Dr Jo Salter MBE is famed for becoming the first female fast jet pilot, having flown the Panavia Tornado ground attack aircraft during her services in the Royal Air Force. Joining the RAF aged 18, Jo has since taken Air Cadets into the skies as part of Air Experience Flights, become the Director of Global Transformative Leadership for PWC, and most recently become a Global Advisory of GenAI for PwC. Having developed first-class expertise in leadership, analytical thinking and performing under pressure, Jo is now a highly sought-after public speaker to share stories from her time in the skies.
Aged 18, Jo joined the Royal Air Force and began her studies at the Royal Military College of Science. Initially passionate to become an engineering officer, Jo’s decisions made a U-turn when it was announced that women would be allowed to pilot jet aircraft. In 1992, Jo earned her wings to fly and she later completed her fast jet training at the end of the year. Becoming a Flight Lieutenant of the 617 Squadron, Jo went on to claim the title of the first female fast jet pilot. Since then, Jo has piloted flights in the Air Cadets Air Experience Flights and inspired countless budding armed service members to pioneer a male-dominated sector, having been the leader of an all-male squadron. Since leaving the military behind, Jo has established a strong business career working in roles such as Head of Technical Services for NetConnect, European Operations Manager for Automated Power Exchange and Managing Director of Saltin Ltd.
Jo is a passionate Trustee of The Royal Air Force Club and an Ambassador of the Global Angels charity, an organisation that gives communities around the world access to clean water, education, healthcare and encourages female and youth empowerment. Jo has also authored two books, titled Energy: 52 Ways to Fire Up Your Life and Become an Energy Angel and Energize: Spring Clean Your Mind and Body to Get Your Bounce Back Today and Every Day. In recognition of her achievements throughout her career, Jo has also been named as one of the 50 Most Inspiring Women in the World by Harpers & Queen. She is now working as the Director of Global Transformation Leadership at PWC, after working in other roles such as Director of Risk Technology Strategy, Director Chief of Staff to Head of Technology & Investments and the Director of People & Organisations. In 2022, Jo was invited personally by Tom Cruise to attend the premiere of Top Gun: Maverick. Most recently, Jo received an honorary doctorate of Arts from Bournemouth University.
Jo was interviewed by the BBC, listen to her speak on her own experience as a female fast jet fighter pilot. Jo was also featured in a 2021 article about the achievements of female RAF pilots:
"You're flying at 180mph and then suddenly you're at 0mph" #BBCBreakfast speaks to Britain's first female fast jet fighter pilot Jo Salter about her real life Top Gun moments in the air!https://t.co/lE4SCR0daA pic.twitter.com/8Y1eyvVIhS
— BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) May 19, 2022
Having learnt what it means to have determination, perform under pressure and be resilient, Jo is now hired as a speaker for a range of events to share anecdotes from her time in RAF service - and Champions Speakers are proud to be Jo Salter's official management and speaker agent. Whether she be delivering a speech or facilitating a workshop, Jo inspires personal development, beating challenges and overcoming adversity in corporate audiences. Having also been an Associate Lecturer for the Open University Business School, Jo is confident when addressing large audiences and does so with ease, no matter if it is a breakfast briefing at The Ivy or at an international conference of 3000+. When looking for an inspirational speaker with an eye-opening story to tell, look no further than former RAF fighter pilot Dr Jo Salter MBE. To hire Dr Jo Salter MBE, contact her official speaker agent and representative, Champions Speakers.
We recently conducted an exclusive interview with Dr Jo Salter MBE, watch the Q&A to find out more!
Considering Jo's diverse experience and insight, it is no surprise that she has been listed in several official blog posts by Champions, including The 10 Best Imposter Syndrome Speakers to Hire in the UK and Top 10 Keynote Speakers Trending in the UK.
Social Media
Books
Energize: Spring Clean Your Mind and Body to Get Your Bounce Back Today and Every Day
Energy: 52 Ways to Fire Up Your Life and Become an Energy Angel
Reviews
Jo Salter received a 5 star rating across 23 events in 2023.
Agent Recommendation
"Jo Salter is an inspiring speaker and trailblazer as the UK's first female fast jet pilot. With her dynamic presentations, she shares powerful lessons on leadership, resilience, and breaking barriers. Jo's engaging storytelling and unique perspective captivate audiences, making her an exceptional choice for motivational events and corporate conferences."
How to hire Jo Salter MBE
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Jo Salter MBE for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
** We do not accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, birthday messages or any other non-commercial contact with the speakers or acts. Each speaker on the website may not have necessarily worked with Champions in the past but are known to perform such engagements within the industry.
Jo Salter's official speaking topics are listed below:
Disruption & Transformation
Drawing from her groundbreaking career as the RAF’s first female fast jet pilot and her leadership roles at PwC, Jo expertly shares her knowledge on disruption and transformation. Having navigated the ever-changing landscapes of military service and business, Jo provides her invaluable insight into driving transformation and mitigating disruption in any sector – including her newfound expertise on digital transformation as the Global Advisory of GenAI at PwC. Her ability to adapt to new roles, lead under pressure and navigate the complexities of operations has honed her ability to cause positive disruption and achieve significant transformations.
Adopting a Change Mindset
Jo’s military career has uniquely positioned her to develop profound expertise in change management and embracing a change mindset. In an environment characterised by constant evolution and unforeseen challenges, Jo’s military career forced her to challenge the norm, break stereotypes and embrace change. Such experience has proved invaluable in her later career, having honed a change mindset that has allowed her to approach challenges with confidence and strategic insight.
Generative AI
Jo Salter speaks passionately on Generative AI due to her deep expertise and recent appointment as the Global Advisory of GenAI at PwC. Her role focuses on navigating emerging technologies and implementing ethical AI strategies. Previously, she worked in Risk GenAI at PwC, developing a keen understanding of the risks associated with AI implementations. Her experience equips her to address the opportunities and challenges of Generative AI in the business landscape.
How to Empower Female Leadership in the Workplace
With her pioneering past as the first female fast jet pilot, Jo exemplified female leadership and resilience. Forging a trailblazing path in the male-dominated military sector, Jo showcases the true potential of female leadership and women in business – famed for having commanded an all-male squadron. Inspiring by example, Jo encourages women to believe they can pursue high-impact careers and lead with power and confidence.
How to Build High-Performing Teams
Drawing on her experience of managing high-performing teams, both in the RAF and at PwC, Jo excels in not only the creation but also the maintenance of high-performance teams. Integrating her in-depth understanding of resilience, strategic thinking and the importance of diversity, Jo fosters the creation of innovative working environments in which people can thrive. Utilising her powerful expertise as a leader, Jo imparts her wisdom on how to leverage individual strengths to generate high-performing teams. When looking for a speaker whose expertise will create team excellence, Jo is a fantastic choice.
The Art of Inclusive Leadership
Having navigated the male-dominated sector of the RAF, Jo is profoundly informed on the importance of inclusive leadership. Navigating this challenging landscape, she gained unique insights into the importance of diversity, empathy and equitable opportunities, which she now applies to foster more inclusive, understanding and effective leadership styles. With first-hand experience in overcoming gender barriers, Jo is on a mission to create inclusive environments where diverse talent can share their perspectives and have their expertise valued and leveraged.
Conferences, Fire-Side Chats, Workshops & Panel Discussions
With such a diverse career, Jo is the perfect addition to various workshops, conferences and panel discussions. Sharing her empowering stories as a pioneering woman in a male-dominated sector, Jo makes the perfect keynote speaker for all events – from International Women’s Day empowerment events to conferences on transformative leadership and navigating disruption. No matter what event you are looking to hire Jo Salter as a keynote speaker, she can expertly tailor her content to fit your requirements.
Official Feedback from In-Person & Virtual Events
Feedback from In-Person Events:
"Jo delivered an exceptional speech. She was engaging throughout and successfully addressed our serious subject matter of Safety while weaving in her wit and great sense of humour throughout her presentation. Jo brought a great level of energy to the room and presented to over 700 colleagues in person and virtually. Our colleagues described Jo’s speech as ‘inspiring,’ ‘interesting’ and ‘exceptional’. Due to Jo’s versatility and range, I would recommend Jo for any event, from something with a more series subject matter, to a light hearted or inspirational topic. She was professional throughout and her wealth of knowledge and skills made for an engaging and exciting speech. Thank you Jo." - Charlotte, Communications Specialist, AngloAmerican
"Jo was outstanding in terms of personality and professionalism. She arrived on time, was very courteous, and handled the rehearsals wonderfully." - King.com
"Please pass onto Jo with our deep and sincere thanks for the generosity of her time, guidance and mostly her warm and amazingly inspiring presence. To say she was awesome is an understatement." - Shadi, Director of Marketing, UnitedLex
"Just wanted to pass on that people absolutely loved Jo at the conference, she covered all the topics we wanted and had everybody totally engaged and laughing throughout". - James, Finance Business Partner, FCAS Strategy & Campaign
"The session with Jo was really amazing. Because we had an intimate group she really opened up the discussion and made it interactive. She was very open and vulnerable which allowed everyone to feel very inspired afterwards. Please pass on a big THANK YOU from all of us, we hope she enjoyed it as much as we did." - Accor
"The event went very well and so glad I chose Jo. I have had some excellent feedback from the team and Jo certainly acted as a hook for clients to attend. Being able to tell her story but also being relatable and natural really landed well with those there. Jo is definitely someone we would use again." - Pegasystems Ltd
"Jo was amazing yesterday. She was a fabulous speaker, so engaging and inspiring. I did very quickly speak to her at the end of the day to thank her but please do pass on my thanks again. So many people commented on her positive message, and she created a real buzz and energy for the team. The 4 pm session at any event is tough but she made it look easy!" - Hannah, Executive Assistant, Vernacare
"Jo’s keynote was inspiring, energizing and truly insightful. The attendees referenced her stories throughout the day. Please send A BIG THANK YOU to Jo – we are very happy with the session she delivered, and she has definitely exceeded our expectations." - Weber Shandwick
"I just wanted to say that Jo was fantastic... She is a natural storyteller and her stories are so fascinating. She made a big impact here at OI" - Oxford Instruments
"I just wanted to say thanks for your help with organising Jo Salter - she was amazing and so inspirational everybody loved listening to her story." - Sarah, Events & Educational Courses Manager, Straumann UK
"I can tell you that Jo was excellent, everything she delivered hit the spot and I have been told the day was better because of her contribution, we really enjoyed her participation, thank you very much and I will be back for another speaker and possibly another one later in the month." - Michael, Learning Sourcing Manager, EDF Energy
"Without a doubt, Jo was the best speaker I've ever had the pleasure of listening to. Totally outstanding. A perfect balance of content within Jo's story, so relevant to our team, our lives and the event. Couldn't be rated higher, and so many amazing comments from the team about being inspired and taking insights away for change. Please pass on our enormous gratitude." - Stuart, Head of Business Delivery, Three
"Everything went smoothly, Jo was brilliant, what a cool lady, I could listen to her speak all day! Thanks so much for all your help in booking her" - Liz, Executive Assistant, DP World
"Great energy, uplifting and motivational style. Came across as passionate and authentic with good presentation skills. Managed the whole session without any slides" - Tejas, Global Supply Manager, British American Tobacco
"Jo Salter has solved more life and death problems than most of us can imagine - and she brings her courage, tenacity and determination to business and management in a way that is truly motivational" - Dan, Cable & Wireless
"Lunchtime speaker Jo Salter regaled the audience with anecdotes about her experience of being Britain's first female fighter pilot, humorously describing ways in which she overcame male prejudice and official red-tape" - Sandra, Inspire Futures Ltd
"Jo's remarkably down to earth for someone who's spent so many years with her head literally up in the clouds! The unique combination of her extraordinary experiences and her natural ability to make you think and laugh at the same time make her fascinating to listen to" - Caroline
"Wow- Jo was absolutely fantastic. An amazing guest speaker, totally engaging, hilariously funny and has an incredible story to share about facing adversity, diversity and performing at your very best! We loved having her, feedback was amazing, we just wish we had all day just to hear all her incredible stories. Totally loved it! Thank you, Jo" - Amy, Wells Fargo
"The group got so much inspiration and learning from her and were very impressed with the amount of time she gave to the group over the evening." - Sarah, Allied Irish Banks AIB and AIB Group
"Jo was fantastic, the overwhelming feedback from across the organisation was that she was an incredible speaker who spoke very passionately about the topic. Everyone really enjoyed her session and I have to say she was incredibly easy to work with." - Kate, Imperial Tobacco
"It went really well, Jo is such a great speaker and had everyone captivated, I’m really looking forward to hearing her again!" - Liz, DP World
"We have received tons of positive feedback on Jo – she was amazing and did exactly what we wanted: she was inspirational, conveyed the right messaging on mindset, overcoming obstacles and energized the team after a heavy content-driven morning. I think many of the colleagues would have loved to spend more time with her afterwards for additional Q&A – so big thumbs up from our end and please send her from the entire IPB EMEA team a warmhearted thanks!" - Eva, Head of Marketing & Communications EMEA Deutsche Bank
"The event went really well thank you, everyone enjoyed the talk Jo delivered, in our feedback survey Jo was the most popular segment of the day. Her talk was very inspirational and staff resonated with her overcoming obstacles that she faced being in a male dominated field. The feedback from staff was that Jo added humour, Jo listened to what we asked in the pre meet, and turned this into a bespoke product for us. Staff benefited from Jo’s continued message in assertiveness during challenging situations. Jo was very professional and engaged with us enabling is to deliver a successful guest speaker." - Martin, Home Office
"Jo was truly fantastic, she captivated the room so easily and the feedback I’ve had from attendees so far is that her journey and leadership experience really resonated with everyone on various levels. It was a real pleasure to have her attend and we look forward to hopefully working with her again on future events." - Jessica, SSCL
"Jo was absolutely fantastic! An absolutely brilliant speaker who pitched her talk perfectly to the audience and managed to connect her story to the theme. She was personable, funny and super inspiring." - Danielle, Field Marketing Senior Specialist, Equinix
"Listening to Jo recount her experiences really brought home just how ground-breaking her career has been. Yet, despite her impressive achievements, she was willing to talk frankly about the mistakes she made along the way. We were delighted to be able to welcome Jo into the organisation. She spoke with warmth and humour - and had an infectious energy that gave everyone attending a boost." - Jamie, Learning Programme Manager, Ministry of Defence
"Jo was absolutely amazing, she was so engaging and inspiring and very easy to deal with on site too! She was absolute joy to work with and listen too so thank you for your help organising this! I hope she enjoyed her time with us too. We have had really positive feedback from our attendees about her." - Zara, Event and Programme Coordinator , Summit Events
"It was a really inspirational speech and the meeting participants thoroughly enjoyed it. We especially appreciated the link she made with Sika." - Christine, Head of Regional Communications and Marketing EMEA, Sika
"Jo went down a storm with our attendees. We’ve had such great feedback and she was such a pleasure to work with. The hour flew by so quickly and we were left feeling so inspired and wanting more. We will definitely be having Jo back again to share more of her amazing experiences when the time is right." - Chloe, Learning & Development Coordinator, Clyde & Co LLP
"The event was great and Jo did fantastic job. She was definitely the best choice!" - Agata, BP
"Jo was incredible! Loads of people joined. I have seen her speak a couple of times now and she is so captivating and humble. Just wonderful." - Laura, Learning Partner HPC & NP, EDF Energy
"Having Jo Salter as our keynote speaker during our employee resource group affinity month was inspirational. The session was more of a conversation which made it feel natural, and we really got to know who Jo was and gained an in-depth view into her background. I would highly recommend having her speak at any engagement. Jo Salter's insights and expertise added immense value to our event, and her ability to connect with the audience on a personal level left a lasting impression. Thank you, Jo, for sharing your inspiring journey with us!" - Coinbase
"So much to take away from the meetings and presentations. From ‘taking a step back and breathe’ from Jo Salter to one of my personal highlights." - Abbott Nutrition
"I just wanted to send a thank you! The session was a huge success, and everyone found Dr Jo an inspiration. Thank you both for everything and for helping coordinate with Dr Jo!" - Erin, Alnylam
- 2024 - Global Advisory GenAI for PwC
- 2024 - Risk GenAI for PwC
- 2023 - Assignment at PwC Australia
- 2022 - Received an honourary doctorate from Bournemouth University
- 2022 - Appointed MBE in the New Year Honours for Services to Aviation
- 2021 - Director of Global Transformative Leadership for PWC
- 2020 - Director of Risk Technology Strategy for PWC
- 2018 - Director of Chief of Staff to Head of Technology & Investments for PWC
- 2015 - Director of People & Organisations for PWC
- 2008 - Ambassador for Global Angels
- 2004 - Managing Director of Saltin Ltd
- 2006 - Pilot on 6 AEF for RAF Benson
- 2000 - Associate Lecturer for the Open University Business School
- 2000 - European Operations Manager for Automated Power Exchange
- 1999 - Head of Technical Services for NetConnect
- 1994 - Pilot in the 617 Sqn
- 1986 - Officer in the Royal Air Force
