An experienced and engaging keynote speaker, Helen delivers her inspiring presentations across Australia and the globe. She also speaks direct to thousands of workers across all industry sectors through site visits, safety roadshows and tool box meetings.
SAFETY ADVOCATE
Helen’s work campaigning for greater mine safety and the fight for better support led to the creation of Miners’ Promise, a not-for-profit member based organisation helping members and their families affected by a crisis event.
AUTHOR
Her first book, “Just A Number” is a frank, honest and personal account of Helen’s experience of losing her husband, Steve, in a workplace accident. Tony Newport of Newport Wildman & Assoc hailed it as, “a well-written and powerful story that speaks to all of us.”
ABOUT HELEN
Helen’s passion for workplace safety commenced following the death of her husband, Steve, in an underground mining accident in Norseman, WA in 1991. The accident left Helen a widow in her early thirties with three young children to raise.
At the time of Steve’s death, mining fatalities were largely ‘normalised’ by companies and government regulators. The deaths were considered an inherent risk of the industry, with virtually no support offered to families to enable them to move forward with their lives.
RECOGNITION
Since writing Just A Number, Helen has been travelling extensively across Australia as well as overseas campaigning for improved safety and better support for bereaved families. She also delivers safety focused presentations to companies across all industry sectors highlighting the importance of both parties’ commitment to safety at work.
Helen Fitzroy’s commitment and passion culminated in the establishment of Miners’ Promise in 2010. Miners’ Promise is a not-for-profit organisation established to provide emotional and practical support to members and their families following a crisis event such as a death, illness or serious accident. For more information about Miners’ Promise visit their website here.
Helen was honoured to become a National Finalist in Australia’s Local Hero Awards in 2012 for her efforts as a safety advocate. She continues to speak prolifically to corporations and workers across all industry sectors, and provides ongoing grief counselling to families coping with the loss of a loved one.
In 2023, Helen was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for services to mining in Australia.
ORDER HELEN'S BOOK, 'JUST A NUMBER'
Just a Number outlines the 5 year journey Helen and her children went on following the workplace accident that killed her husband.
TESTIMONIALS
“You single-handedly had the biggest impact on my way of thinking about safety than anything before or since. You make a difference in this World!”
It was a privilege to have you present to the team. Your sessions have had far more impact than any of my conversations – Thank you.
“Awesome just awesome! What a presentation! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Crew 1 SGM.”
“I really recommend Helen’s presentation to each and every one of you. It is powerful, it is meaningful and it is exactly the message that we are all trying to drive home across our sites.”
MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS
Helen Fitzroy was amongst the Honor Roll for Australian of the Year in 2012 after being named WA Local Hero.
Helen Fitzroy is a strong advocate for continuous improvements in mine safety often advocating on behalf of members of bereaved families.
Helen Fitzroy’s understands the impact of fatalities on families, co-workers and communities and has dedicated her life to communicating those messages to people across all industry sectors.