John Peters

Former Squadron Leader John Peters came to the world’s attention in 1991, when his bruised and battered face flashed on our television screens. It was this shocking image that became a terrible symbol of Saddam Hussein’s ruthless aggression.

Since leaving the forces, John Peters has become a prominent keynote speaker, using his own dramatic, and sometimes harrowing, experiences to reach into our minds, and how us how we can overcome our worst fears.

Contact Great British Speakers today to book former Squadron Leader and Keynote Speaker John Peters for your next event.

Type Of Talent

Event HostsExploration & MilitaryHigh PerformanceLeadership & TeamworkMotivationalPersonal DevelopmentResilienceSpeakerVirtual Speakers

More About John Peters

Over his two decades in the Royal Air Force, John Peters flew Tornado GR1 on various squadrons, and then within the MoD, he led programmes on safety, leadership, and human error in aviation.

After his RAF training, he became a staff pilot in 1987 at the Air Navigation School in RAF Finningley, before he moved to XV Squadron at RAF Laarbruch the year after. On his first mission during Operation Desert Storm at just 29 years old, on an ultra-low level daylight mission, his plane was hit at fifty feet by a shoulder-launched missile and he and his navigator, John Nichol, were captured by the military of Iraq. Upon his release, he stayed with the RAF for another 10 years.

In 1993, he moved to RAF Cottesmore and became an instructor; he was made Squadron Leader in 1997 and moved to Türkiye.

John Peters hire Iraq Fighter Pilot Squadron Leader Operation Desert Storm motivational speaker book at Agent Great British Speakers

JOHN PETERS – CORPORATE AND COMMERCIAL WORK

Upon leaving the RAF in 2000, he founded the management performance improvement consultancy UPH Ltd, providing business critical development and coaching. Here he stayed as Director until 2009, when he became Director of Performance at Aston Business School. Since 2009, he has been the founder and owner of Monkey Business, an organisation that provides expertise on leadership, strategy and innovation for senior business teams.

Alongside his entrepreneurial work, he is a former Chair of the Association of MBAs, a Visiting Professor of Kingston Business School, and an Associate Professor at the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA) in Moscow. He has an honorary doctorate in education, is a Trustee of the RAF Club, a RAF Ambassador, a Governor of Worcester Royal Grammar School, and a Patron of KidsOut – a charity supporting abused children.

John Peters Iraq Fighter Pilot Squadron Leader Operation Desert Storm motivational speaker book at Agent Great British Speakers

As of 2024, John Peters had co-authored two books with his navigator, John Nichol. Tornado Down is the incredible story of their part in the war against Saddam Hussein’s regime, with Team Tornado exploring their routes to becoming pilots and what their life has been like since being in the forces. His documentary Tornado Down was named the Independent Documentary of the Year and was nominated for a BAFTA in 1992.

JOHN PETERS – KEYNOTE SPEAKING

John is now an experienced keynote speaker of international repute, working for corporate companies, public sector organisations, and charities.

JOHN PETERS – SPEAKING TOPICS

– Resilience

– Agility

– Leadership

– Dealing With Uncertainty

– Agility

– High-Performance Mindset

– Performance Under Pressure

– Grit and Mental Wellbeing

– Managing Pressure

– Mindset of a Fighter Pilot

John Peters is also an experienced event host, contributor, and award presenter, experienced in anything, from presenting the Sir James Martin lecture at the Royal Aeronautical Society in the presence of the late Prince Philip and being the sole representative of the British Armed Forces at the National Gulf Memorial Service in front of her late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.

Clients include Captain One, Lloyds Bank, NDS, and Virgin Media.

Call +44 1753 439 289 or email Great British Speakers now to book former RAF Fighter Pilot and Inspirational Speaker John Peters for your next event.

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Testimonials

What a guy! Amazing feedback from so many delegates. I have seen many after-dinner speakers in the last 30+ years, and John’s speech topped the lot.
Original Recycling Association

Your address was truly excellent. The sustained applause for you was almost unstoppable.
Bob Monkhouse

To be in a room containing over 200 people with total silence was awesome and I can’t remember that ever happening before. I don’t know if you were aware of the silence but there wasn’t a single cough, any sound of people whispering or shuffling, just stillness. I think that some people had even forgotten to breath!
The Newspaper Society

Not only was John an excellent presenter, he was also an organiser’s dream in his professionalism, his flexibility, and his genuine enthusiasm in mixing and mingling with the delegates after the session.
AMP National Conference, Australia

Anyone who has had the privilege of listening to you speak cannot be anything other than impressed by your attitude to life and your determination, courage, and integrity. Yours is a gripping and extremely moving story. Everyone to whom I have spoken since your presentation has unreservedly said that it was excellent.
Chief Constable, West Mercia Constabulary

Your ability to describe your ordeal was so clear: I felt that I was in the plane with you, in the desert with you, and in the cell with you. I know I could never possibly imagine, for real, what you went through and I sincerely hope no-one else ever has to endure that sort of treatment again.
National Sales Development Manager, London & Manchester Ltd

Immensely powerful – a raw honesty which I found incredibly thought provoking and above all humbling.
Emergency Planning, Lincolnshire Fire Brigade

I have recounted your speech to numerous friends and actually feel that I was inside that cockpit with you as you conducted your mission.
Bob Wilson OBE, Willow Foundation

I am left with the lasting impression of John Peters, who will remain in my memory as one of the most incredible and emotional speakers I have ever experienced the honour of hearing.
Walker User Group