Shane Heal

Shane Heal is one of Australia’s most recognised personalities and sporting figures, a profile forged representing Australia at four Olympic Games and playing professionally for more than 20 years in Australia, Europe and the NBA. This included Captaining the Sydney Kings to their first ever title.

Following his retirement from playing, Shane earned a reputation as a successful entrepreneur and businessman, while also showcasing his leadership through coaching. He led the Sydney Kings to the playoffs and led the Wellington Saints to the New Zealand NBL title.

Shane’s high standard of excellence, hard work and passion saw him succeed in a sport often reserved for taller athletes, and his leadership, charisma and communications skills have translated off the court in business and coaching

At just 6 ft tall, Shane’s talent and determination to succeed helped him stand out in a sport usually dominated by much taller men.

More about Shane Heal

Shane’s experiences and ability to take his life lessons in sport and business and inspire, motivate and educate makes him a compelling speaker option for a wide range of businesses.

Resilience, mental toughness, dealing with change and staying focused are all covered from someone who has been through it all, both good and bad. And always delivered with humour, candour and total honesty.

Shane Heal is one of the most recognised sporting figures in the country, an athlete who went from the outskirts of Melbourne to the very highest peak of sport globally, representing Australia at 4 Olympic Games and breaking into the NBA. But behind the bright lights and successes as an athlete there were huge challenges to overcome, both mentally and physically.

A freak workplace accident took the life of Shane’s father – his mentor, best mate and coach – when Shane was just 13, leaving lifelong pain, and adding enormous challenges and obstacles to life. As a kid he was always told he was too short to make it in a sport dominated by those much taller than him, so he worked harder and studied the game more than anyone else. As a player in Australia he was told he’d never make the NBA and said ‘Why not’, eventually breaking through with true Aussie determination and never-say-die attitude.

These are attributes he took from playing and into business. Following his playing days, Shane started with a single Subway store and built a business empire. At its peak he was operating 30 fast food franchises and developing property, turning over $30m a year and employing 360 staff. His business was heavily hit by the GFC when they lost their biggest contract, the Group suffering financial ruin and Shane going into bankruptcy in 2011. From a stable business and family life to living in 8 houses in 7 years as Shane worked to build his way back, Shane credits keeping his family together and head-high through difficult times as some of his biggest achievements and proudest victories.

Shane’s life was to take an even darker road when he was then charged by ASIC for fraud, allegations he knew were baseless right from the start. What followed were years of trying to prove his innocence both within the legal system and in the court of public opinion as his name was dragged through the mud time and again by the media. Rather than become a recluse, Shane faced the allegations and his broader life head-on, with a mental toughness that was forged as a child and through his playing career but became crucial during his biggest challenge of all.

The allegations crippled his career and tarnished his reputation, but Shane persisted, knowing he was innocent and facing an unfair trial. Finally, after years of legal activity, the charges were dropped in May 2018 and Shane fully cleared. No apology for the stress on he and his family, nor the hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on defending himself, has been forthcoming.