Former RAF and Red Arrows pilot, Justin Hughes is a highly sort after motivational speaker with extensive experience on high performing teams. Justin offers a unique insight into the world’s most celebrated formation acrobatic team.

Justin joined the RAF aged 23, having previously served as an Army Officer. During officer training, he was awarded the Wilkinson Sword for Outstanding Leadership, graduating as the top cadet of his entry. After completing flying training, Justin went on to fly the Tornado F3, the RAF’s front-line air defence fighter aircraft, taking part in both training and operational deployments all over the world, including support of UN peacekeeping operations in Bosnia. He was subsequently selected for the Red Arrows, serving the team for three years, performing in over 250 displays worldwide which included three international tours. During his time with the Red Arrows Justin was promoted to Deputy Team Leader and then Executive Officer, responsible for operational day-to-day management of the team.

On leaving the RAF, Justin founded Mission Excellence, an organisational performance consultancy focused on improving clients’ ability to execute. Consultants are predominantly former military fighter pilots including several Red Arrows. Areas of intervention include advanced planning and problem solving, team and leadership development, teamwork in high-risk environments, and achieving continuous improvement. With an MBA with Distinction from the London Business School, Justin is also an investor and founding partner in a retail fashion business and is currently a non-executive adviser to Inox, a market hedge fund.

Justin is also an established and highly recommended keynote speaker with presentations focused on leadership, teamwork, accountability and commitment. In 2004 Justin addressed Europe’s largest gathering of business leaders; the Institute of Directors’ Annual Convention at the Royal Albert Hall and in 2007, he was invited to speak at the Middle East’s Premier Leadership Forum, ‘Leaders in Dubai’, alongside Kofi Annan and Sir Richard Branson.

Justin pairs his presentations with powerful Red Arrows film demonstrating the importance of clear communication. Previous clients include: 3M, AstraZeneca, BP, Cisco Systems, GlaxoSmithKline, Henley Management College, HSBC, IBM, Lacoste, Lloyds TSB, Merrill Lynch, the NHS, Prudential Assurance, The Royal Bank of Scotland, Saatchi and Saatchi, Unisys and Vodafone.

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