Richard Field
Workplace Safety Speaker
Transforming Workplaces Through Awareness, Accountability and Action.
The lion inside…
In high-risk work environments, we are often focussed and alert in challenging situations. However the real danger – the hidden lion – is inside. Complacency, assumptions, distractions, fatigue and rushing are examples of how our internal attitudes make situations dangerous. As imperfect humans, these hidden dangers often sit just below our level of awareness. The challenge is to face these “lions” head on and raise our own internal awareness. Safety is ultimately an awareness game.
Empowering Workers to Stay Safe and Perform
Helping tradespeople and frontline workers stay safe, focused, and effective under pressure and uncertainty—especially in fast-paced, high-risk environments. Built from real-world experience and proven practices, we deliver practical mindsets, behaviors, and tools that turn everyday challenges into safe, high-performance outcomes.
No one is “safe”
In dynamic, high risk environments, the only “safe” assumption is to assume that you aren’t safe. Anyone who believes that something bad “won’t happen to them” is inviting unnecessary risk into their work environment. As a young safari guide Richard had made the same assumption – inexperience, ego and rushing were some of the factors that resulted in Richard making a bad decision and getting attacked by a lion. The repercussions were enormous, not just for him, but for the people that he loved the most. When assumptions replace awareness, and urgency overrides caution, the potential for danger increases. Recognizing these subtle threats is key to maintaining a safe and focused workplace.
About
Richard Field
WHS Speaker
Richard is a renowned and memorable keynote speaker, with a specialty for workplace health and safety.
Richard Field never planned on being a WHS speaker. He was, is and always will be an African safari guide. Then at 25 he was attacked by a lion in the wilds of northern Botswana. She knocked him to the ground and eventually bit down hard and deep on the back of his head. It was then that his life dissolved…
Richard’s story is compelling. Invariably you can hear a pin drop in an audience of any size. Richard’s decision to eventually and begrudgingly take personal responsibility for the accident provided him with an epiphany. It’s not the lion that was dangerous, it was his compromised decision making – something that is within his control. This allowed him to go back and work as a safari guide, but where he was more conscious of his decision making.
From the story Richard takes each audience member on a simulated 12 kilometer walk through a wilderness teeming with dangerous animals. It is here that he is able to show people that in his line of work, the difference between life and death isn’t the elephant or the Cape buffalo or the lioness – it is what is happening inside. Complacency and assumptions of safety, fatigue, distractions and rushing are the things that could ultimately lead to the compromised decision making which is the main contributor to dangerous moments.
Richard wraps up by talking about how culture influences the decision making of individuals, but that individuals can also influence the culture of the work place through their own example and demonstration.
Richard’s technique of keeping the stories and analogies focused on Africa’s wild places draws in each audience member and they will find their own understanding that whilst safety is also a shared responsibility, they need to take responsibility for their own decision making and therefore their own safety.
SAFARI GUIDE
Richard Field is a seasoned African safari guide who spends 8–12 weeks each year leading guests through some of the wildest and most unpredictable environments on Earth. What sets Richard apart as a workplace health and safety speaker is that he doesn’t come from a corporate background—he comes from the bush.
Drawing on the dramatic experience of surviving a lion attack and a lifetime of navigating high-risk situations, Richard offers a unique and authentic perspective on safety. He takes audiences out of their everyday work environments and into the African wilderness, creating a powerful shift in mindset.
His gripping stories don’t just entertain—they open the door to meaningful conversations about safety, personal responsibility, and the often unseen cultural attitudes that can undermine even the best systems. Richard helps frontline workers recognise that situational awareness alone isn’t enough to keep you safe. You need personal awareness as well as open honest communications with your team.
He has spoken to thousands—from road crews to factory teams—and consistently leaves a lasting impact. His messages are simple but profound:
You are responsible for your own safety and your example changes the culture of safety.
Richard’s keynotes are more than presentations—they’re immersive, eye-opening journeys that challenge assumptions and inspire safer, more mindful workplaces.
Safety Awareness
Identifying hidden hazards and unsafe behaviours, helping workers recognise risks before they lead to accidents or injuries.
Cultural Change
Culture influences decision making, for better and for worse. So what example are you setting?
Tools and Strategies
Delivering actionable safety techniques and habits that workers can apply daily to stay safe and support their teammates.
SAFARI GUIDE
Richard Field is a seasoned African safari guide who spends 8–12 weeks each year leading guests through some of the wildest and most unpredictable environments on Earth. What sets Richard apart as a workplace health and safety speaker is that he doesn’t come from a corporate background—he comes from the bush.
Drawing on the dramatic experience of surviving a lion attack and a lifetime of navigating high-risk situations, Richard offers a unique and authentic perspective on safety. He takes audiences out of their everyday work environments and into the African wilderness, creating a powerful shift in mindset.
His gripping stories don’t just entertain—they open the door to meaningful conversations about safety, personal responsibility, and the often unseen cultural attitudes that can undermine even the best systems. Richard helps frontline workers recognise that situational awareness alone isn’t enough to keep you safe. You need personal awareness as well as open honest communications with your team.
He has spoken to thousands—from road crews to factory teams—and consistently leaves a lasting impact. His messages are simple but profound:
You are responsible for your own safety and your example changes the culture of safety.
Richard’s keynotes are more than presentations—they’re immersive, eye-opening journeys that challenge assumptions and inspire safer, more mindful workplaces.
Safety Awareness
Identifying hidden hazards and unsafe behaviours, helping workers recognise risks before they lead to accidents or injuries.
Cultural Change
Culture influences decision making, for better and for worse. So what example are you setting?
Tools and Strategies
Delivering actionable safety techniques and habits that workers can apply daily to stay safe and support their teammates.
Testimonials
I’m often sceptical when a speaker stands up and starts to tell a story of personal harm or damage. Sometimes it’s disaster porn.
I’m worried that at the end they’ll be no real learning, just a residual sadness of it that hangs heavy and blocks learning. Richard Field is different, he tells a fascinating story and links it in a powerful and engaging way to the role of leaders and followers in any environment that contains risks. His story is a journey that leaves the audience with a deeper understanding of the role of team members in jointly achieving a goal and doing so safely.
Richard’s story highlighted the importance of decision making and helped our teams focus on enhancing our safety and culture. Good decision making can be the difference between safety and danger, and Richard’s story highlighted this. The importance of team in managing risk and the impact the environment can have on the quality of our decision making was also evident. These messages supported the activity of listening to our teams to help inform key elements of the Health and Safety Strategy.
Richard delivered an unforgettable presentation for our organisation during Safe Work Month in October. Over six sessions, Richard engaged and inspired more than 750 staff members with a story that was as captivating as it was thought-provoking. The feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, with many describing it as one of the most impactful safety presentations they’ve experienced. I would highly recommend Richard to any organisation seeking a presenter who is not only compelling and relatable, but also truly transformative.
Richard Field was engaged as a guest speaker for Downer’s 2017 national safety campaign where he presented to over 3,000 people across seven events. He delivered passionate and engaging talks, combining personal storytelling with practical safety lessons relevant to both workplace and life. Richard connected effectively with diverse audiences—from blue-collar workers to contractors and clients—and played a key role in reinforcing the company’s safety messages. His adaptability, professionalism, and ability to tailor his message made him an integral part of the campaign’s success.
