Kevin Humphreys DSC
Award Winning Mental Health, Leadership and Communication Speaker, Army & Rescue Pilot
Kevin Humphreys is an internationally recognised keynote speaker and Mental Health Ambassador who brings rare operational credibility and lived experience to help leaders balance safety, culture and performance. Practical, powerful and deeply human, his message equips individuals and teams to lead with intention, build resilience, and deliver excellence when it matters most.
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Kevin Humphreys DSC partners with safety managers and executives juggling compliance, culture, and people who are looking for practical tools grounded in operational experience. He knows they want to show up with purpose, lead with impact, and deliver excellence.
Kevin lives and breathes high stakes performance; serving in the Australian Army for two decades piloting Black Hawk and Chinook helicopters whilst leading small and large teams, he also earned the Distinguished Service Cross for his command and leadership under fire in Afghanistan.
He’s also experienced the opposite of excellence. A toxic work environment mixed with mental illness that led to suicidal ideation and a breakdown. However, Kevin not only returned to flying but went on to serve as a civilian Search and Rescue pilot, Chief Pilot and Director for another decade, continuing his dedication to others in high-stakes environments. His experiences and insights are powerfully shared in his book, Shrapnel in the Soul.
Kevin is the Mental Health Ambassador for AIRBUS Australia Pacific, and an internationally recognised keynote speaker, coach and mentor. Kevin’s work empowers people to lean into fear, compassion, and self-leadership across both professional and personal realms.
As a Certified Speaking Professional, Local Community Citizen of the Year and Next Level Speaking Award recipient, his message is equal parts inspiration and action plan. Kevin resonates at all levels, helping individuals and teams lead with intention, to ensure clarity, productivity and safety whilst they fly for excellence.
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Shrapnel In The Soul
Experience the highs and lows of Kevin’s life as though you were there with him, then share the lessons of his journey. Kevin relays his experience of moving from fear to fearless and how his courageous journey to freedom is one we can take together. It’s recognisingyourself as a worthy and noble goal, then taking actions to achieve it, despite the presence of fear.
Kevin discusses how it wasn’t the warzone that tore him apart –it was the workplace. Research shows how a toxic workplace is just as debilitating as exposure to trauma, whilst being in a positive workplace is like receiving a mental health inoculation. Which will you contribute to and how will you know?
Walk away transformed, with tips and tools for immediate implementation. You’ll be ready to take action in your own life and to inspire the lives of others.
Key Takeaways:
- Perfect for all leaders in high-risk, high-reliability industries
- Realise the true impact of perceived failure and shame from past experiences
- Learn the impact of poor workplace culture and the benefits of good culture
- Learn how to engage in self-compassion that’s easier than playing with Lego
- Confirm your greatest and noblecause (spoiler alert –it’s you)
Keeping Wings Level and Getting Stuff Done
In flying, if there’s a mishap of some kind, you’re trained to immediately regain wings level flight. ‘Wings Level’ represents the foundation of normal, controlled flight.
Fly with Kevin as he gives you a brief glimpse into his world when his wings weren’t level and learn what to implement personally and organizationally to build resilience –so you can keep wings level and get stuff done!
Explore the power of perspective and the debilitating effects of fatigue and burnout along with what to do about them. He delves into the illusion of what we think we can control in our lives and how much better our lives become when we seek to control only four things –get this right and your whole life will transform overnight.
As always, you’ll not only walk away with tips and tools for immediate implementation but the desire to make it happen for you and others.
Key Takeaways:
- Perfect for everyone from the most senior executive to the junior trainee in high-risk, high-reliability industries
- Tools to help you identify when your wings aren’t level
- Practical tips to regain and maintain wings level
- Learn the only four things you can control and why when you master them, you’ll have a better life than ever before
- Take a step back to see the bigger picture and realise we rarely see things for what they truly are
Above The Noise – Navigating Crisis with Powerful Communication
Strap in for some gasps and laughs. With decades of operational experience, Kevin brings high-stakes leadership lessons to life. From leading missions under fire to saving lives, surviving a mid-air collision with a boat, communicating with neurodivergent people, and even a heart wrenching fishing incident where he thought he’d killed his father, Kevin’s stories are as dramatic as they are insightful.
When crisis hits, noise takes over. Misinformation, emotion, and confusion flood the space; often faster than facts can catch up. In high-pressure moments, leaders don’t just need to respond, they need to cut through the chaos and communicate with clarity, purpose, and authority. This presentation dives into the anatomy of crisis communication and why your message matters just as much as your actions.
More than just crisis management, this is about leadership in motion. You’ll learn how to stay grounded, build trust, and be the voice people look to when everything else is uncertain. Whether you’re managing a serious incident, operational disruption, or reputational threat, this session helps you lead teams that rise above the noise and leave a lasting impression for all the right reasons.
Key Takeaways:
- Perfect for everyone from the most senior executive to the junior trainee in high-risk, high-reliability industries
- Tools to open conversations directly and indirectly
- The importance of building standardised communication methods when it’s important but not urgent
- How culture and trust beat standardised communication methods
