Available to book
Colin Maclachlan
Leadership Development
Team Building
High Performance
Transform teams through resilience and leadership with Colin Maclachlan, speaker and former SAS operator. Colin works with organisations to develop crisis management strategies and elite performance mindsets, delivering combat-tested insights from high-stakes military operations and security consultancy.
Event Hosts
Military
Author
Inspirational
Adventurer
Motivational
Colin Maclachlan is a distinguished former SAS operator with over 30 years of experience in security and risk management. His remarkable journey began when he joined the army and, by the age of 23, successfully passed selection into the elite 22 SAS. Colin's career has been marked by participation in high-profile missions, including Operation Certain Death, where he played a crucial role in rescuing British soldiers held hostage by a guerrilla gang in Sierra Leone. His expertise also saw him as the first sniper on the scene during a hijacked Afghan flight incident in London, which became the longest hostage siege on UK soil.
Colin's experiences took a harrowing turn when he was taken hostage in Basra, Iraq. Enduring a mock execution, he demonstrated remarkable resilience, surviving long enough for British troops to rescue him. Following his time in the SAS, Colin engaged in security consultancy for prominent figures, including the Saudi Royal Family and A-list celebrities. He later pursued higher education, earning a First-Class MA (Hons.) in History from the University of Edinburgh and an MLit in Terrorism from the University of St Andrews.
In addition to his extensive military background, Colin is actively involved in various charitable initiatives, serving as an ambassador for organisations such as the Lee Rigby Foundation and NSPCC. He founded his own charity, Who Dares Cares, which aims to support veterans and those facing stress. Colin's diverse career equips him to speak on a range of topics, including resilience, leadership, and conflict resolution. He is also a co-founder of Stoic Events, a team-building organisation, and an experienced presenter. His autobiography, The Pilgrim, was released in 2025, further sharing his insights and experiences.
Topics, sessions and talks
In his talk, Colin Maclachlan recounts his journey from a challenging upbringing to selection for the UK Special Forces (22 SAS). He shares thrilling and humorous stories of his missions while reflecting on key lessons everyone can take into their professional and personal lives. Colin also addresses themes of mental resilience, navigating change, and overcoming adversity, leaving attendees with valuable insights on resilience and adaptability.
In his engaging talk, Colin MacLachlan examines the impact of artificial intelligence and cyber on modern warfare and in elite Special Forces. He argues that human expertise and adaptability remain essential in high-stakes operations. Through real-world examples, Colin illustrates how A.I. enhances battlefield intelligence, giving attendees fascinating insights into the future of A.I. in both the Special Forces and normal working life.
Testimonials
Featured Projects
often considered together
Chris Ashford
Resilience
Dealing With Pressure
Decision Making
Aldo Kane
Adversity
Resilience
Team Building
Jonathan Shaw
Cybersecurity
National Security
Geopolitics
frequently asked questions
Something we've not covered here?
Email colin.maclachlan@getapeptalk.com or call PepTalk on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US), and one of our speaker agents will contact you within hours to confirm Colin's availability and fees. If you can, please include your budget upfront – it helps us fast-track your request. It’s also helpful to know the date, format (virtual or in-person), location, and a bit about your audience.
Colin Maclachlan structures his talks around first-person accounts drawn from named SAS operations — such as Operation Certain Death and the Stansted hijacking siege — using these as concrete reference points to illustrate broader principles around resilience, leadership, and navigating high-stakes change.
Colin Maclachlan speaks on Special Forces leadership, the role of artificial intelligence in elite operations, and mental resilience and adaptability under adversity. He served in 22 SAS from the age of 23, participating in Operation Certain Death in Sierra Leone, and is known as a star of SAS: Who Dares Wins.
No. PepTalk adds no booking fee, so you pay the speaker's fee and nothing beyond it. The service, from shortlist through to contracts and event-day logistics, is included. For repeat or multi-event bookings, PepTalk can agree preferential rates with your procurement team.
Share your event date, audience, format, objectives and budget, and PepTalk sends a hand-picked shortlist within 24 hours. Each suggestion comes with a profile, a fee and a recommendation on the strongest fit. Once you choose, PepTalk handles contracts, travel and logistics through to event day.
The typical fee range is the speaker's standard in-person fee in their home market, shown in their local currency. It moves with format, location, date and session length: virtual sessions and shorter slots usually cost less, while international travel and peak dates cost more. Send your brief to PepTalk and the team will confirm the exact fee in your currency.
Not all of them, and it makes no difference to your booking. PepTalk's network of 15,000+ speakers covers talent the team works with directly alongside speakers represented by agents and agencies worldwide. PepTalk approaches the speaker, negotiates the fee and handles contracting either way.
Three to six months ahead is comfortable for most events, and 12 months is better for large conferences, peak-season dates or one specific in-demand speaker. Shorter timelines are workable, and PepTalk regularly fills last-minute and replacement bookings within days. Availability is the constraint, so get in touch as soon as you have a date.
Get the right person
Tell us what you’re working on and we’ll match you with the talent your audience won’t stop talking about.
