Speaker
- Powerful & Inspirational Keynote Speaker
- Interactive & Dynamic Workshop Facilitator
- Experienced Conference & Breakout Speaker
- Experienced Event MC
Speaking and Media Kits
Mental fitness game changer on a mission to change the conversation about kids’ mental health
Kari Sutton is driven by one obsession – helping parents and other adults who care for kids plant the seeds of mental fitness, resilience and emotional wellbeing so we can protect our future generations.
She is determined to nurture conversations about how we cultivate children’s positive mental health and cut through the noise that exists to deliver tangible strategies and insights which are immediately actionable.
Kari’s straight talking, dynamic presentations and workshops are wrapped in empathy, authenticity, and in-depth knowledge to deliver a powerful mix of inspiration and motivation which touches the hearts of her audiences.
Once a Teacher, once a Guidance Counsellor, once a Consultant, lover of ice-cream, the beach, and great conversations, Kari’s work is laser focussed on that which enables parents and people who care for kids build a mentally fit generation that don’t succumb to anxiety, depression and self-harm. Kari’s perspective is guaranteed to create a shift you will be forever grateful for.
“As an educator with over 20 years teaching young people and leading school organisations, the work and message from Kari is essential in saving our next and most important generation.”
Geoff Smith
Assistant Principal, Berry Street
“Spellbound from the first words. Valuable, insightful and impactful, Kari drives a conversation about the role and importance of resilience in our children’s health and happiness. She leaves you with actionable tips to increase resilience in your own kids.”
Sara Hales
CEO and Founder, The Bold Effect
“Energy, intelligence and humour all wrapped into a throught provoking narrative that I can take away to improve my home and working world.”
Olivia Ryan
Senior Manager EHS, Strategy, Risk & Governance, EY
Raising a Mentally Fit Generation
With a diverse range of experience from being a teacher in regional Australia, undertaking research about abused children’s social and emotional wellbeing, volunteering with Camp Quality for over 22 years, and her work with over 25,000 children, parents, educators and other adults who care for kids, Kari’s ability to make a difference for families and children is unquestioned.
During her 25-year career in education she had a front row seat dealing with the escalating crisis in children’s mental health and describes it as being witness to parental heartbreak as they watch their children slowly slip into the abyss of significant mental health issues.
Knowing first hand that we can all be equipped with a toolkit of attitudes, behaviours and strategies that promote good mental health and wellbeing no matter what our life circumstances, Kari is determined to bring her experience and message to the fore in helping parents and other people who care for kids raise a mentally fit generation.
Female Speaker at 120+ Events
200+ Schools worked with over 25 Years
Facilitated 500+ Workshops Across 15 Topics
Keynotes
Available as:
45-60 Minute Keynote
60-90 Minute Breakout
Suitable for:
Conference Audiences
Corporate Speaking
Peak Bodies and Associations
Education, Parenting, Early Childhood, Mental Health, Women in Business, Mom-preneurs
BUILDING KIDS WHO BOUNCE
During Kari’s two decades of volunteering experience at Camp Quality, she recognised that despite the life-threatening illnesses these children were battling, they were remarkably positive. By contrast, back in the schools she was working in too many children struggled with depression, social anxieties and mental illness. Feeling confronted by seeing this contrast between such seriously ill children, who seemed so resilient, and well children, who struggled with their mental health, Kari’s thinking about the building blocks of mental health was challenged. In Building Kids Who Bounce Kari reveals the protective factors and evidence-based strategies that contribute to the creation of resilient kids. She identifies how these easy to implement tools and strategies are the building blocks of mental fitness and resilience in our kids- and encapsulates how we, as significant adults in their lives, can help them develop mental fitness habits that prevent them from falling down the dark hole of anxiety, depression and self-harm
Available as:
45-60 Minute Keynote
60-90 Minute Breakout
Suitable for:
Conference Audiences
Corporate Speaking
Peak Bodies and Associations
Education, Parenting, Early Childhood, Mental Health, Women in Business, Mom-preneurs
BRAVE BRAINS ARE BUILT NOT BORN
Kari lets her inner scholar sparkle as she deconstructs cutting edge research from the fields of child development, neuroscience, interpersonal neurobiology and positive psychology to illustrate how we can become brain building superstars. In Brave Brains are Built not Born Kari cuts through decades of childhood development research to outline what we can do to foster children’s healthy brain development and make them more resilient. Revealing practical science backed strategies and skills that adults can utilise to help children’s brains thrive, she shares the 7 best building blocks for brain development that parents, educators, and other people who care for kids, can immediately implement.
Available as:
45-60 Minute Keynote
60-90 Minute Breakout
Suitable for:
Conference Audiences
Corporate Speaking
Peak Bodies and Associations
Education, Parenting, Early Childhood, Mental Health, Women in Business, Mom-preneurs
WHAT CHILDREN REALLY, REALLY WANT
Have you ever wondered what your children really want from you? As parents, and other caring adults, we worry about messing things up. We long to do the things that matter, the things that will shape their futures in a positive way, the things that will stick with them and help them thrive in the uncertain future they’re headed into. In What Children Really, Really Want Kari carves through the overwhelming amount of information to distil the top 10 things children really, really want from us, and equips us with practical concrete strategies and ideas we can easily embed in their everyday lives. In this day and age of “newer and bigger is better” Kari will remind us to look through children’s eyes and that it really is the simple things that make the biggest impact
Available as:
45-60 Minute Keynote
60-90 Minute Breakout
Suitable for:
Conference Audiences
Corporate Speaking
Peak Bodies and Associations
Education, Parenting, Early Childhood, Mental Health, Women in Business, Mom-preneurs
PUT ON YOUR OXYGEN MASKS
Early childhood services and professionals have a critical role to play in promoting children’s social and emotional health and well being. Therefore, it is crucial that early childhood professionals have the ability to maintain their own emotional health and well being. Educators’ positive attitude and influence creates a climate where young minds can learn and be challenged to reach their highest potential. If educators are to sustain themselves through times of change and contribute to the wellbeing of the sector, they first must identify strategies and tools they can use to increase their self awareness and enhance their resilience and well-being.
In “Put On your Oxygen Masks” Kari summarises the past two decades of research in positive psychology and to distil the top ten evidence-based strategies that maintain and improve wellbeing both personally and professionally. Participants walk away with a range of fun, practical tools and strategies, as well as easily obtainable resources that enable them to maintain their wellbeing as well as enhance the wellbeing of members within their educational community.
Kari has spoken to and worked with these organisations
“Great job. Wonderful, heartfelt, informed presentation with excellent, very practical tips for developing kids who bounce!”
Michael Lloyd
COE Sport Psychologist–Cricket Australia
“Kari is a very engaging, positive person, whose friendly and approachable manner allows her to rapidly build rapport with delegates. Her presentation was informative, entertaining and thought provoking. A fantastic speaker, uplifting, motivating, I would easily recommend Kari as a speaker for any organisation and feel confident we will have her present again in the future.”
Heather Bennett
Australian Council for Educational Leaders
“Great to listen to someone who is so passionate about the topic with simple, real and engaging strategies for enhancing mental wellbeing of our children.”
Rose Kelly
Real Estate Agent & Auctioneer–Rose Kelly Real Estate
Kari has spoken at more than 120 events and facilitated more than 500 workshops across 15 topics at conferences.
Workshop Facilitation | Price confirmed on briefing
Keynotes & Conference Speaking $4,500 | Breakout/Plenary Sessions $3,000*
Plus travel expenses where applicable
Business Presentations POA
Charities & Not For Profits please contact for ‘Sponsored Talks’
All pricing is GST Exclusive.
“Kari’s presentation was engaging and thought provoking, and best of all I have strategies as a mum that I can go home and use. Thank you Kari!”
Trish Munn
Owner – Trish Munn Photography
“Brilliantly executed. Kari delivered great takeaways for parents/carers to build kids that bounce. Resilience is so lacking in our villages.”
Phil Tighe
Process Manager – Sedgman Pty Limited
“Kari, you were truly inspiring! I have struggled to know how to help my grandchildren build strength and resilience to deal with bullying, disabilities and unpleasantness. You drew us in and gave me incredible tools I can take into my interactions with them. Thank you.”
Jessie Harlow
Hoarding Help