BOOK SHANNA
Shanna Whan (AM) is an experienced keynote speaker, MC, panellist, and presenter who has contributed to a huge cross-section of podcasts, television programs, panels, radio, and media in the past decade. She is familiar with both national and international media.
When you book Shan / our charity for your event, all keynote/speaker fees (and any contributions, including donations for Shanna being a podcast guest) go directly back into the charity as part of our income stream and future sustainability. The same will apply with any future ambassadors.
Shanna was the recipient of an Order of Australia medal (AM) in 2025 for ''outstanding contributions to rural health'' and was the national winner of the Australian of the Year (Local Hero) award in 2022, as well as Marie Claire's Advocate of the Year award (also in 2022). She’s been invited to travel from one end of Australia to the other to share the #OK2SAYNO message - which has taken her from dusty paddocks to the Opera House - and even as one of ten Aussies who represented the nation at the funeral of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.
Whether you're a drinker, a non-drinker, or a sometimes drinker, Shanna's message is very much for any and all rural Australians interested in being better leaders or better mates. She easily adapts her style, message, and tone to suit your audience.
Contrary to what many assume, she is totally at ease presenting to audiences where alcohol is served! (Remember, we aren't preachers of prohibition - we're teachers of social inclusion.)
Shanna instantly puts her audience at ease with her raw, often irreverent, self-effacing honesty and infectious sense of humour.
Over the past decade, she's fearlessly and publicly driven this (now national) conversation. Initially, she did so by sharing her own story of ‘almost dying from alcohol harm in plain sight of her rural community’ - but over the years, the SITC message has transitioned into Shan sharing a decade of very, very hard-learned national perspectives, learnings and insights that every single rural human can learn and benefit from.
Shanna is warm, funny, frank, and supremely relatable to country people - and focuses on a message about mateship, mental health and inclusion.
At every step, she's working to create a better rural culture where we cater for, include, and accept all our mates, no matter the drink in their hand.
COMING SOON: in 2025, we're launching our #OK2SAYNO workshops! Stay tuned for more.
Shanna’s insights and expertise as keynote speaker added tremendous value to our conference. Her ability to engage the audience and deliver thought-provoking content really resonated with the audience. We received overwhelmingly positive feedback from attendees who were inspired by Shanna’s passion, knowledge, and commitment to advancing mental health in rural and remote communities.
Corinne McGowan & Kate Chetwin, Conference Coordinators, WA Rural & Mental Health Conference, 2023
Shanna’s Awards
Appointed – Member of the Order of Australia, General Division, 2025
Winner – Australian of the Year, Local Hero, 2022
Winner – Marie Claire Advocate of the Year, 2022
Winner – ProBono Australia's “Top 25” Impact Awards, 2021
Nominee – Australian of the Year, Local Hero, 2021
Finalist – Regional Woman of the Year, 2020
Finalist – SHINE Volunteer of the Year, 2018
Finalist – AgriFutures Rural Woman of the Year, 2017
Want to book Shanna as keynote speaker, panellist or MC at your event?
Before you fill in the booking enquiry form, please read the content on the pages linked below to ensure you can meet our requirements and that we’re a good fit for your event:
Booking enquiry form
Please supply as much detail as possible. Thank you!
Shanna speaking all around Australia
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