Military Speakers

Chris Hadfield

Chris learned Russian and emergency medicine on top of his test pilot and aeronautical training before spending six months in orbit. He is now best-known for performing Bowie’s Space Oddity in space – as well as publishing An Astronaut’s Guide To Life On Earth and appraising the candidates in BBC2’s Astronauts - Do You Have What It Takes? Chris shares insights on leadership, collaboration, human ingenuity and how to avoid being paralysed by fear in the four seconds between system failure and death. He also reveals what spacewalking tells us about life on Earth.

Matt Lindley

After a decade with the RAF Matt moved to commercial aviation as a 747 pilot. He looks at the ‘black box’ culture of airlines that seek to understand mistakes rather than apportion blame, and the leadership culture that engenders. He also speaks about his time with the Air Force, being one of the first openly gay pilots in the military, and what the experience taught him about leaders and how the personal can affect professional performance.

Major Tim Peake

From 400km above the Earth, Britain’s first ESA astronaut became a household name. A former military test pilot, Tim shared his experiences and incredible photos on social media, and spoke to over 1.5million schoolchildren across Europe about the power of science.

Jaco van Gass

Jaco was a member of the Parachute Regiment. When was completing his second six-month tour of Afghanistan the helicopter he was in came under enemy fire and he was hit by a rocket propelled grenade, sustaining devastating injuries and losing his left arm. He didn’t let his injuries stop him and been a member of the GB Para-Cycling team. Jaco was also a member of the record-breaking team of wounded soldiers to trek unsupported to the North Pole and was joined by Prince Harry.

Levison Wood

After serving as a Captain in the Parachute Regiment, Lev took his experience of challenging and dangerous environments to become a photojournalist and leader of expeditions. His love of Africa led him to undertake a one-man trek along the length of the Nile where he learned how communities survive in the harshest of climates. He then took on the Himalayas, Central and South America, and the route from Russian to Iran. He considers the lessons both personal and witnessed, in motivation, survival, and the nature of risk.

Mike Abrashoff

As a junior officer taking command of the ‘worst-performing ship in the Pacific Fleet’ Mike faced a daunting challenge and a test of his leadership. From his first day he looked at the ship from the crew’s point of view, empowering them, opening up lines of communication, and putting them at the core of the ship’s values. A year from him taking over the ship was rated as the best in the Navy. His lessons in culture, motivation and unity have spread beyond the military and into business, helping all organisations to be the best and prepare for the future.

Tim Bradshaw

Tim is a former British Army Intelligence Officer and graduate of the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. His work as a Covert Human Intelligence Officer and Target Acquisition Patrol Soldier saw him recruit and run foreign agents worldwide and influence the outcome of extremely sensitive and dangerous situations. Since leaving the Army, Tim founded, and is a director of Sandstone Communications, an international leadership and team building consultancy.

JJ Chalmers

Former Royal Marine JJ almost died in an explosion whilst out on patrol in Afghanistan. After months of gruelling rehab he competed in the Invictus Games and went on to become a presenter for Channel 4 and the BBC. He recounts a compelling story of hope, determination, courage and teamwork.

Alan Chambers

The former Royal Marine (aka The Arctic Tractor) led the first unsupported UK expedition from Canada to the geographic North Pole. After taking disaffected British children to African classrooms with Channel 4, Alan showed us the method to making good with a book: Lead Yourself To Success. In presentations he emphasises the need to question norms, build total trust and make decisions purely based on the facts. Alan also advocates leading from behind.

Colonel Tim Collins

Tim’s rallying cry to his troops on the eve of invasion in Iraq captured worldwide attention. He now heads a security services company that has trained Afghans and helped African armies contain the Ebola threat. Tim sets out the leader’s role: “Get your reason and organisation right, make sure the right people are in the right spirit, ensure your team pull together and fully understand each others’ roles, issue the right instructions – and then let them get on with it.”

Jason Fox

Former Royal Marine Commando and SBS Sergeant, Jason Fox, or ‘Foxy’, has undertaken operations around the world including surveillance, hostage rescue, counter terrorism and counter narcotics missions. Now a broadcaster and instructor on Channel 4’s SAS: Who Dares Wins, he is also the bestselling author of Battle Scars: A Story of War and All That Follows in which he examines the unique teamwork, leadership and planning skills instilled by Special Forces training, but also the psychological and human cost of risking everything.

Sarah Furness

Sarah spent twenty years as a RAF helicopter pilot and Squadron leader. She became an accomplished risk management and human performance trainer at the world class Defence Academy of the UK. Sarah saw a world where leaders often felt hostage to the “fragile” narrative, so she drew on her experiences as a combat pilot and coach to develop a different approach; the Healthy Automatic Behaviours In Threatening Scenarios (H.A.B.I.TS.) Formula.

Bear Grylls

Arguably the most famous adventurer and survival-skills expert in the world, Bear fronts TV series that attract audiences in their billions and is an international bestselling author. He explores building resilience, teamwork under pressure, and how to lead when failure is not an option.

Monty Halls

A former Royal Marine, Monty formed his own expedition company and led a group of divers to rediscover a sunken city beside the coast of India, suspected to be the cradle of civilisation. On television, he has undertaken Great Escapes, served as The Fisherman’s Apprentice, and relocated his life in My Family and the Galapagos. He draws together his array of incredible experiences to talk leadership, motivation, purpose and teamwork.

Mandy Hickson

Mandy was one of the first female pilots to serve in a front line Tornado GR4 squadron, taking an active role in the Iraq conflict. In presentations she reveals the lessons learned, and how she had to react in the most high pressure environment of all - “I slammed my throttles forward, rolled the aircraft 120 degrees and pulled 4G towards the ground. That’s four times your bodyweight. The reason: a surface to air missile had been fired and we were its target.”

Dame Kelly Holmes

With accolates and medals at every level of athletics, Kelly made history as the first British woman to win two Gold medals at the same games at the Athens Olympics. This incredible achievement was revealed to be even greater when Kelly later discussed the personal and psychological pressures she experienced. Now a broadcaster and author, she remains one of the country's most popular sporting figures, a mental and physical health advocate who explores what achievement, teamwork, preparation and values really look like.

Justin Hughes

A former RAF fighter pilot and Executive Officer of the Red Arrows, Justin has extensive first-hand experience of high performance in the most demanding of environments. With a subsequent 20 years as a consultant and then senior manager within a global corporate, and a highly engaging delivery style, Justin delivers clear, actionable insights into the cultures, behaviours and processes that underpin the most effective teams and organisations.

Major Chris Hunter

As the Army’s senior counter-terrorist bomb disposal specialist, Chris took his life in his hands on a regular basis. He rounded off a distinguished military career in intelligence, seconded to COBRA. In speeches the author of Eight Lives Down shows how to weigh up the threats, control anxiety and rapidly identify and prioritise tasks. Chris believes that fear can give you a competitive edge, and that any team can achieve more when it doesn’t matter who gets the credit.

Aldo Kane

A former Royal Marines Commando Sniper, Aldo used the skills he learnt in service to become a survival expert in every environment. He has provided technical safety advice for dozens of television and film productions and, in front of the camera, has presented adventure shows for BBC, Natural Geographic and Discovery to name a few. He shares stories of abseiling into erupting volcanoes and being charged by a rhino and the lessons he learnt from his adventures. 

Colin MacLachlan

SAS veteran turned writer and broadcaster, Colin has gone from undertaking life-or-death missions to sharing his lessons and experiences in books and on TV. With over twenty-five years working in high-risk, high-pressure situations, he reflects on his insights into elite leadership, resilience, teamwork and risk management.

Scotty Mills

As Britain's highest-ranking black Royal Marine, Scotty passes on his wisdom to some of the world's most elite performers, both as a team-leadership coach and as a motivational speaker. He was a driving force behind the success of the England football team at the 2018 World Cup and continues to work in the world of elite sport and business to develop innovative leadership, team cohesion and peak performance.

Chris Moon

One of the few to have survived capture by the brutal Khmer Rouge, Chris was then blown up by a landmine in Mozambique – losing a hand and part of his leg. He has since taken on dozens of gruelling ultramarathons. Leading by example, Chris talks about focus, self-belief, dealing with change and pushing yourself to the limit.