Australian Speakers

Helen Fitzroy

Workplace safety advocate, grief counsellor and speaker transforming tragedy into purpose and change

Overview

Helen Fitzroy is a respected workplace safety advocate, grief counsellor and author whose life-changing personal experience has inspired decades of work supporting families and promoting safer workplaces. Following the tragic loss of her husband in a mining accident, Helen dedicated herself to improving workplace safety standards while helping grieving families navigate the emotional and practical challenges that follow crisis and loss. Her powerful story, compassionate leadership and unwavering commitment to change continue to impact organisations and communities across Australia.

Who is Helen Fitzroy? Helen’s journey as a safety advocate began in 1991 when her husband Steve was tragically killed in an underground mining accident in Norseman, Western Australia, leaving her to raise their three young children alone. In the years that followed, Helen experienced firsthand the emotional, legal and bureaucratic difficulties many families face after workplace fatalities. Writing became an important outlet for healing, eventually leading to the publication of her book Just a Number, which shares her family’s deeply personal story and the realities of grief after workplace tragedy. Since then, Helen has travelled extensively speaking to organisations about safety, leadership and human impact, while also supporting bereaved families as a qualified grief counsellor. In 2010, she founded Miners’ Promise, a not-for-profit organisation providing emotional and practical support to mining families experiencing crisis, illness or loss.

Career Highlights • Founder of Miners’ Promise, supporting mining families through crisis and loss • Author of Just a Number • Qualified grief counsellor and family support advisor • Longstanding workplace safety advocate across Australia • Speaker to organisations across mining, construction and industrial sectors • Former Director and Chairperson of the Miners’ Promise Board • Named WA Local Hero of the Year • National Finalist in Australia’s Local Hero Awards

Key Speaking Themes • Workplace safety and human impact • Grief, resilience and recovery after loss • Leadership responsibility and duty of care • Supporting families through crisis and tragedy • Mental health and emotional wellbeing • Building safer and more compassionate workplace cultures

What Your Audience Will Gain

Helen delivers powerful, deeply personal presentations that remind audiences of the real human impact behind workplace safety decisions. Audiences leave with a renewed commitment to safety, stronger awareness of the importance of care and communication, and a deeper understanding of resilience through adversity. Her authentic storytelling creates emotional connection while inspiring meaningful cultural change within organisations.

Ideal For • Workplace safety and mining conferences • Industrial and construction industry events • Leadership and culture programmes • Mental health and wellbeing forums • Community and support organisations • Corporate responsibility and duty-of-care events

Frequently Asked Questions...

What does Helen Fitzroy speak about? Helen speaks about workplace safety, grief, resilience, leadership responsibility, mental health and supporting families through crisis and loss.

Why did Helen Fitzroy become a workplace safety advocate? Helen became a safety advocate after losing her husband Steve in a mining accident in 1991, which inspired her to improve workplace safety and support for bereaved families.

What is Just a Number about? Just a Number tells the story of Helen’s family and the emotional and practical challenges they faced following her husband’s workplace death.

What is Miners’ Promise? Miners’ Promise is the not-for-profit organisation founded by Helen to support mining families experiencing crisis, illness, injury or bereavement.

Why is Helen Fitzroy a powerful keynote speaker? Helen’s lived experience, authenticity and compassionate approach create deeply impactful presentations that inspire organisations to prioritise safety and care.

Is Helen Fitzroy available for keynote presentations and workplace events? Yes. Helen Fitzroy is available for keynote speaking engagements, workplace safety events and wellbeing programmes across Australia.

AUSTRALIAN SPEAKERS

Helen Fitzroy

Workplace safety advocate, grief counsellor and speaker transforming tragedy into purpose and change

Overview

Helen Fitzroy is a respected workplace safety advocate, grief counsellor and author whose life-changing personal experience has inspired decades of work supporting families and promoting safer workplaces. Following the tragic loss of her husband in a mining accident, Helen dedicated herself to improving workplace safety standards while helping grieving families navigate the emotional and practical challenges that follow crisis and loss. Her powerful story, compassionate leadership and unwavering commitment to change continue to impact organisations and communities across Australia.

Who is Helen Fitzroy? Helen’s journey as a safety advocate began in 1991 when her husband Steve was tragically killed in an underground mining accident in Norseman, Western Australia, leaving her to raise their three young children alone. In the years that followed, Helen experienced firsthand the emotional, legal and bureaucratic difficulties many families face after workplace fatalities. Writing became an important outlet for healing, eventually leading to the publication of her book Just a Number, which shares her family’s deeply personal story and the realities of grief after workplace tragedy. Since then, Helen has travelled extensively speaking to organisations about safety, leadership and human impact, while also supporting bereaved families as a qualified grief counsellor. In 2010, she founded Miners’ Promise, a not-for-profit organisation providing emotional and practical support to mining families experiencing crisis, illness or loss.

Career Highlights • Founder of Miners’ Promise, supporting mining families through crisis and loss • Author of Just a Number • Qualified grief counsellor and family support advisor • Longstanding workplace safety advocate across Australia • Speaker to organisations across mining, construction and industrial sectors • Former Director and Chairperson of the Miners’ Promise Board • Named WA Local Hero of the Year • National Finalist in Australia’s Local Hero Awards

Key Speaking Themes • Workplace safety and human impact • Grief, resilience and recovery after loss • Leadership responsibility and duty of care • Supporting families through crisis and tragedy • Mental health and emotional wellbeing • Building safer and more compassionate workplace cultures

What Your Audience Will Gain

Helen delivers powerful, deeply personal presentations that remind audiences of the real human impact behind workplace safety decisions. Audiences leave with a renewed commitment to safety, stronger awareness of the importance of care and communication, and a deeper understanding of resilience through adversity. Her authentic storytelling creates emotional connection while inspiring meaningful cultural change within organisations.

Ideal For • Workplace safety and mining conferences • Industrial and construction industry events • Leadership and culture programmes • Mental health and wellbeing forums • Community and support organisations • Corporate responsibility and duty-of-care events

Frequently Asked Questions...

What does Helen Fitzroy speak about? Helen speaks about workplace safety, grief, resilience, leadership responsibility, mental health and supporting families through crisis and loss.

Why did Helen Fitzroy become a workplace safety advocate? Helen became a safety advocate after losing her husband Steve in a mining accident in 1991, which inspired her to improve workplace safety and support for bereaved families.

What is Just a Number about? Just a Number tells the story of Helen’s family and the emotional and practical challenges they faced following her husband’s workplace death.

What is Miners’ Promise? Miners’ Promise is the not-for-profit organisation founded by Helen to support mining families experiencing crisis, illness, injury or bereavement.

Why is Helen Fitzroy a powerful keynote speaker? Helen’s lived experience, authenticity and compassionate approach create deeply impactful presentations that inspire organisations to prioritise safety and care.

Is Helen Fitzroy available for keynote presentations and workplace events? Yes. Helen Fitzroy is available for keynote speaking engagements, workplace safety events and wellbeing programmes across Australia.