Justin Hughes
Expert on Building High-Performance Cultures Speaker
Justin Hughes is a former RAF fighter pilot and Red Arrows Pilot, and an authoritative speaker on teamwork and achieving high performance
As a former fighter pilot, Executive Officer of the Red Arrows, senior corporate executive and current biotech entrepreneur addressing climate change, Justin has ‘skin in the game’ when it comes to building high-performance cultures. He is a renowned speaker on a range of related topics including leadership, building high-performance teams (inc virtual), decision-making under ambiguity, and high-risk environments. Delivery options include keynotes, facilitation and workshops and he has extensive experience with diverse audiences in the US, Europe, the Middle and Far East, and China.
Justin brings an unusual combination of a highly engaging delivery style and clear, actionable insights based on first-hand knowledge of the most demanding operating environments. His passion for high performance evolved from his experience as a fighter pilot, flying in over 250 displays worldwide on the Red Arrows. Justin’s BETTUR (Better Understanding of Reality) model is based on personal learning of how you plan, execute and adapt in situations characterised by ambiguity, imperfect information, speed of change and pressure to deliver.
Since leaving the RAF, Justin has worked as a strategic adviser who partners with senior leadership teams to improve organizational effectiveness. Clients have included Microsoft, the United Nations and Mercedes Formula 1, and he is a regular contributor to BP’s global Leading in Operations programme.
Justin is the author of The Business of Excellence (Bloomsbury, 2016), has been profiled in the London Standard, Director Magazine, the Daily Telegraph and the Independent, and interviewed for BBC World ‘Talking Business’, BBC Breakfast and GB News.
Justin has an MBA with Distinction from London Business School and an MSt with Distinction in International Relations from the University of Cambridge. For the latter, he planned a thesis on pandemics but thought nobody would be interested (in 2017!), and instead analysed the threat posed by cryptocurrency to the financial order; he is currently sitting on a return of 1000%; unfortunately he only bought $30.
SPEAKING TOPICS
Justin Hughes is a renowned speaker on high performance, operational excellence, leadership, decision-making and risk and behavioural safety and safety culture.
Speaking topics include –
• Building High-performance Cultures
• Leading Change
• Building Resilience for Low-Impact High-Consequence Events
• Ambiguity, Imperfect Information, and Decision-Making
In The Business of Excellence, Justin Hughes articulates a clear strategy for the pursuit of excellence coming from his many years of experience as a fighter pilot and entrepreneur. I am a big fan of learning from other environments and highly recommend it.
— Paddy Lowe, Executive Director, Mercedes Grand Prix
A superb first-class delivery with captivating real-life experiences around leadership behaviours and accelerated learning through high impact de-brief sessions all underpinned with attitude over skill. Insights, learnings and business models in abundance notwithstanding a real pleasure to work with.
— Mark Bradley, Managing Director, Plumbase
Justin wowed our audience at the World Class Leadership 2018 Conference. His blend of insight and humour was both entertaining and captivating. He provided a powerful and unique view into world-class teamwork and leadership. I very much look forward to working with him again.
— Simon Hartley, Organiser World Class Leadership Conference
…nothing short of excellent demonstrating a wealth of operational experience, knowledge and the ability to relate that to our environment. All expectations were exceeded.
— London Luton Airport
Feedback was massively positive and some of the best we’ve had
— Fujitsu Services (EMEIA)
Justin is one of a rare breed of speakers who absolutely engages and captivates an audience, providing clear takeaways to action straight away into positive business results
— Harrington Starr
Justin Hughes was guest speaker at the Annual Gala Dinner of the Northern Ireland Aerospace Consortium. In a wide-ranging and informative presentation laced with humorous anecdotes, Justin impressed the audience. The superb aerial displays are truly fine examples of teamwork at its best. In the short time available to him, Justin conveyed brilliantly the sense of camaraderie, dedication and commitment that are requisite attributes for success in his chosen profession.
— Paul Madden, Chief Executive, Northern Ireland Aerospace Consortium
The keynote worked extremely well; you had done your homework and researched our business. The presentation was memorable and will motivate the group as a whole. I look forward to working with you closely in the future on UK or other opportunities as they arise. I will recommend Justin Hughes to other businesses and friends and colleagues both within and outside of optics.
— Nick Loan, Managing Director, Bausch & Lomb (UK
Feedback was very positive. Front line team managers found the presentation to be interesting, enlightening and particularly relevant to the skills and behavior expected of leaders in business today. Justin had done his homework on our organisation and was able to translate very effectively in what ways our managers could apply the concepts being presented.
— Lisa Butterball, HR Manager, De Veer Group
