Keynotes & speaking
A speaker who changes how rooms think about their performance.
Dr Ben Robbins brings mental performance tools from elite AFL into conference rooms, boardrooms, depot floors, school sports halls and corporate townhalls — in a way that sticks. Consistently rated 9+ out of 10. Even by the sceptics.
1,000+
participants at single Smiling Mind events
9+/10
consistent audience rating
Corp · Schools · Industry
audiences across every sector
Has spoken for
What Ben brings to a room
Credibility, clarity and something people actually remember.
Corporate audiences have sat through a lot of wellbeing presentations. Most are forgotten by Monday. Ben's sessions are consistently recalled months later — because they don't just tell people what mental fitness is. They give people the tools to build it, in language that feels real.
As a former AFL footballer who played nine seasons across Brisbane Lions and North Melbourne, Ben has credibility with performance-focused audiences that most psychologists can't match. As a psychologist with a PhD, he has the depth and rigour that separates a speaking engagement from a motivational talk. And as someone who spent a decade inside the logistics industry at Toll Group, he can read a blue-collar room instantly.
The result is a speaker who can stand in front of 1,000 people at a Smiling Mind event, a room of John Holland construction executives, a company-wide R U OK? Day townhall, or a school sports squad — and leave every audience engaged and equipped.
1,000+
participants at single Smiling Mind conferences
9.1–9.4
/ 10 average programme rating
10+ years
speaking at AFL, industry and corporate events
74
LinkedIn reactions on a single AGL corporate session post
Speaking Topics
Six topics. Each one tailored to your audience.
Every session is built around your event, your audience and your objectives. The topics below are starting points — content, language and depth always adapted to fit the room.
Mental fitness for high-performance environments
The flagship keynote. What elite sport teaches us about focus, resilience and performing under pressure — and how those tools apply to corporate teams, frontline workforces and anyone whose job demands sustained performance.
Mindfulness that actually sticks — upgrade the hardware of your brain
A practical, evidence-based session on mindfulness — what it actually is, why it matters for performance, and how to build it as a daily skill. No incense. No retreats. Popular for R U OK? Day events and corporate townhalls.
Stress, anxiety and resilience — managing pressure without burning out
Understanding the brain under stress, the difference between pressure and threat, and the practical tools to manage reactivity, improve recovery and build sustainable resilience.
Leadership under pressure — the psychology of leading when it's hard
How leaders think, communicate and make decisions under sustained pressure — and how to build psychological habits that separate reactive leadership from clear, consistent, trust-building leadership.
The athlete mindset — mental performance for young people
A session built for young athletes, students and school groups. What elite sport demands from the mind, and the mental skills that transfer from sport to school to life.
Psychological safety at work — the science behind high-performing teams
What psychological safety actually means, why it's the foundation of team performance, and the practical steps leaders and teams can take to build it.
Speaking formats
Every format is tailored. Content, depth and delivery adapt to your audience size, event type and objectives.
From a 45-minute keynote to a half-day workshop.
45–60 minutes
Conference keynote
A full keynote for conferences, summits and large-format events. Engaging, evidence-based and paced for an audience from minute one. Includes Q&A time.
Ideal for: industry conferences, leadership summits, annual events
60–90 minutes
Cooperate session/townhall
An all-staff or leadership session on-site or online. Interactive format with practical tools built in. Well-suited to R U OK? Day, Mental Health Month and leadership days.
Ideal for: corporate townhalls, leadership days, wellbeing events
90–180minutes
Interactive workshop
A deeper-format workshop with hands-on exercises, group discussion and practical skills practice. Participants leave with tools they've already applied.
Ideal for: team away days, leadership forums, safety days
30–45 minutes
Toolbox/ safety talk
Focused, practical session for blue-collar and frontline teams. Fits into existing toolbox meeting formats. Direct, relatable, no-nonsense.
Ideal for: safety days, toolbox meetings, site briefings
Who Ben Speaks To
Every audience. Every sector. Consistent results.
Corporate organisations
All-staff sessions, leadership forums, wellbeing days and conference keynotes for white-collar audiences.
AGL · Honan Insurance · Pepper Money
Blue-collar & industry events
Keynotes and workshops for frontline industry audiences, safety days and industry association events.
WHS Show · Healthy Heads in T&S · Coles · Linfox
Schools & student programs
Mental performance and mindfulness sessions for school sports squads, student leadership groups and educational programs.
Scotch College Perth · Smiling Mind school programs
Large-scale public events
As a Smiling Mind Program Facilitator for nearly seven years, Ben has delivered to audiences exceeding 1,000 participants.
Smiling Mind events · 1,000+ participants
Partnership & co-branded programs
Speaking as part of club or organisation partnership programs — like Mind.Body.Saints with John Holland.
John Holland · St Kilda FC Mind.Body.Saints
AFL & sporting organisations
Mental performance sessions, culture days and leadership forums for sporting clubs, academies and organisations.
AFL clubs · Sporting academies · Athlete programs
What Audiences Say
From a 1,000-person conference to a school sports squad.
The standout for me was Dr Ben Robbins, who shared how mental fitness strategies used by AFL elites are equally applicable in high-risk environments. His key message: the traits that drive elite performance — presence, resilience and composure under pressure — are just as relevant on the job site as they are on the field.
Jeremy Gordon / HR, People & Brand Strategy — Workplace Health & Safety Show, MCEC
Thank you so much, this was one of the best I have listened to. Very informative.
Broker feedback / Pepper Money — Mindfulness 101 session with St Kilda FC
Dr Robbins provided some key insights into how we can manage stress using some simple exercises. Thank you for sharing how we can all train our minds to stay fit and focused for any challenge that comes our way.
AGL — corporate mental fitness session / 128,000+ LinkedIn followers · 74 post reactions
I would like to thank Dr Ben Robbins for his captivating presentation on mental health and mindfulness. Our students left with a renewed curiosity and a desire to learn more. Mental health is equally important as physical health.
Kristian Leeson — Assistant Head of Sport / Scotch College Perth · 77 LinkedIn reactions
Leading psychologist and Head of Mental Health & Wellbeing at St Kilda FC, Dr Ben Robbins recently joined a Honan company-wide Townhall to present a mental fitness workshop, sharing powerful insights about mindset, stress, and anxiety.
Honan Insurance Group / R U OK? Day company-wide Townhall
It was wonderful to have all of our Corporate Partners come together and to hear from our keynote speaker Dr Ben Robbins. Partners included Woolworths Group, Coles Group, Linfox, Australia Post, Toll Group, bp and Boston Consulting Group.
Healthy Heads in Trucks & Sheds / Annual Corporate Partner Keynote
Book Ben to speak
Available nationally for conferences, events and corporate programs.
Melbourne-based. Available Australia-wide for in-person speaking. Online delivery available for virtual events.
1. Tell Ben about your event
Date, audience size, format, theme and what you want people to walk away with. The more context, the better the session.
2. Ben confirms availability and proposes a topic
Based on your event and audience, Ben recommends the most appropriate topic and format. All content is tailored.
3. Pre-event brief
A short call to understand the audience and how the session fits within your broader event. Ben arrives prepared.
4.Delivery — and a room that leaves changed
Consistently rated 9+ out of 10. Sceptics converted. Practical tools in hand. Something people remember on Monday morning.
Please include your event date, expected audience size, preferred format and any specific themes. Ben responds to all enquiries personally and usually within one business day. For conference bookings, early enquiry is recommended — availability fills quickly.