Matt Lindley

Matt Lindley is a commercial airline captain and former Royal Air Force (RAF) pilot, best known for his distinguished service flying members of the UK Royal Family and Government worldwide as part of 32 (The Royal) Squadron. After graduating with a degree in Commerce from the University of Birmingham, Matt began his career at Ford Motor Company, where he was selected from the graduate intake for his expertise in Japanese management techniques. In 1995, he was commissioned into the Royal Air Force and trained as a fast-jet pilot. In 1999, Matt was selected to serve on the prestigious Royal Squadron at RAF Northolt, London. As a VIP pilot, he was endorsed to fly Her Majesty The Queen and held the role of qualified flying instructor. Matt also flew many operational missions in Sierra Leone, Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan. He became one of the first openly gay pilots in the RAF following the lifting of the ban on LGBTQ+ personnel—an experience that shaped his passion for inclusive leadership. In 2007, Matt transitioned to commercial aviation, flying the Airbus A320 across Europe before moving onto long-haul operations as a Boeing 777 pilot. Alongside his flying career, Matt is a sought-after keynote speaker and subject matter expert in Human Performance Factors—an applied science that explores how people perform under pressure and how to reduce error through better teamwork, communication, and leadership. He regularly speaks to global audiences on high-performance culture, inclusive leadership, and resilience in high-stakes environments.