Speaker Matt Lindley is an LGBTQ+ diversity expert and former RAF pilot. As a royal pilot, Matt had to hide his true self: however, thanks to an inspirational leader in the Royal Squadron, Matt came out and found his professional and personal strength. Currently, Matt offers great workshops and keynotes based on aviation lessons to reduce human error and to inspire all people about Diversity and Inclusive Leadership.
Why you should book speaker Matt Lindley
- As one of the first openly gay pilots in the Armed Forces, Matt brings his unique and frank story of mental resilience, determination and self-motivation: he made it to the top in an incredibly hostile and oppressive environment – and now he can help you.
- His keynotes and workshops feature real-life aviation examples and fascinating case studies: there is always a lot of useful ‘take-home’ advice for the audience.
While in the closet, speaker Matt Lindley had to shut out his inner feelings to fulfil his dreams and qualify as a Fast Jet Pilot: when he joined the Royal Air Force in 1995 it was against the law to be homosexual. For this reason, Matt took a huge mental toll and hid his real self in an intolerant and macho environment, only to find his stress levels unmanageably high a couple of years later.
Eventually, Matt moved to the Royal Squadron where he met an inspirational and inclusive leader who helped him both professionally and personally. As a result, when the law changed in the United Kingdom, speaker Matt Lindley eventually came out and became one of the first gay pilots in the service. Formerly, Matt Lindley has flown The Queen, The Royal Family and Government Ministers worldwide for over 10 years and he is currently a commercial long haul pilot.
In addition to flying, speaker Matt Lindley offers great workshops and keynotes based on aviation lessons to reduce human error in the workplace. His fascinating case studies of aircraft accidents and the valuable takeaways he offers make him a true crowd favourite. Moreover, his Inclusive Leadership and Diversity keynotes are all relevant to wider issues of marginalisation, not just for LGBTQ+ but for gender or ethnic minority audiences.
See keynotes with Matt Lindley