Mandy Hickson

Mandy Hickson, one of the first female pilots to fly the Tornado GR4 on the front line, brings unmatched expertise from over 30 years in aviation, including 45 combat missions and three operational tours. Her bestselling memoir, An Officer, Not a Gentleman, charts her pioneering journey through a male-dominated environment, offering powerful insights into resilience, trust and leadership. Today, Mandy translates those lessons into practical strategies that help organisations build high-performing teams, foster psychological safety and thrive under pressure.

Leading through uncertainty, making critical decisions when the stakes are highest, and building teams that perform under pressure are challenges every organisation faces. Mandy Hickson is a former RAF fast jet pilot and highly respected keynote speaker who brings unmatched insight into these challenges from one of the most demanding environments imaginable: the cockpit of a Tornado GR4 on the front line. As one of the first women to fly fighter jets in combat operations, Mandy specialises in leadership, decision-making under pressure, and creating high-performing teams built on trust, psychological safety, and diverse thinking.

Mandy's career in the Royal Air Force began in 1994, and she went on to complete 45 operational missions, including three tours of duty enforcing the No Fly zone over Iraq. Her experience leading teams in hostile, high-stakes environments taught her what it truly takes to make split-second decisions, manage risk, and maintain performance when failure is not an option. Since leaving full-time service, Mandy has built a successful career translating those lessons into practical strategies for business, working with over 500 schools globally to promote STEM education and diversity, and serving as an Aviation Ambassador for the Department for Transport. She is also a Trustee for the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust and a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. Her bestselling memoir, An Officer, Not a Gentleman, became a number one biography on Amazon and offers a candid, inspiring account of her pioneering journey through a male-dominated world. Mandy was also shortlisted as a finalist for Inspiration of the Year at the Ex-Forces in Business Awards, recognising her continued impact beyond the military.

Mandy's keynotes are known for their engaging storytelling, humour, and emotional connection, leaving audiences not just inspired but equipped with actionable tools they can apply immediately. She works with organisations across sectors, from global corporates to public sector teams, helping leaders foster cultures of psychological safety, embed debriefing for continuous improvement, and leverage diverse thinking to drive innovation. Whether addressing senior leadership or inspiring entire organisations, Mandy delivers grounded, real-world strategies that enable people to thrive in fast-paced, ever-changing environments. Her approach is rooted in lived experience, not theory, and her dynamic, down-to-earth delivery ensures lasting impact long after the event.