Cansu Canca
AI Ethics Expert & Philosopher | Founder & Director, AI Ethics Lab | Director of Responsible AI, Northeastern University | AI Ethics Advisor to the UN, WEF & INTERPOL
Jo Salter
First Female Fast Jet Pilot, Royal Air Force | Former Tornado Pilot, 617 "Dambusters" Squadron | MBE | Former Director, PwC
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Dr Jo Salter MBE broke one of aviation's toughest barriers as the Royal Air Force's first female fast jet pilot, flying the Tornado with the legendary 617 "Dambusters" Squadron. She went on to lead global transformation programs at PwC. On stage, she shares how to lead under pressure, make decisions with incomplete information, and build the resilience to break through any barrier.
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Jo Salter biography
Leadership speaker Jo Salter made history as the first female fast jet pilot in the Royal Air Force. After earning her wings in 1992, she flew the Panavia Tornado GR1 ground-attack aircraft as a Flight Lieutenant with 617 Squadron, the legendary Dambusters, breaking one of the most demanding barriers in military aviation and opening the cockpit to the generations of women who followed.
Salter joined the RAF at 18 while studying at the Royal Military College of Science and served for twelve years before continuing as a reservist, flying Air Cadets on Air Experience Flights. She was appointed MBE for services to aviation and received an honorary doctorate from Bournemouth University. Today she is an Honorary Group Captain with 601 Squadron, a trustee of the Royal Air Force Club, and an associate lecturer on the Open University Business School’s MBA program.
From the Cockpit to the Boardroom
After the RAF, Salter built a second career leading people and change in global business. At PwC she served as Director of People and Organisation, leading a global team of 10,000 across 138 countries, and later as Director of Global Transformative Leadership, overseeing a Workday implementation affecting more than 240,000 people in 157 territories, before advising on generative AI. Her story has been featured by the RAF Benevolent Fund, and she holds a BEng and an MBA alongside her honorary doctorate.
As a speaker, Jo Salter brings the precision of a fighter pilot and the perspective of a global business leader. She shows audiences how to lead under pressure, make sound decisions with incomplete information, build trust in high-performing teams, and develop the resilience to break through barriers of every kind. Audiences leave inspired and equipped with practical tools they can use in their own organizations.
Jo Salter Speaking Videos
Trailblazing the Skies with Pilot Jo Salter
Dr. Jo Salter MBE: Why the Best Leaders Have the Courage to Go First
Jo Salter Speaking Topics
As the RAF’s first female fast jet pilot, Salter faced intense scrutiny and pressure in one of the world’s most demanding environments. She shares what flying the Tornado taught her about preparation, accountability, and leading by example, and how leaders can open doors for others while staying at the top of their game.
In the cockpit, hesitation is not an option. Salter explains how fighter pilots make fast, sound decisions with incomplete information, manage risk, and recover from mistakes, and how teams can build the same calm, disciplined resilience when the stakes are high.
Drawing on her PwC career leading a global team of 10,000 and a change program affecting more than 240,000 people, Salter shows how to bring people with you through large-scale transformation: setting a clear mission, building trust across cultures, and keeping momentum when the pressure is relentless.
Having advised on generative AI at PwC, Salter explores how leaders can guide their people through technology-driven change, balancing innovation with trust, wellbeing, and clear communication.
Explore related topics
FAQs on Booking Jo Salter
Booking Dr Jo Salter MBE brings your audience a true pioneer: the Royal Air Force’s first female fast jet pilot, who later led global transformation programs at PwC. She combines gripping stories from the Tornado cockpit with practical lessons from the boardroom on leadership, decision-making, and resilience. Engaging and authentic, she inspires audiences to push past their own barriers and lead with confidence. She is an ideal choice for leadership conferences, women-in-leadership events, and organizations navigating change. To book Jo Salter, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau and one of our founders will respond within 24 hours.
Yes. Jo Salter became the first female fast jet pilot in the Royal Air Force, flying the Panavia Tornado GR1 with 617 Squadron, the famous Dambusters, after earning her wings in 1992.
After twelve years of service, Salter built a career in global business, including senior leadership roles at PwC, where she led a global people and organization team of 10,000 and large-scale transformation programs. She was appointed MBE for services to aviation and is an Honorary Group Captain with 601 Squadron.
Salter speaks on breaking barriers and leadership, decision-making and resilience under pressure, leading large-scale transformation, and guiding people through AI and change. Each keynote is tailored to the audience. Contact Aurum Speakers Bureau to customize a session for your event.
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Jo Salter as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Jo Salter's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Jo Salter or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
Jo Salter speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Jo Salter to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Jo Salter.
We only work with Jo Salter on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Jo Salter and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Jo Salter speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact Jo Salter for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Yes, Jo Salter is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Jo Salter for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
