Kirsty Murphy MBE is a decorated former fast-jet pilot, best known as the first and only female pilot to serve in the RAF Red Arrows. With a seventeen-year career in the Royal Air Force, she has become an enduring symbol of courage, excellence, and progress in British aviation. Her speaking style is engaging, authentic and deeply motivational, offering unique insight into leadership, mental health, and diversity in high-pressure environments.
Murphy’s passion for aviation began in childhood, influenced by her father’s role as a Tornado GR1 navigator. At just 16, she took her first flying lesson and later pursuing this passion academically, earning a Master’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering with German from Imperial College London. She also completed a research project at the Technische Universität in Munich, developing an innovative method of flow visualisation - an early sign of her technical ingenuity and fearless approach to challenging environments.
In 1998, Murphy joined the Royal Air Force, where she trained as a fast-jet pilot and became an A2-qualified flying instructor and Instrument Rating Examiner. She flew 39 operational missions over Iraq as part of XIII Squadron, before making history in 2009 when she was selected to join the RAF Red Arrows - an elite display team representing the pinnacle of British aviation. After leaving the military, she flew with The Blades Aerobatic Display Team, took on high-profile aviation event management roles, and was appointed an Aviation Ambassador by the Department for Transport in 2019. In 2021, she was honoured with an MBE for services to aviation.
Kirsty Murphy is an exceptional keynote speaker whose impact goes far beyond her flying credentials. She speaks with honesty about the personal toll of high-risk professions, sharing her experience of overcoming anxiety and emotional burnout through Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). She now works at Connected Places Catapult, contributing to aviation sustainability and innovation. Her talks cover themes including gender equality, mental health, STEM careers, and leadership under pressure - topics that resonate across industries. Audiences leave empowered, informed, and inspired by her journey, making her a compelling choice for corporate events, education settings, and industry conferences alike.
Kirsty Murphy's official speaker topics are listed below:
- Breaking Barriers in Military Aviation
- Diversity & Inclusion in Aerospace
- High-Risk Decision-Making and Resilience
- Innovation and the Future of Flight
- Leadership in Elite Teams
- Mental Health in High-Pressure Professions
- Women in STEM & Aviation
- 2021 – Awarded MBE for services to aviation
- 2019 – Appointed Aviation Ambassador by the Department for Transport
- 2009 – Became the first and only female pilot in the RAF Red Arrows
- 1998 – Joined the Royal Air Force as a fast-jet pilot
How to hire Kirsty Murphy MBE
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Kirsty Murphy 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.
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