World Mental Health Day occurs on 10 October each year. This day reminds people globally that mental wellbeing matters as much as physical health. This is especially true for workplaces because people spend a large portion of their lives there.
For today’s organisations, mental health is no longer a nice-to-have or a once-a-year conversation. It’s a genuine driver of engagement, performance, retention and culture. Teams that feel supported show up differently. Leaders who understand psychological safety build workplaces where people can do their best work. And the businesses getting it right know that looking after your people isn’t just the responsible thing to do – it’s the smart thing to do.
That’s where a powerful, expert voice can make all the difference. Booking a mental health speaker for World Mental Health Day is one of the most meaningful ways to open up the conversation, equip your leaders and give your teams practical tools they’ll carry well beyond 10 October. And while 10 October is the perfect prompt, every speaker below is just as suited to R U OK? Day, Mental Health Month, a leadership offsite, a conference or any moment you want to put your people’s wellbeing front and centre. We’d love to introduce you to some of the very best.
Australia’s Leading Mental Health Speakers for the Workplace
1. Chelsea Pottenger
As the Founder and Managing Director of EQ Minds, Chelsea Pottenger is an authority on corporate wellbeing in Australia. A psychology postgraduate, accredited mindfulness and meditation coach, author of The Mindful High Performer and an ambassador for R U OK?, Chelsea combines science with her personal story of recovery from postnatal depression. She has worked with brands including Google, Optus, CBA and Macquarie, helping teams protect their mental health while performing at their best. Warm, credible and practical, Chelsea works with organisations to improve their wellbeing programs. Read more about Chelsea here.
2. Gus Worland
Much-loved television and radio personality Gus Worland is working to build the mental fitness of all Australians. Following the loss of a close friend and mentor, and the success of his ABC series Man Up, Gus founded the mental fitness foundation Gotcha4Life in 2017. He promotes “Meaningful Mateship” by encouraging everyone to have a go-to person they can rely on when times are tough, so no one has to worry alone. Down-to-earth, funny and honest, Gus gets people to open up, making him a choice for workplaces looking to reduce stigma and start conversations. Read more about Gus here.
3. Emma Murray
Emma Murray is a high-performance mindset and mental fitness specialist who has spent years helping elite athletes and corporate leaders perform under pressure without sacrificing their wellbeing. Drawing on performance psychology and mindfulness, Emma gives teams the practical mental skills to manage stress, stay focused and build resilience in demanding environments. Her approach translates the tools of high-performance sport into the everyday realities of the modern workplace, making her a powerful voice for any organisation navigating change, pressure or growth. Read more about Emma here.
4. Dr Amy Silver
Psychologist, author and speaker Dr Amy Silver is an expert on the emotions that shape how we work and lead. In her book The Loudest Guest, she explores how we can change our relationship with fear. In her presentations, she shows teams and leaders how to manage difficult emotions, speak up with courage and build the psychological safety that lets people thrive. Insightful and evidence-based, Amy works with organisations wanting to move beyond awareness and give their people genuine, usable strategies. Read more about Amy here.
5. Tom Cronin
After nearly three decades in the high-pressure world of finance, Tom Cronin left to teach people how to slow down. Founder of The Stillness Project and creator of the documentary The Portal, Tom speaks on stress, burnout and the power of stillness. He gives teams simple, science-backed tools to quiet the noise, reduce overwhelm and build calm and clarity into their working lives. This message is relevant for any organisation managing the pace of modern work. Read more about Tom here.
6. Gilbert Enoka
Gilbert Enoka is New Zealand’s leading mental skills coach, best known for his 23 years with the All Blacks – first as their mental skills coach and then as Manager, Leadership – across more than 300 Tests and back-to-back Rugby World Cups. For over three decades he has applied the same principles far beyond sport, coaching CEOs, business leaders and organisations on building mental fitness, resilience and high-performing team cultures. Author of Become Unstoppable, Gilbert gives teams practical, tried-and-tested strategies for managing pressure and performing when it counts, making him an outstanding choice for workplaces focused on culture, leadership and mental strength. Read more about Gilbert here.
7. Ciara Lancaster
Ciara Lancaster is Australia’s leading authority on change fatigue and resilience. A change management and modern psychology postgraduate and former Deloitte Australia change leader, Ciara draws on real-world experience guiding teams of 500-plus through major transformation. Now the award-winning, best-selling author of Reimagine Change, she helps organisations turn change exhaustion into clarity, energy and momentum. With practical, psychology-backed tools for building resilience and psychological safety, Ciara is an ideal voice for any workplace navigating constant change, pressure or uncertainty. Read more about Ciara here.
8. Mark Visser
Australian big-wave surfer Mark Visser made history surfing the giant waves of Jaws in Maui in total darkness – a world-first known as “Night Rider”. Beyond the ocean, Mark has spent more than a decade as a mindset coach to elite performers, from AFL premiership teams to the Australian SAS, teaching people how to manage fear, stress and pressure. Founder of The Ocean Warrior, he gives teams practical tools to stay calm, focused and clear when the stakes are high. Mark is a powerful, memorable choice for workplaces wanting to build resilience and perform under pressure. Read more about Mark here.
9. Kim Keedle
Kim Keedle is an Australian high-performance coach and physiotherapist who has spent over eight years at the pinnacle of Formula 1 – working as the personal physio and performance coach to drivers including Oscar Piastri, and alongside teams such as McLaren, Haas and Alpine. Kim doesn’t just train bodies; he builds mental and physical resilience. Drawing on life in one of the world’s most high-pressure environments, he helps teams develop the clarity, composure and emotional strength to perform when it matters most – and to build cultures where people embrace pressure rather than crumble under it. Read more about Kim here.
10. Kath Koschel
Kath Koschel is the founder of the Kindness Factory and the 2025 NSW Australian of the Year. A former professional cricketer, Kath broke her back and taught herself to walk again – not once but twice – navigating profound personal loss along the way. Rather than let adversity define her, she founded a global movement that has now logged millions of acts of kindness. With raw honesty and warmth, Kath shares a powerful, evidence-based approach to mental fitness, resilience and building workplaces where belonging, psychological safety and kindness help people thrive. Read more about Kath here.
Start the Conversation This World Mental Health Day
Mental health is a year-round priority, but World Mental Health Day is the perfect moment to show your people that their wellbeing genuinely matters. Whether you’re looking to equip your leaders, support your teams or simply open up an honest conversation, the right speaker can leave a lasting impression that ripples through your whole organisation.
Browse our full range of mental health and wellbeing speakers, or get in touch with us for a curated list tailored to your event. Our team is ready to help you find the perfect voice to bring mental health into your workplace — for World Mental Health Day on 10 October, or any event where your people’s wellbeing matters.