring expertise from aviation, military, space programs, and other high-reliability organisations where safety failures have catastrophic consequences. Their frameworks often transfer powerfully to industrial and corporate settings.


31. Mike Abrashoff — Florida, USA


Mike Abrashoff commanded the USS Benfold and wrote the best selling author book It's Your Ship. His leadership approach transformed one of the Navy's worst-performing ships into a model of excellence. Mike addresses accountability, safety culture, and how leadership behaviour creates the conditions for safe operations.

Specialty: Naval leadership, organisational transformation

Best for: Leadership teams, enterprise safety transformation


32. John Nance — Washington, USA


John Nance serves as an air safety analyst and brings aviation safety expertise to healthcare and corporate audiences. His frameworks for error prevention and communication have been adopted across industries far removed from aviation. John addresses how high-reliability principles apply anywhere safety matters.

Website: johnnance.com

Specialty: Aviation safety, healthcare safety, error prevention

Best for: Healthcare, aviation, high-consequence environments


33. Mike Mullane — New Mexico, USA


Mike Mullane flew three Space Shuttle missions and brings NASA safety culture insights to corporate audiences. His perspective on near-fatal accidents in space exploration provides dramatic illustration of what happens when safety procedures fail or succeed. Mike addresses normalisation of deviance and maintaining vigilance.

Website: mikemullane.com

Specialty: Space program safety, complacency prevention

Best for: High-reliability industries, leadership conferences


34. John Foley — Idaho, USA


John Foley served as Blue Angels lead solo pilot and brings fighter aviation discipline to safety speaking. His presentations address precision execution, team coordination, and maintaining focus under pressure. John helps organisations understand how elite teams achieve exceptional safety performance consistently.

Specialty: Aviation precision, team performance

Best for: Enterprise conferences, high-stakes safety environments


35. Nicole Malachowski — Colorado, USA


Nicole Malachowski became the first female Thunderbird pilot and brings military aviation excellence to corporate safety discussions. Her presentations address pushing boundaries safely, team trust, and creating cultures where speaking up about safety concerns is encouraged and expected.

Website: Via bureaus including SpeakInc

Specialty: Military aviation, leadership, speaking up culture

Best for: Leadership conferences, organisations building speak-up culture


36. Jim Wetherbee — Oregon, USA


Jim Wetherbee commanded multiple Space Shuttle missions and authored Controlling Risk on managing hazards in high-stakes environments. His NASA experience provides frameworks for risk management that translate across industries. Jim helps organisations understand how systematic approaches to safety prevent disasters.

Website: Via Key Speakers Bureau

Specialty: Risk management, spaceflight safety

Best for: High-reliability industries, executive leadership


37. Carey Lohrenz — Minnesota, USA


Carey Lohrenz was the first female F-14 fighter pilot and brings naval aviation leadership to corporate audiences. Her presentations address high-performance execution, decision-making under pressure, and building teams that perform safely when stakes are highest.

Specialty: Aviation leadership, high-performance teams

Best for: Corporate leadership, aviation and defence industries


38. Scott Waddle — USA


Scott Waddle commanded USS Greeneville when it collided with a Japanese fishing vessel, killing nine people. His story of catastrophic failure and accountability provides powerful lessons about leadership responsibility, procedural discipline, and the devastating consequences when safety systems break down.

Website: Via Premiere Speakers Bureau

Specialty: Leadership accountability, catastrophic failure lessons

Best for: Leadership development, accountability-focused programs


39. Afterburner — Miami, USA


Afterburner brings former fighter pilots together to deliver team performance and execution frameworks. Their approach applies military aviation discipline to corporate challenges including safety. Afterburner offers both keynotes and intensive workshop programs for leadership teams as a full-service speakers bureau alternative.

Website: afterburner.com

Specialty: Team execution, military-style leadership

Best for: Enterprise teams, leadership development programs


40. Jeff Espenship — Georgia, USA


Jeff 'Odie' Espenship brings fighter pilot experience to leadership and safety discussions through Target Leadership. His presentations address execution excellence, risk discipline, and maintaining focus when complexity increases. Jeff helps organisations apply military precision to workplace safety.

Website: Via AAE Speakers

Specialty: Fighter pilot leadership, execution excellence

Best for: Leadership conferences, performance-focused organisations


Australian and New Zealand Safety Speakers


These speakers operate primarily within Australia and New Zealand, though many travel internationally. They understand Australian workplace health and safety frameworks and local workplace cultures.


41. Rachael Robertson — Australia


Rachael Robertson led an Antarctic expedition team for a year, managing safety in one of Earth's harshest environments. Her presentations address team leadership, isolation management, and creating safety cultures in remote or challenging locations. Rachael brings unique perspective on psychological safety and team cohesion.

Website: Via ICMI and Saxton Speakers

Specialty: Remote site leadership, psychological safety

Best for: Resources, remote operations, FIFO workforces


42. Richard de Crespigny AM — Australia


Richard de Crespigny commanded Qantas Flight 32 when an engine exploded over Singapore, successfully landing the crippled aircraft. His presentations draw from aviation's rigorous safety culture and crew resource management principles. Richard shows how high-reliability thinking applies across industries.

Website: Via multiple Australian bureaus

Specialty: Aviation crisis management, crew resource management

Best for: Leadership conferences, aviation, healthcare


43. Todd Russell — Australia


Todd Russell survived the Beaconsfield Mine collapse, trapped underground for two weeks before dramatic rescue. His story provides powerful perspective on emergency response, survival, and the importance of safety systems that protect workers even when things go wrong. Todd works extensively with mining and resources industries.

Website: Via ICMI

Specialty: Mining safety, survival and rescue

Best for: Mining, resources, underground operations


44. Marco Sanmartino — Western Australia


Marco Sanmartino operates Think Marco, providing safety speaking and consulting services across Western Australia and nationally. His focus on engaging presentations helps organisations reach workers who have heard safety messages many times before. Marco brings fresh approaches to occupational safety topics.

Specialty: Occupational safety, WHS compliance

Best for: Western Australian operations, mining services


45. Helen Fitzroy — Australia


Helen Fitzroy delivers workplace safety presentations across Australian organisations through multiple bureau networks. Her approach combines practical safety guidance with engaging delivery that keeps audiences attentive. Helen addresses both compliance requirements and culture development.

Website: Via Platinum Speakers and ICMI

Specialty: Workplace safety, culture development

Best for: Australian corporates, safety conferences


46. Natalee Johnston — Australia


Natalee Johnston specialises in safety culture development for Australian organisations. Her presentations address how organisations move beyond compliance to create environments where safety becomes embedded in daily operations. Natalee helps safety managers and leaders translate good intentions into sustained practice.

Website: Via ICMI

Specialty: Safety culture, beyond compliance

Best for: Culture transformation, safety leadership programs


47. Alan Newey — Australia


Alan Newey provides occupational health and safety speaking through multiple Australian bureau networks. His presentations address practical safety management and creating sustainable safety systems. Alan brings extensive experience across Australian industries and regulatory environments.

Website: Via ICMI and Platinum Speakers

Specialty: OHS management, practical safety systems

Best for: Australian operations, compliance-focused organisations


48. Shane Webcke — Australia


Shane Webcke brings sporting achievement and resilience to safety speaking. As a former NRL great mentor, Shane connects with Australian audiences who follow rugby league while delivering messages about discipline, teamwork, and looking after mates. His approach resonates particularly well with male-dominated workforces.

Website: Via ICMI and Platinum Speakers

Specialty: Team culture, mateship, male engagement

Best for: Construction, mining, male-dominated industries


49. Dr Nicholas Mabbott — Australia


Dr Nicholas Mabbott specialises in fatigue risk management, addressing one of the most significant yet underappreciated workplace hazards. His presentations combine scientific evidence with practical strategies for managing fatigue in shift work, transport, and other industries where tiredness creates safety risks.

Website: Via Platinum Speakers

Specialty: Fatigue risk management, sleep science

Best for: Transport, shift work, 24/7 operations


50. Karen Maher — Australia


Karen Maher works as a WHS consultant and speaker, providing Australian organisations with practical guidance on workplace health and safety management. Her presentations address regulatory compliance, safety leadership, and building safety into organisational operations sustainably.

Website: Via Saxton Speakers

Specialty: WHS consulting, regulatory compliance

Best for: Australian corporates, compliance-focused events


Based in Brisbane, Jonno White delivers keynotes and workshops for safety events across Australia and internationally. His Working Genius sessions help teams understand how each person thinks and contributes differently, building the empathy that makes people genuinely look out for each other. Many clients are surprised to find that flying Jonno White in from Brisbane is more affordable than they expected. Book Jonno White for your Australian safety conference or event by emailing jonno@consultclarity.org.


Leadership and Resilience Speakers


These speakers address safety through leadership development, resilience building, and organisational culture. While not always primarily safety-focused, they frequently appear at safety conferences and address safety culture themes.


51. Garrison Wynn — Texas, USA


Garrison Wynn delivers leadership and safety presentations with humour and practical insights. Author of The Cowbell Principle, Garrison helps organisations understand how leadership behaviour influences safety outcomes. His engaging style keeps audiences entertained while delivering serious messages.

Specialty: Leadership, communication, engagement

Best for: Safety conferences, leadership events


52. Mike Hourigan — North Carolina, USA


Mike Hourigan addresses leadership, change, and transformation with applications to safety culture. His presentations help organisations understand how to sustain change beyond initial enthusiasm, addressing the challenge many safety initiatives face after previous years of implementation.

Website: Via multiple bureaus

Specialty: Change management, sustaining initiatives

Best for: Organisations implementing culture change


53. Mark DeVolder — Canada


Mark DeVolder specialises in change management and transitions, helping organisations navigate the disruption that often accompanies safety culture transformation. His award-winning approach addresses the human side of change, which frequently determines whether safety initiatives succeed or fail.

Specialty: Change management, transitions

Best for: Culture transformation, merger and acquisition contexts


54. Vince Poscente — Texas, USA


Vince Poscente brings Olympic athletic achievement to leadership and performance speaking. His presentations address goal achievement, focus, and maintaining discipline under pressure, themes that translate to safety performance and creating cultures where safe behaviour becomes automatic.

Website: Via AAE Speakers

Specialty: Performance, focus, discipline

Best for: Leadership conferences, performance-focused organisations


55. Robyn Benincasa — California, USA


Robyn Benincasa competed as a world-class adventure racer and now speaks about teamwork and high-performance in extreme conditions. Her presentations address how teams maintain performance when exhausted, stressed, and operating in hazardous environments, directly relevant to safety in challenging industries.

Website: Via AAE Speakers

Specialty: Team performance, extreme conditions

Best for: High-hazard industries, leadership development


56. Curtis Zimmerman — USA


Curtis Zimmerman delivers personal transformation and resilience presentations that frequently address safety themes. His approach helps individuals take ownership of their choices, a core value for safety programs seeking to develop personal responsibility across workforces.

Website: Via Premiere Speakers Bureau

Specialty: Personal transformation, choice and accountability

Best for: Personal responsibility-focused safety programs


57. Joe Roberts — Vancouver, Canada


Joe Roberts walked across Canada pushing a shopping cart to raise awareness of homelessness, transforming his own experience of living on the streets. His presentations address resilience, second chances, and the choices that shape our lives, powerful themes for safety programs addressing human factors.

Website: Via AAE Speakers

Specialty: Resilience, second chances, human factors

Best for: Safety programs addressing human factors and choices


58. Stephen Shedletzky — Toronto, Canada


Stephen Shedletzky focuses on leadership and culture, helping organisations create environments where people feel safe to speak up. His presentations address psychological safety, a critical component of effective safety programs where workers must feel comfortable raising safety concerns.

Website: Via AAE Speakers

Specialty: Leadership culture, psychological safety

Best for: Organisations building speak-up culture


59. Adam Kreek — Victoria, Canada


Adam Kreek won Olympic gold in rowing and now speaks about performance, teamwork, and executing under pressure. His presentations address how elite teams achieve consistent results, with applications to safety performance in industries where team coordination prevents accidents.

Website: Via AAE Speakers

Specialty: Team performance, Olympic excellence

Best for: Team-focused safety programs, leadership conferences


60. Ferry Zandvliet — Netherlands


Ferry Zandvliet survived a terrorist attack and now speaks about trauma, resilience, and recovery. His presentations address how individuals and organisations respond to catastrophic events, relevant for safety programs in industries vulnerable to security threats or mass-casualty events.

Website: Via A-Speakers

Specialty: Trauma, resilience, crisis response

Best for: Security-sensitive industries, crisis management


Many safety events focus on compliance and hazard awareness but miss the leadership dimension. How do your supervisors handle it when they see unsafe behaviour? Do they address it directly or avoid the confrontation? Jonno White delivers keynotes and workshops on leadership communication, drawing from his bestselling book Step Up or Step Out which has helped over 10,000 leaders globally have difficult conversations that actually produce change. Book Jonno White for your safety leadership event at jonno@consultclarity.org.


Mental Health and Wellbeing Speakers


These speakers address the mental health dimensions of workplace safety, including psychological safety, stress management, and creating supportive environments. Mental health increasingly features in comprehensive safety programs.


61. Dan Reidenberg — USA


Dan Reidenberg serves as a leading authority on suicide prevention and workplace mental health. His presentations address how organisations create environments that support mental wellness and intervene effectively when workers struggle. Dan helps safety programs expand beyond physical hazards.

Website: Via A-Speakers

Specialty: Suicide prevention, mental health

Best for: Organisations integrating mental health into safety


62. Pamela J. Pine — USA


Dr Pamela J. Pine addresses trauma-informed approaches to workplace wellness and child protection. Her presentations help organisations understand how trauma affects worker behaviour and decision-making, with implications for safety performance and creating supportive workplace environments.

Website: Via A-Speakers

Specialty: Trauma-informed practice, workplace wellness

Best for: Healthcare, social services, trauma-aware workplaces


63. Carl Jones — United Kingdom


Carl Jones brings stress management and resilience expertise from his background as a police detective with a National Bravery Award. His presentations address how high-pressure work environments affect mental health and performance, with direct applications to safety in demanding industries.

Website: Via A-Speakers

Specialty: Stress management, resilience under pressure

Best for: Emergency services, high-stress industries


64. Michael Melnik — USA


Michael Melnik combines occupational therapy and exercise physiology expertise to address workplace wellness and injury prevention. His presentations help organisations understand the physical factors that contribute to workplace injuries and how to build resilient workforces through better health practices.

Website: Via charliemorecraft.com network

Specialty: Occupational therapy, physical wellness

Best for: Organisations addressing ergonomics and physical health


65. Graeme Cowan — Australia


Graeme Cowan addresses workplace wellbeing and mental health from personal experience with severe depression. His presentations help organisations create psychologically safe environments where workers can perform at their best while maintaining mental wellness as a top priority.

Website: Via Platinum Speakers

Specialty: Workplace wellbeing, mental health

Best for: Organisations building mental health programs


Specialised Industry and Technical Speakers


These speakers bring expertise in specific industries or technical areas relevant to safety. They provide specialised knowledge for audiences with particular hazard profiles or compliance requirements.


66. Demi Clark — North Carolina, USA


Demi Clark advocates for women in welding and construction safety through her TEDx talk and industry presentations. As a certified Women Business Enterprise, Demi brings unique perspective on safety in male-dominated trades while promoting diversity and inclusion in construction.

Website: Via Key Speakers Bureau

Specialty: Construction safety, trades, diversity

Best for: Construction, trades, DEI-focused organisations


67. John Iannarelli — Arizona, USA


John Iannarelli served as an FBI Special Agent and now addresses cybersecurity, security risk, and organisational protection. His presentations help organisations understand the intersection of physical and cyber safety in modern workplaces where digital threats create real-world consequences.

Website: Via Key Speakers Bureau

Specialty: Cybersecurity, security risk, FBI expertise

Best for: Security-conscious organisations, critical infrastructure


68. Lesley Carhart — International


Lesley Carhart serves as Director of Incident Response at Dragos, addressing cybersecurity in industrial control systems. Her expertise directly relates to safety in manufacturing, utilities, and critical infrastructure where cyber attacks can cause physical harm.

Website: Via Key Speakers Bureau

Specialty: Industrial cybersecurity, incident response

Best for: Utilities, manufacturing, critical infrastructure


69. Susan Frampton — Connecticut, USA


Susan Frampton leads Planetree, addressing patient-centred care and healthcare safety. Her presentations help healthcare organisations create safer environments for both patients and staff through culture transformation and human-centred design principles.

Website: Via Key Speakers Bureau

Specialty: Healthcare safety, patient-centred care

Best for: Healthcare, hospitals, aged care


70. Mark Gallagher — United Kingdom


Mark Gallagher brings Formula One executive coach experience to discussions of risk, performance, and high-stakes decision-making. His presentations draw from motorsport's rigorous safety evolution to address how organisations can achieve both speed and safety without compromise.

Specialty: Formula One, risk and performance

Best for: Leadership conferences, high-performance industries


71. Allan James Moore — Canada


Allan James Moore brings over 16 years of experience as a health and safety practitioner to speaking engagements. His presentations address practical safety management, regulatory compliance, and building sustainable safety systems that work in real operational environments.

Website: Via A-Speakers

Specialty: OHS practice, safety management systems

Best for: Safety professionals, practical implementation


72. Eric Giguere — North America


Eric Giguere delivers motivational safety presentations through Safety Awareness Solutions. His approach combines engaging delivery with practical safety content, helping organisations reach workers who may be resistant to traditional safety training approaches.

Website: Via Safety Awareness Solutions

Specialty: Safety motivation, worker engagement

Best for: Industrial sites, safety stand-downs


73. Gary Norland — North America


Gary Norland provides motivational safety speaking through Safety Awareness Solutions, reaching industrial and construction audiences with messages about choices and consequences. His presentations help workers understand why safety matters in their daily lives beyond just following rules.

Website: Via Safety Awareness Solutions

Specialty: Industrial safety motivation

Best for: Construction, manufacturing, industrial


74. Kayla Rath — North America


Kayla Rath delivers safety speaking through Safety Awareness Solutions, bringing fresh perspective to workplace safety discussions. Her presentations engage younger workers who may feel disconnected from traditional safety messages delivered by older speakers.

Website: Via Safety Awareness Solutions

Specialty: Youth engagement, fresh safety perspective

Best for: Young worker programs, apprenticeships


75. Hawk Vagg — Australia


Hawk Vagg operates Safety Speaker, delivering workplace safety presentations across Australian organisations. His practical approach addresses real hazards workers face daily, with content that connects to operational realities rather than abstract principles.

Specialty: Practical workplace safety

Best for: Australian industrial operations


Speaker Bureaus and Agencies


These organisations help match safety speakers with events. They provide comparison, logistics, and contracting services as a talent agency supporting the interests of event professionals. Many safety speakers work through multiple bureaus simultaneously. If you prefer to book Jonno White directly rather than through a bureau, email jonno@consultclarity.org for faster response and better customisation.


76. AAE Speakers — USA


AAE Speakers (All American Entertainment) operates as a full-service speakers bureau with workplace safety as a major category. They claim over $250M in celebrity talent booked since 2002 and offer both live and virtual events options across their roster of safety speakers with exceptional customer support.

Specialty: Full-service speakers bureau

Best for: Organisations wanting bureau support and comparison


77. SpeakInc — USA


SpeakInc provides a Safety/HSE category with fee ranges and travel information for each speaker. Their transparent talent booking process helps buyers compare options quickly, though they explicitly note that speaker-supplied information may contain errors or be outdated.

Website: speakinc.com

Specialty: Safety/HSE speaker roster with fee transparency

Best for: Buyers wanting transparent fee information


78. Key Speakers Bureau — USA


Key Speakers Bureau offers a comprehensive workplace safety and health roster with fee filters and speaker comparison tools. Their focus serves the interests of event professionals to help match speakers to specific event requirements.

Website: keyspeakers.com

Specialty: Workplace safety speaker matching

Best for: Budget-conscious buyers wanting fee filters


79. Eagles Talent Speakers Bureau — USA


Eagles Talent maintains a workplace safety speakers page with fee range filters and popularity sorting. Their roster includes both dedicated safety speakers and leadership speakers who frequently address safety themes.

Specialty: Safety speaker roster with sorting tools

Best for: Organisations wanting bureau comparison support


80. Premiere Speakers Bureau — Tennessee, USA


Premiere Speakers Bureau positions itself as employee-owned with over 40,000 events booked. Their safety speakers category includes both dedicated safety presenters and adjacent speakers who address safety culture themes. They emphasise exceptional customer support throughout the booking process.

Specialty: Enterprise-scale speaker booking

Best for: Large organisations, Fortune 500 events


81. Saxton Speakers — Australia/New Zealand


Saxton positions itself as Australasia's leading speakers bureau with over 50 years of experience. Their workplace health and safety category includes Australian speakers with strong local market knowledge and understanding of Australian regulatory environments.

Website: saxton.com.au

Specialty: Australian and New Zealand safety speakers

Best for: Australian organisations wanting local expertise


82. A-Speakers — International


A-Speakers operates as an international speakers bureau with headquarters in Denmark and global reach. Their health and safety category includes speakers from multiple countries, useful for organisations booking events across different regions.

Website: a-speakers.com

Specialty: International speaker booking

Best for: Global organisations, European events


83. Top Safety Speakers — USA


Top Safety Speakers operates as a specialist safety-focused talent agency led by Mary Ann Chartrand. Unlike general bureaus, they focus exclusively on safety speakers and claim deep familiarity with each presenter through attending conferences and knowing speakers personally. They emphasise that there's no charge for their matching services.

Specialty: Safety-only speaker matching

Best for: Organisations wanting specialist safety curation


84. CNB Safe Speakers — Australia


CNB Safe Speakers (C&B Safe Pty Ltd) operates a roster of injured workers and family members affected by workplace fatalities. Based in Victoria, they emphasise that their speakers are not safety professionals but people with lived experience. They offer workplace visits, safety days, and conference presentations.

Website: cnbsafe.com.au

Specialty: Lived-experience safety storytelling

Best for: Australian organisations wanting authentic impact


85. Front Row Speakers — Ireland/UK/USA


Front Row Speakers operates across Ireland, UK, and USA with multi-region contact numbers. They represent health and safety speakers including James Gorry, providing booking support for European and North American events.

Specialty: European and international safety speakers

Best for: UK, Ireland, European events


86. Proud2bSafe — United Kingdom


Proud2bSafe (P2BS) operates as a UK safety speakers organisation founded by Jason Anker MBE. They provide a roster of speakers including Talk Shop for drama-based safety training, reaching construction and industrial audiences across the UK and Europe.

Specialty: UK safety speakers, drama-based training

Best for: UK construction, industrial sites


87. ICMI — Australia


ICMI operates as an Australian talent and speakers bureau with an occupational safety category. They represent numerous Australian safety speakers and provide matching services for events across Australia and New Zealand.

Website: icmi.com.au

Specialty: Australian OHS speakers

Best for: Australian corporate events


88. Platinum Speakers and Entertainers — Australia


Platinum Speakers and Entertainers maintains a workplace safety category alongside other speaking topics. They represent Australian speakers for safety events, conferences, and corporate functions.

Specialty: Australian safety and entertainment booking

Best for: Australian corporate events, safety days


Additional Notable Safety Speakers


These speakers round out the comprehensive directory, representing additional options across various specialties and regions.


89. Candace Carnahan — Canada


Candace Carnahan delivers motivational safety presentations across North American audiences. Her engaging approach helps organisations reach workers who may be resistant to traditional safety messaging, creating positive feedback and memorable experiences.

Website: Via K&M Productions

Specialty: Safety motivation, engagement

Best for: Canadian and North American events


90. Patrick Nelson — USA


Patrick Nelson provides safety and leadership presentations through SpeakInc. His approach addresses how leadership behaviour creates conditions for either safe or unsafe workplaces, helping executives understand their role in safety outcomes.

Website: Via SpeakInc

Specialty: Safety leadership, executive responsibility

Best for: Leadership development, executive teams


91. Steve Howe — USA


Steve Howe delivers workplace safety keynote presentations across industrial and manufacturing audiences. His straightforward approach addresses practical safety concerns workers face daily while building commitment to safe behaviour.

Website: Via bureau listings

Specialty: Industrial safety, manufacturing

Best for: Manufacturing, industrial operations


92. Rohan Sykes — Australia


Rohan Sykes provides workplace safety speaking across Australian organisations. His presentations address safety culture, leadership responsibility, and creating environments where workers take ownership of their own safety and the safety of others.

Website: Via Saxton Speakers

Specialty: Safety culture, leadership

Best for: Australian corporates, leadership programs


93. Anton Guinea — Australia


Anton Guinea addresses leadership and safety themes for Australian audiences. His presentations help organisations understand how leadership practices directly influence safety outcomes, with practical guidance for executives and managers.

Website: Via Saxton Speakers

Specialty: Leadership, safety outcomes

Best for: Executive teams, leadership development


94. Lana Cormie — Australia


Lana Cormie provides safety speaking focused on worker engagement and culture development. Her presentations address how organisations create environments where safety becomes embedded in operations rather than imposed from above.

Website: Via CNB Safe

Specialty: Worker engagement, safety culture

Best for: Australian industrial operations


95. James Wood — Australia


James Wood delivers safety presentations across Australian workplaces. His approach combines practical safety guidance with engaging delivery that keeps workers attentive and receptive to important safety messages.

Website: Via CNB Safe

Specialty: Workplace safety engagement

Best for: Australian sites, safety stand-downs


96. Michelle Rath — Australia


Michelle Rath provides safety speaking through Australian networks. Her presentations address practical safety concerns while building worker commitment to safe practices through engaging and relevant content.

Website: Via CNB Safe

Specialty: Safety engagement

Best for: Australian industrial sites


97. Rod Silvers — United Kingdom


Rod Silvers works with Talk Shop to deliver drama-based safety training through Proud2bSafe. His actor and facilitator skills help create immersive safety experiences that engage workers differently than traditional presentations.

Website: Via Proud2bSafe / Talk Shop

Specialty: Drama-based safety training

Best for: UK sites wanting experiential safety training


98. Lee Ellis — United Kingdom


Lee Ellis provides safety presentations through Proud2bSafe, reaching UK construction and industrial audiences. His personal story and engaging approach help workers understand why safety matters in practical, relatable terms.

Website: Via Proud2bSafe

Specialty: Safety motivation, worker engagement

Best for: UK construction, industrial operations


99. Captain Larry Brudnicki — USA


Captain Larry Brudnicki led the Coast Guard rescue featured in The Perfect Storm. His maritime safety and crisis response experience provides powerful lessons about emergency preparedness, teamwork under pressure, and the consequences of inadequate safety preparation.

Website: Via Eagles Talent

Specialty: Maritime safety, crisis leadership

Best for: Maritime, emergency services, leadership events


100. Anders Tegnell — Sweden


Dr Anders Tegnell served as Sweden's state epidemiologist and brings public health leadership perspective to safety discussions. His experience navigating pandemic response provides unique insights on risk communication, decision-making under uncertainty, and balancing competing safety priorities.

Website: Via A-Speakers

Specialty: Public health leadership, risk communication

Best for: Healthcare, government, risk management events


How to Book a Safety Motivational Speaker


Understanding the talent booking process helps you secure the perfect speaker for your next safety event. Here's what to expect when working with safety speakers and the bureaus that represent them. To book Jonno White directly for a keynote, workshop, or MC engagement, simply email jonno@consultclarity.org.


Direct Booking vs Bureau Booking


Many safety speakers work both directly and through bureaus. Direct booking often provides better customisation and relationship development, while bureaus offer comparison, logistics support, and contracting expertise. For your first safety speaker event, bureaus can help you navigate options. For ongoing relationships, direct booking often works better. Jonno White works directly with clients rather than through bureaus, allowing for greater flexibility and customisation.


Understanding Fee Structures


Safety speaker fees typically range from $3,000 for emerging speakers to $50,000+ for celebrity-tier names. Most established safety motivational speakers fall in the $10,000 to $20,000 range. Fees usually exclude travel, accommodation, and sometimes production requirements. Always clarify what's included before committing.


Virtual Events Options


Most safety speakers now offer virtual events capability, sometimes at lower fees than in-person presentations. Virtual delivery works well for safety awareness and motivation but may have less impact for culture change initiatives. Consider hybrid approaches where appropriate, with live presentations for key sites and virtual delivery for distributed teams.


Looking for an MC for Your Safety Conference?


Beyond keynotes and workshops, many safety events need a skilled MC to keep proceedings running smoothly and audiences engaged. With over 230 podcast episodes interviewing top leaders including guest speaker Guy Kawasaki, Jonno White brings extensive experience asking impactful questions and maintaining energy throughout events. Book Jonno White as MC for your safety conference by emailing jonno@consultclarity.org.


Making the Right Choice for Your Organisation


Selecting a safety motivational speaker involves balancing emotional impact with practical relevance, budget constraints with quality expectations, and immediate engagement with lasting behaviour change. The best motivational speakers create lasting impact by connecting their powerful message to your specific workplace hazards and safety concerns.


This directory provides the most comprehensive resource available for finding workplace safety speakers globally. But here's what I've learned working with organisations across schools, corporates, and nonprofits globally: safety culture runs deeper than hazard awareness.


The organisations with the strongest safety cultures are the ones where people genuinely understand and look out for each other. They're the ones where supervisors have the skills to address unsafe behaviour directly rather than avoiding difficult conversations. They're the ones where teams understand how each person thinks and works differently, creating empathy that translates into watching out for colleagues.


This is why Jonno White delivers Working Genius sessions, leadership workshops, and keynotes at safety events. These sessions give your teams practical frameworks for understanding themselves and each other. When people understand how their colleagues process information, handle stress, and contribute to problem-solving, they develop genuine empathy. That empathy makes them far more likely to speak up about safety concerns, check in with teammates who seem off, and intervene before incidents occur.


Jonno White's bestselling book Step Up or Step Out has helped over 10,000 leaders globally have difficult conversations that produce real change. In safety contexts, this means supervisors who actually address unsafe behaviour rather than looking the other way. It means teams where people hold each other accountable with respect. These communication skills are foundational to a positive safety culture, and Jonno White's sessions ranked among the top psychological safety speakers at the ASBA 2025 National Conference with a 93.75% satisfaction rating.


Ready to book Jonno White for a keynote or workshop that strengthens your safety culture from the inside out? Jonno White works with organisations across Australia and internationally, and many clients are surprised to find that flying him in from Brisbane is more affordable than they expected. National and international travel is a normal part of his work.


Email jonno@consultclarity.org to book Jonno White for your next safety event, whether you need a Working Genius session, a leadership workshop on difficult conversations, a keynote on building teams that look out for each other, or MC services for your conference.

— Jonno White


Certified Working Genius Facilitator | Keynote Speaker | Workshop Facilitator | MC | Author

 
 
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