PSA NZ Keynote Speaker of the Year & Author of Be Kind to Your Mind

Julia Grace is one of New Zealand's most in-demand mental health speakers — PSA NZ Keynote Speaker of the Year 2025, author of Be Kind to Your Mind and an award-winning educator who blends neuroscience, lived experience and original music into keynotes that audiences remember long after they leave.

Who is Julia Grace?

Julia Grace is a New Zealand keynote speaker, author, educator, mental health advocate and Tui Award-winning recording artist. After being diagnosed with depression and anxiety she began openly sharing her story alongside the science she learned along the way. Over the past three years she has delivered more than 350 sessions across Aotearoa, Australia, Singapore, India, Indonesia, Fiji and the UK. Her signature keynote, Be Kind to Your Mind®, has been adapted into Working Well™ for corporate audiences and a version for educators. She is the author of Be Kind to Your Mind, creator of the Grab-able Words framework, qualified Mental Health First Aid instructor, and past President of the Professional Speakers Association of NZ.

Career Highlights

• PSA NZ Keynote Speaker of the Year (2025)

• Educator of the Year, Professional Speakers Association NZ (2022/23)

• VSA International Breakthrough Speaker of the Year (2024)

• Tui NZ Music Award — Gospel/Christian Album of the Year

• Author of Be Kind to Your Mind (foreword by Petra Bagust)

• 350+ presentations across 7 countries on 5 continents

• Past President of the Professional Speakers Association of NZ

• Qualified Mental Health First Aid instructor

Key Speaking Themes

• Mental health, resilience and "Be Kind to Your Mind"

• Workplace wellbeing and the Working Well framework

• Recognising stress before it becomes burnout

• Grab-able Words and language for hard conversations

• One Degree of Change — small habits that stick

What Your Audience Will Gain

Julia is warm, funny, deeply credible and genuinely original — closing every session with a live musical finale that stops the room. Audiences leave with new language for mental health, practical tools they can use the next day, and a clearer sense of how to look after themselves and the people around them.

Ideal For

• Workplace wellbeing days and conferences

• Education and principals' conferences

• Leadership and HR events

• Women's networks and women in business events

• Schools, tertiary and church communities

Frequently Asked Questions about Julia Grace

What does Julia Grace speak about? Mental health, workplace wellbeing, resilience, burnout, behaviour change and recognising stress signals before they escalate.

Where is Julia Grace based? Julia is based in Northland, New Zealand and travels nationally and internationally for engagements.

What is Julia Grace best known for? Her Be Kind to Your Mind keynote and book, and being named PSA NZ Keynote Speaker of the Year 2025.

Does Julia Grace really sing as part of her keynote? Yes. Her signature live musical finale is a Tui Award-winning element of every Be Kind to Your Mind session.

Can Julia deliver workshops as well as keynotes? Yes. Sessions range from 45-minute keynotes through to 90-minute workshops and full-day programmes.

Is Julia Grace available for international events? Yes. Julia has presented in Singapore, India, Indonesia, Australia, Fiji, the UK and across NZ, and is available globally.