From Mining Titan to Youth Champion: Mike Henry to Chair King's Trust

TORONTO, ON – May 01, 2026 – The King's Trust Canada has appointed former BHP CEO Mike Henry as its new Chair, a strategic move that signals a significant new phase for the youth-focused charity. Effective May 1, 2026, Henry takes the helm from the dedicated Mark Fell, bringing a formidable track record of global corporate leadership to an organization tackling one of Canada's most urgent social and economic issues: youth unemployment.

Henry, who recently returned to Canada, will work in close partnership with new CEO Jeffrey Orridge to scale the impact of His Majesty's flagship charity in Canada. The appointment is seen as a deliberate effort to inject high-level strategic acumen and large-scale operational experience into the non-profit sector at a critical juncture for the nation's youth.

A Leader's Strategic Pivot

Mike Henry is not a typical non-profit chair. He is best known for his tenure as the Chief Executive Officer of BHP, the world's largest mining company, where he led a global workforce of over 90,000 people. During his leadership, he was widely credited with positioning the resource giant for long-term growth by aligning its strategy with major global trends like the energy transition and urbanization, leading to a 30% rise in the company's share price over one 12-month period and approximately US$80 billion returned to shareholders.

However, it is his deep-seated commitment to workforce development and social value that makes his transition to The King's Trust Canada particularly compelling. At BHP, Henry prioritized investing in industry training centres and creating clear pathways to employment. His most celebrated achievement in this area was making BHP the first major mining company to achieve a gender-balanced workforce, a goal he described as a "mission-critical" competitive advantage. Under his leadership, female representation grew from 17.6% to 35%, and his own executive team achieved a 50:50 gender split. This focus on people and inclusivity was directly linked to improved safety, operational performance, and growth.

This experience aligns seamlessly with the mission of The King's Trust. "As I look forward to returning to Canada and beginning a new professional and personal chapter, I am honoured to assume the role of Chair of The King's Trust Canada at such an important time for the organization," Henry stated in the official announcement. "The Trust's commitment to supporting young people is one I share personally and believe is essential to Canada's prosperity."

Confronting a Generational Challenge

The timing of Henry's appointment is crucial. Canada is currently grappling with a severe youth employment crisis that has been described as extraordinary for an economy not officially in recession. As of late 2025, the youth unemployment rate for ages 15-24 soared to 14.7%, more than double the national average. For teenagers, the situation was even more dire, with the unemployment rate hitting 20.8%.

These figures translate into approximately 850,000 young people not in employment, education, or training (NEET). The problem is compounded by a persistent skills mismatch, where employers struggle to find candidates with essential professional skills like communication and adaptability, while young graduates face the classic "catch-22" of needing experience to get a job but being unable to find a job to gain experience.

Systemic barriers further exacerbate the issue for marginalized youth. Black, Indigenous, racialized, newcomer, and 2SLGBTQ+ youth face disproportionately higher rates of unemployment and discrimination. The long-term consequences of this crisis—including wage scarring, delayed career progression, and worsening mental health—pose a significant threat to Canada's future economic and social stability.

It is this challenging landscape that The King's Trust Canada, under its new leadership, is poised to address with renewed vigour. The organization provides free, practical programs like the 'Skills Academy' and '360: A Youth Employment Program' to help young people build job readiness, gain paid work experience, and develop crucial networks.

A New Guard with Global Reach

Henry will not be leading this charge alone. He joins forces with Jeffrey Orridge, who took over as CEO in September 2025. Orridge is a dynamic and accomplished leader in his own right, with a diverse career spanning roles as CEO of TVO Media Education Group, Commissioner of the Canadian Football League (CFL)—where he was the first Black chief executive of a major North American sports league—and COO of Right to Play International. His extensive experience in the private, public, and non-profit sectors provides the operational leadership necessary to execute the board's strategic vision.

This new leadership duo inherits a strong foundation built by outgoing Chair Mark Fell. During his tenure, Fell guided the organization through its official renaming from Prince's Trust Canada and oversaw the launch of its groundbreaking youth employability strategy, bolstered by a transformative donation from Chair Emerita, The Honourable Hilary M. Weston.

The King's Trust Canada is also a key member of the global King's Trust Group, a network of charities founded by His Majesty King Charles III in 1976. As the group prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2026, the Canadian chapter benefits from over four decades of shared best practices and program models that have supported over 1.3 million young people worldwide. This international synergy provides a powerful framework for adapting proven solutions to meet Canada's unique challenges.

With the strategic corporate discipline of Mike Henry and the diverse executive experience of Jeffrey Orridge, The King's Trust Canada is signaling a clear intention: to move beyond traditional charity and deploy a large-scale, systematic approach to empowering Canada's next generation and securing the nation's future prosperity.