Never be a prisoner of your past; it was a lesson, not a life sentence
A former RAF Tornado pilot, John Peters was shot down during the Gulf War and held as a prisoner under brutal interrogation. He became a global symbol of resilience under pressure. He is not a speaker who talks about resilience — he shows people what it looks like when everything is stripped away, and how it can be rebuilt. He turns extreme experiences into practical leadership insight.
It is a story of choice under pressure, leadership without authority, and how the human spirit adapts, endures and grows through adversity. Despite the intensity of his story, John speaks with warmth, humility and an innate sense of humour, making complex topics such as resilience, mental health and decision-making under pressure deeply relatable and immediately applicable. John helps leaders and teams globally to navigate uncertainty, turbulence and sustained performance demands.
He has shared stages with Nelson Mandela, addressed audiences in the presence of Her Majesty, The Queen and Prince Philip, and is the author of two best-selling books.
Talking Points
Keynote Presentations
John draws on his unique experience to speak on resilience, agility, leadership, dealing with uncertainty, agility and having a high-performance mindset.Keynote Presentations
Resilient Agility
Leading in uncertainty. Coping with uncertainty
Performance under Pressure
Grit and mental wellbeing
Dealing with the unexpected and managing the pressure?
Resilience, mental toughness and dealing with vulnerabilities.
The mindset of a Fighter Pilot
Video
John Peters | Gulf War POW, Performance Coach & Best-Selling Author | Saxton Speaker
John Peters shares a gripping account of his experience as a Gulf War POW, where he faced harrowing moments, including being shot down, captured, and subjected to brutal physical and psychological torture in Baghdad. His powerful story, broadcast to millions worldwide, became a symbol of resilience. In this video, John unpacks how he transformed his extreme adversity into a foundation for unshakable confidence and strength. As a sought-after Speaker, Performance Coach, and Best-Selling Author, he challenges audiences to embrace failures, adapt to change, and choose their future with intention. Whether you're seeking an inspiring Speaker, MC, or Entertainer, discover more about John Peters' extraordinary journey and insights on the Saxton Speakers website.John Peters on 'Coping and Decision Making Under Pressure' at the Centre of Leadership Performance
Many will remember John Peters from the 1991 Gulf War when, as a prisoner of war, the enduring, iconic image of his battered and bruised face was paraded on television by Saddam Hussein's brutal regime. His ordeal was one of seven weeks of physical and psychological torture, documented in the best-selling Tornado Down. Since that defining moment, John has translated his experience to connect with, and create success for, numerous businesses and organisations. From the heart, he inspires and motivates audiences to succeed when the going gets tough, see opportunity in 'failure', and be resilient in uncertain times.John Peters: Gulf War POW, performance coach and best-selling author of 'Tornado Down'
An introduction to former RAF pilot, Gulf War POW, performance coach and best-selling author of 'Tornado Down' John Peters. Many will remember John Peters from the 1991 Gulf War when, as a prisoner of war, the enduring, iconic image of his battered and bruised face was paraded on television by Saddam Hussein's brutal regime. His ordeal was one of seven weeks of physical and psychological torture, documented in the best-selling Tornado Down. Since that defining moment, John has translated his experience to connect with, and create success for, numerous businesses and organisations. From the heart, he inspires and motivates audiences to succeed when the going gets tough, see opportunity in 'failure', and be resilient in uncertain times.Gulf War POW, RAF pilot & best-selling author John Peters | 2014 Saxton Ultimate Event Experience
Many will remember John Peters from the 1991 Gulf War when, as a prisoner of war, the enduring, iconic image of his battered and bruised face was paraded on television by Saddam Hussein's brutal regime. His ordeal was one of seven weeks of physical and psychological torture, documented in the best-selling Tornado Down. Since that defining moment, John has translated his experience to connect with, and create success for, numerous businesses and organisations. From the heart, he inspires and motivates audiences to succeed when the going gets tough, see opportunity in 'failure', and be resilient in uncertain times.Anyone who has had the privilege of listening to you speak cannot be anything other than impressed by your attitude to life and your determination, courage and integrity. Yours is a gripping ... keep reading West Mercia Police
John Peters - what an inspiration! What I found most powerful was his totally down to earth and dignified approach towards life threatening experiences.
John was great. Probably the most powerful story the audience has ever heard. Quite controversial, but we wanted to stir up the audience and get them really talking and thinking about the messages he delivered in his presentation.
We work with many different speakers, across different events, but you are one that will stay firmly in our memories. Having already read your brilliant book Tornado Down, I thought I knew what to expect, but your delivery was gripping and took your story to a whole new dimension. The audience was hanging on your every word, sucked into the adrenaline highs and excruciating lows of your time as a POW. Your formidable mental approach comes across as super-human, until the moment when you break it down into simple actionable steps A, B, C, D… in a way that can inspire all of us to turn adversity into opportunity. I’m excited about the future and you have played a pivotal part in that. Thank you so very much.
John was amazing. He was raw, real, open and an outstanding presenter. I have never seen the room enjoy and engage in a 50 minute keynote like they did on Monday night. John was incredibly easy to talk to and answered all questions asked in depth and honestly. John’s personal insights into your value system gave many a huge amount of value and I have received feedback from many attendees that they are going to make meaningful change on the back of what they learnt from John.
I have seen some speakers in my time, but you are the first to provide a presentation that was truly overwhelming. You came across as one of us, a real person and the way you delivered your amazing story and experiences touched the whole audience, as the content was relevant to every single person. It was powerful stuff and I felt very privileged to have even been there.
One minute I wanted to cry my eyes out and the next minute you had me laughing out loud... the feedback has been incredible. Twitter has gone mad. Thought provoking, empowering and inspirational are just a few of the words people have used to describe yesterday's event.
I am left with a lasting impression of John Peters, who will remain in my memory as one of the most incredible and emotional speakers that I have ever experienced and had the honour of hearing.
There was no one in the room that wasn't one minute moved to tears, the next gasping or laughing. I know I was riveted throughout your presentation. You have a great sense of humour as well as real humility. It was a truly a memorable experience reach for us at the event.
I have never seen the officer cadets so obviously captivated before: it is a feat in itself to keep them awake, but to maintain their interest is almost unheard of! It is only the second time that I've ever heard the cadets give such a prolonged ovation to a speaker at Sandhurst.
Latest News
Neale Daniher: A Legacy That Will Outlast The Beast
Three Stories, One Expert: What Dr Zac Seidler's Week in the Media Tells Us About Men Right Now
How to Measure Event ROI: Why 72% of the Industry Says Outcome Measurement Is Now Essential
