Hayley Lewis OAM

Hayley Lewis OAM's Biography

Hayley Lewis is proud to be Queensland’s Mental Health Ambassador.

With the help of Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WorkSafe), Hayley has been encouraging workers and employers to ensure their workplaces are mentally healthy.

"Mental health impacts everything and everyone. Sadly, often we don't realise just how bad it really is until we suffer or experience a tragedy.” In March 2023, Hayley worked with Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace, to launch a new mental health workplace code to address the psychological health risks at work, the first of its kind in Australia to be legally enforceable.

Hayley burst onto the scene as a 15-year-old schoolgirl, capturing the hearts of Australians by winning 5 Gold medals at the 1990 Auckland Commonwealth Games. Backing up a year later, she went on to become one of Australia's youngest ever World Champions by winning the 200m freestyle at the Perth World Championships.

In 1992, at her first Olympics in Barcelona, Hayley brought home a Silver and a Bronze followed by more medals at the 93 Pan Pacific, the 1994 Commonwealth Games, 95 Rome World Championships and the 96 Atlanta Olympics.

Taking a break from swimming after Atlanta, Hayley married her high school sweetheart Greg Taylor in 1997 and the following year gave birth to their first son, Jacob. In 1999, she returned to swimming with the goal of making the 2000 Olympic team which she did, as well as the 2001 World Championships in Fukuoka which saw her become the first ever swimmer to compete for her country in both open water and pool swimming at the same meet. Hayley went on to win a bronze medal at this meet and officially retired upon returning home at the age of 27.

In sharing per passion for swimming she opened a LEARN TO SWIM school at Westfield Carindale in 2002 , the first for an Australian shopping centre. Changing pace, she went on to host five seasons of The Biggest Loser Australia between 2010 and 2014 , write a business book - ‘Dream, Believe, Create' and purchase a commercial property in Balmoral, Brisbane which has been home to her gift and homewares store ‘Coming Up Roses' for over 10 years.

In between her role as an inspirational speaker and endeavours of becoming a qualified psychologist, Hayley continues to be the very proud mum of her two boys, Jacob (23 ) and Kai (18 ) who is currently in pursuit of his own success in the Olympic swimming pool.

Speaking Topics Include

Adaptation - Tips for adapting to changes in work and life which may be causing stress, anxiety and doubt (Athlete to small business owner)

Importance of a positive team environment and culture

Mental health in the workplace

Prioritisation of work/life balance

Mindset mentoring and forming an action plan as an individual or team

Dream, Believe, Create – Hayley’s entrepreneurial business journey

With no previous business training or on-the-job experience Hayley opened the first learn-to-swim school located in a major shopping centre in Australia.

Drawing on her experience, both as a successful businesswoman and an athlete, Hayley gives a personal account of life in the small business world and guides you through all you need to know to start your own business, including researching your idea and your competition, creating a winning business plan, finding finance, getting the location right, marketing and building your customer base hiring staff, staying motivated and maintaining a healthy work-life balance

With inspirational cases studies from enterprising women and practical information throughout, this presentation is for every woman who has ever dreamt of starting her own business.