Sarah Kelly

Keynote and Motivational Speaker

Real stories. Practical hope. Lasting perspective. Sarah Kelly is a keynote speaker who helps students and workplaces build resilience, perspective and courage through one of life's most unexpected challenges.

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Photo of Sarah Kelly, resilience, hope, authenticity.

Sarah Kelly smiling at a Carrie Bickmore fundraising event

I’m Sarah Kelly.

At 41, I’m living with Grade 3 brain cancer, of which there is currently no cure.

Despite the challenges, I’ve discovered perspective, resilience, and hope.

I’ve learnt through experience the power of vulnerability, strength in community and now I aim to help people and organisations do the same.

Hope is not just a feeling, it’s a strategy for leaders.

Through authentic and relatable storytelling, I help people and organisations reduce burnout, build resilience, and create lasting impact.

Sarah Kelly speaking on resilience and hope

Two kinds of rooms

A woman with blonde hair, glasses, and a black and white patterned sweater stands behind a podium with a laptop on it, speaking at a presentation or event with a stage and red curtain in the background.

Schools

Presentations that help students think differently about resilience, hope and what's possible.

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A woman with blonde hair and glasses standing inside a restaurant or cafe, holding a remote or small device, near a black table with a glass of water, decorated with warm, dim lighting and dark, artistic wall art.

Organisations

Keynotes and sessions that help teams rediscover perspective, resilience and what really matters.

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What People Are Saying

For any anyone interested in building and/or understanding resilience, perspective, focus and determination, you must get Sarah along to your next event. Not only is she engaging and inspiring in the true sense of those words, but the messages she conveys stay with you long after her presentation has finished. Sarah's authenticity and brutal honesty cuts through the 'noise' we so often get distracted by and puts what is important in life front and centre. Our group were in awe of her strength and positivity, and we will definitely have her back to present to our group again. She is truly amazing.

Toby Balazs - CEO of REIV
Delivering a deeply human and emotional personal story, Sarah’s keynote presentation had a truly transformative effect on our Year 10–12 students. She expertly crafted her message to align with the specific goals and context of Flinders Christian Community College. The impact was evident in the profound emotional response from students; many were visibly moved by her inspirational message, with some left in tears and others lining up afterwards to express their gratitude to Sarah personally.

Shay Cosgrave – Head of Students
In my experience, very few people can walk the tight-rope of emotional lived experience storytelling with the ability to convey a broad message of hope and positivity in the sector that we work in. Sarah’s gentle approach combined with her powerful insights into research and clinical trials gives her the most unique perspective on what’s possible if we are willing to come together to solve this problem – a problem that she lives through every day. She is an incredibly engaging speaker that I would recommend to any audience.

Sam McGuane - CEO of The Brain Cancer Centre
Sarah is one in a million. She speaks from the heart, with strength, wisdom, resilience and warmth. Sarah is what we call in TV "good talent" - she simply shines on screen or on stage. Sarah's story is truly inspirational - I couldn't recommend her as a keynote speaker enough. She will leave any audience enriched for hearing her inspirational story of strength and hope.

Danika Armytage - Big Stories Little Films
Sarah’s advocacy, determination and strength are inspiring. Named La Trobe’s Citizen of the Year 2025 for being passionate community ambassador, strong fundraising efforts including for Carrie’s Beanies 4 Brain Cancer Foundation and for increasing awareness of brain cancer and need for further funding for research.

Jason Wood, MP
Sarah's words were powerful because they were real. She spoke straight from the heart - raw, brave and full of hope. There wasn’t a person in our audience who wasn’t touched.

Dine For A Cure Committee
Sarah’s story is spoken straight from the heart and filled with courage, determination, and strength. I’ve had the privilege of seeing her engage audiences of all kinds with such authenticity and warmth, always leaving a lasting impression. As a representative of our BCC Consumer Program and a passionate advocate for people living with brain cancer, she shares a story of resilience and hope, making every talk deeply impactful.

Linda Hawkins - Brain Cancer Centre Consumer Coordinator
Thank you, Sarah, for engaging with 200 youth at their level. I received many comments from the youth about the strength of your person, your honesty about the down times and inspiration in your resilience in the face of adversity. So many were carried along by your story. It was great how you had questions for them to discuss in small groups. Thank you.

Joe Moore, Combined LAMP youth groups
We invited Sarah to speak at our event and share her lived experience with brain cancer. She took great care to prepare, tailoring her talk to suit the audience and aligning her presentation with the flow of the evening to maximise impact and fundraising potential. Sarah spoke beautifully — delivering a heartfelt and powerful address that deeply moved everyone in the room. Her advocacy and unwavering drive to raise awareness are truly inspiring, and I would highly recommend her as a speaker for other like-minded events.

Emily Galea - Director of The Brain Ball
Sarah's strength and positivity in the face of a Grade 3 brain tumour are truly inspiring. As an advocate, she tirelessly raises awareness and funds for research through 'Sarah's Hope.' Her dedication and achievements, including a nomination for the 2025 Stan Henwood Award, make her a beacon of hope and strong leadership in our community. I get to meet and work with a lot of people as the Mayor of Cardinia Shire, and it’s clear that Sarah represents the best of us

Mayor Cr Jack Kowarzik