Matt Lindley is a highly sought-after keynote speaker, blending his experience as a former RAF Royal Squadron Pilot and current British Airways Captain with a powerful personal story of resilience and transformation. Known for his engaging and relatable style, Matt inspires audiences through his unique perspective on leadership, human performance and inclusion. As one of the first openly gay pilots in the Royal Air Force, he overcame adversity in a traditionally conservative environment, becoming a trailblazer in both aviation and diversity advocacy.
Matt’s journey began with a commerce degree from the University of Birmingham, which led him to the Ford Motor Company, where he worked as a Japanese Management Consultant. It was here he honed his understanding of organisational performance and operational efficiency. In 1995, he was selected to become a Fast Jet Pilot in the Royal Air Force - fulfilling a lifelong dream despite the ban on LGBTQ+ personnel at the time. Matt navigated the challenges of serving in silence, a formative experience that would later inform his work in inclusive leadership and mental wellbeing.
During his distinguished RAF career, Matt flew multiple aircraft including the Hawk and later earned selection to the elite Royal Squadron, becoming a VIP Captain responsible for flying Her Majesty The Queen, members of the Royal Family and the UK Prime Minister. He served in high-risk deployments in Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan and Sierra Leone, and became a qualified flying instructor. In 2007, he transitioned to commercial aviation, becoming a Boeing 747 Pilot for British Airways, and currently flies the Boeing 777. In parallel, he founded Propel Performance in 2012 and later became Partner & Head of Human Performance at Verpora, delivering training based on aviation safety models to reduce human error in healthcare and corporate environments.
Organisations book Matt not only for his compelling story but for his deep insights into leadership, safety, communication and culture. His keynotes are rich with real-life anecdotes, psychology and interactive learning. He speaks on vital topics such as inclusive leadership, mental health, decision-making under pressure, and human error, equipping teams with strategies to build safer, more inclusive, and high-performing environments. Whether sharing his journey of overcoming stigma or explaining why people make mistakes in high-stakes industries, Matt delivers talks that are both impactful and deeply human - making him a keynote speaker who leaves a lasting impression.
Matt Lindley's official speaking topics are listed below:
- Allyship
- Authentic Self
- Banter in the Workplace
- Communication & Assertiveness
- Conflict Management
- Decision-Making Under Stress
- Flattening Hierarchy
- Human Limitations at Work
- Inclusive Leadership
- Leadership and Behaviour
- Management Lessons from the Flight Deck
- Mental Health
- Speak-Up Culture
- Stress, Fatigue & Human Performance
Official Feedback from In-Person & Virtual Events
Feedback from Virtual Events:
"It was brilliant – he was great, super engaging and people were hanging on his every word, even on Zoom! Have had some great feedback already, so we are really pleased." - Charlotte, Vice President, Operations Control Management, J.P. Morgan
"The delivery by Matt was exceptional, his take on his experiences in the RAF really hit the mark and his humour/story telling was appreciated by so many. From those that I have discussed this with they were extremely impressed with his presentation, there was so much contained within it that it really gave food for thought on how the RAF was then and how it is now. His range was truly amazing from his sexuality, his drive and motivation, mental health and leadership (being able to listen) everyone listening was able to take something from it. Truly remarkable and in all honesty I so glad we could have him deliver for us." - Paul, RAFC Cranwell
Feedback from In-Person Events:
"A very informative presentation - it was highly enjoyable learning about experiences from other industries and how lessons learnt elsewhere can be applied in the legal workplace."
"I really enjoyed it. I was (honestly) quite sceptical about this topic but I found it really helpful."
"Matt is a very engaging speaker who really knows his stuff - he uses diverse case studies across sectors to illustrate his points expertly well. I left the training as if I had really learnt something."
"A refreshing and engaging training session dealing with some of the softer skills which are often overlooked by the industry."
"I cannot recommend Matt highly enough. He talked to the Close Brothers community about his journey and it resonated incredibly well with all colleagues, not just those from the LQBQT community. His candour and honesty really connected with people, and the ties with wider mental wellness and resilience were incredibly topical given the current pandemic. His humour shone through and it was one of the best received external speakers we have had to date. A thorough recommendation..." - Martyn, Atkinson Group, Chief Operating Officer
"I was fortunate enough to listen to Matt speak at a recent LGBT diversity and inclusion event. Matt shared his own journey as a gay man growing up and achieving his dream to be a pilot which took him the macho world of the RAF and how throughout this time he kept his sexuality bottled. He was able to thread into this the impact that sustained stress and stressful events can have on your performance and if left unchecked the catastrophic outcomes that can result. He sincerely described how having to hide one’s sexuality is a significant source of sustained stress in one’s life providing a compelling reason why being inclusive is so essential to avoid this unnecessary situation. It also served as a reminder that each and everyone one of us faces stress and stressful situations everyday whether it be about being LGBT, a difficult family situations, illness the list goes on and reminded me how embracing diversity and being supportive of each other is beneficial to our overall well-being." - Brad, Royal Bank of Canada
"The event went amazingly well - and Matt was brilliant! We have already received great feedback and everyone was pleasantly surprised with how broad his presentation was as well." - Lillie, Convex Insurance
"I wanted to please express my thanks to Matt Lindley for his impactful session with our ND function, at EDF. We’ve had some really positive feedback." - Kim, Inclusion & Wellbeing Lead, EDF Energy
"Matt delivered an exceptional and emotional talk that connected with every member of our audience." - Sarah, Head of Learning & Development, NHS Trust
"Inspirational, insightful and thoroughly engaging - Matt’s story sparked meaningful discussions across our leadership team." - David, Director, Mars Pet Care
"Matt was the highlight of our conference. His mix of vulnerability and expertise was truly powerful." - Emily, HR Manager, The Home Office
"A brilliant speaker with an important message - professional, articulate, and emotionally resonant throughout." - Tom, Senior Editor, The New York Times
- 2020 – Boeing 777 Airline Pilot for British Airways
- 2019 – Partner & Head of Human Performance Factors for Verpora
- 2018 – Diversity & Leadership Keynote Speaker for TLC Lions
- 2013 – Founded Propel Performance
- 2012 – Director of Propel Performance
- 2007 – Boeing 747-400 Airline Pilot for British Airways
- 1999 – RAF VIP Training Captain flying the Royal Family and Prime Minister
- 1995 – Selected as RAF Fast Jet Pilot
- 1994 – Japanese Management Consultant at Ford Motor Company
How to hire Matt Lindley
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Matt Lindley 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.
