John Peters

John Peters came to the world’s attention in January 1991, when as a prisoner of war, his disfigured image that became a potent symbol of Saddam Hussein’s ruthless aggression.

The impact he has on an audience is reflected by the standing ovations he so often gets and overwhelming response he always receives after his presentations.

John came to the world's attention in January 1991, when his beaten face was exposed on television screens around the world. It was his disfigured image that became a potent symbol of Saddam Hussein's ruthless aggression. His harrowing experiences touch his audience’s minds and souls, John’s near death experiences brings all of our lives into perspective.

John is an experienced speaker with a global reputation. He was the sole reader representing the British Armed Forces at the National Gulf Memorial Service, in front of Her Majesty, The Queen and presented the Sir James Martin Lecture at the Royal Aeronautical Society in the presence of Prince Philip. Furthermore, he followed Nelson Mandela on stage in South Africa and achieved a standing ovation.

His heart-wrenching story combined with his sense of humour helps audiences to see the lighter side of his experience, his emotive moments helping audiences to understand life’s struggles and challenges. He can seamlessly and skilfully relate his experiences to current business issues.

John has a Master's Degree in Business Administration and was responsible for a cultural change programme in the RAF. This initiative was awarded the 1999 Flight International Aerospace Industry Award for Training and Safety. He is also a former Chair of The Association of MBA's.

On leaving the RAF, he has worked internationally providing business critical development, consulting, and coaching through a leadership lens.  Using his Gulf War, POW experience, international media exposure, award-winning Human Factors development programme in high-performance aviation and 20 years’ consultancy business, John challenges leaders’ approach to uncertainty, organisational learning, trust and failure.

His is a Visiting Professor and runs numerous Executive MBA programmes for business schools and has been Chair of the Association of MBAs, (the international MBA gold-standard accreditation), is a Trustee of the Royal Air Force Club, a RAFA Ambassador and is Governor of Worcester Royal Grammar School and Patron to KidsOut, a charity supporting disadvantaged children.  He is married with grown-up two children.

He has written two best-selling books and the documentary, ‘Tornado Down’ was Independent Documentary of the Year and a BAFTA Award Nominee. He has extensive international TV, radio, PR and media experience and has built up an international speaking reputation, including American, South African, Swedish, Maltese, French, German and Australian audiences.

John is one of the leading motivational speakers in the UK. He is superbly masterful when motivating and inspiring an audience, or when he enthrals guests as an after-dinner speaker. They leave with an inspired sense of purpose, with a greater understanding of how to cope with unexpected change and how to drive through these difficulties to set and achieve real goals.