Bristow: Keir Williams wins Workplace Champion Award

Robyn Ward • 12 November 2014

Tenacious and passionate.

It’s how we describe the 2014 AHRI R U OK? Workplace Champion Winner, Keir Williams.

Keir is the Human Resources Manager at Bristow; an offshore helicopter transport services company. Since 2012, she has single-handedly convinced Bristow’s global operations to get behind R U OK? to make a difference to their staff and others working away from home.

Q. What adjective best describes how you felt when you won the award?

A. Surprise!

Q. Promoting the importance of conversations to prevent suicide can be a tough gig – particularly in workplaces with a large male workforce because talking about emotions and personal issues is so tabooed. How did you persuade management and staff to get involved?

A. It wasn’t really persuasion. It was more presenting the facts; explaining the small steps we could take to get involved as an organisation. After the company got behind it in 2012, they then agreed to be the Sponsor of the R U OK? Afield initiative in 2013. It’s still tough convincing staff to get behind it. It’s a real challenge to get males to talk about their problems and embrace the cause.

Q. Do you think your team relationships are stronger because you have dedicated so much time and energy to a cause all about looking out for others?

A. In some ways yes, I find myself regularly consulted and brought into the loop on sensitive situations much earlier. I think it helps build trust. People realize that you will do the right thing and that you will respect their confidentiality.

Q. What advice would you give to anyone wanting to champion R U OK? in their community?

A. It’s very rewarding but it’s not easy because there’s a lot of stigma attached to mental health issues. It’s also difficult to measure results, as it’s about taking the time to reach out, ask the question, listen and follow up and you might not hear about those conversations. However, you get a lot of personal satisfaction knowing you may have helped someone out and that makes all the hard work worthwhile.

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Announcement from the CEO, Katherine Newton

by Katherine Newton • 16 October 2025
After ten years of teamwork, partnerships, growth, and countless conversations, I will be stepping down as CEO from 1 December 2025. It has been an extraordinary privilege to contribute to the growth of this movement and to witness meaningful change before my eyes. Gavin Larkin founded R U OK? because he believed conversation has the power to change lives. One seemingly simple question, when asked with genuine intent and care, can start a meaningful and sometimes complex conversation. And that’s what Gavin wanted. For people to look beyond responses of “I’m fine” or “All good” and ask, “Are you really OK?”. The notion of going deeper with conversations, of asking a second time, of trusting our guts and moving past our hesitation - is being grasped and moving beyond one day to any day. Whilst saying “G’day how are you?” will always be a greeting - we can do more. When Gavin lost his father to suicide he wanted to try and protect other families from the pain his endured. He wanted to get people talking and having real chats about how they’re feeling with their mates, their family and their colleagues. In locker rooms, lunch rooms, and lounge rooms across the nation. But he approached it from a different angle. Gavin wanted all of us to have the confidence to support the people we care about who might be struggling with life. To make conversations a natural part of our behaviour, to openly show our signals of support. So as R U OK? generations continue to evolve, my chapter is coming to a close. How fortunate I am to have been part of the story. From hesitant glances during presentations in 2015 to queues of people waiting for a conversation in 2025. From yellow wigs in the office, to welcoming yellow-swathed Ambassadors to share their lived experience. From yellow coffee cups in a café, to yellow cars driving into communities nationwide. And yes, there’s been a few cupcakes along the way. Social change is happening, and we are all a part of it. No one organisation can prevent suicide, no one individual can save everyone - but the power of many can make a difference.
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