We have a quarterly "all hands" session with the workforce (450+) in which we update on all things business ... of which EHS is always first (... of course!). We're looking to use this scheduled slot to host a 30 -60 minute session on a safety related theme which would have a real impact on the workforce. A couple of years ago we had Ken Woodward on site and this had a huge impact on safe working/ thinking. We're looking at doing something similar, but really pushing the message on 'collective commitment' and a 'brothers keeper' mindset. We have a very engaged, positive workforce so a motivational, inspiring speaker would be best. Can anyone help in suggesting speakers they have used to address the workforce, similar to what we're striving to achieve? Appreciate your views/ feedback. Thanks!

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GDP After reading your thread title, I can't resist suggesting that a boxer would be really impactful!!! Now for a sensible observation: You mention that your organisation has "a very engaged, positive workforce". This suggests that it has people in various roles and capacities who have worked effectively together and over time to develop this positive culture. By contrast, having inspirational/influential visiting speakers from time to time may have helped to reinforce this culture but probably won't have generated it.

GDP - My apologies if my earlier observation came over as a bit vague, probably because I typed it in something of a hurry before going out. It was intended partly as a compliment about your organisation's OS&H culture and also a suggestion that you and/or your colleagues past & present may well deserve credit for your contributions to the culture. Anyhow, your response to my observation may help forum users when thinking of speakers to suggest to you. As you say, though speakers with 'shock & awe' type messages can be effective, it's best not to use them too often. On a general note about good external speakers, they can be very useful in different respects. These include the fact that because they tend not to be known to their audiences, their audiences will tend to pay more attention to them. Also, they can have the capacity to put over familiar messages in fresh and novel ways. In addition, as outsiders they can get away with saying things which might not be appropriate if said by an insider. As an example, back in the early 1990s for senior management training sessions within a local authority my boss at the time sometimes arranged to include an external speaker who was an experienced barrister and part-time lecturer. His experiences and speaking skills equipped him to talk authoritively about various matters in an engaging and novel manner. Furthermore, during open discussions he could make comments to individual senior managers with far more impact (alias impactfulness) than if my boss or anyone else in our team had dared to make them. All the best in your quest. Though I can't readily suggest anyone to speak on an OS&H-related theme, the fact that 'healthcare' appears among your details prompts me to mention Sir Gerry Robinson as a possible general speaker. I was impressed by his analyses of various organisations including Rotherham General Hospital and care homes for elderly people when they were the focus of TV documentaries in recent years. In addition to identifying problems and suggesting practical solutions for them, he recognised and highlighted positive aspects of organisations including good practices and teamwork. If these already exist to a greater or lesser extent within your organisation, it would be good for an outsider to identify and confirm some of them to people of all levels and roles within the organisation.

GDP, use a search engine to look up Jason Anker. He is a very good speaker and goes into the full detail about how he ended up in a wheelchair and the impact it had on his and his family's lives after he did something he knew he should not have been doing. You probably won't get him for about a year as he is extremely busy, but could be worth looking at for next year! He also has a 30 minute video which is also good, it kept 20 construction workers quiet and made them all think when I saw someone else use the video earlier this year. Good luck Clive