The RAF’s first female pilot has soared to new heights – after being crowned Britain’s best speaker.
Jo Salter MBE topped a major new poll ranking keynote speeches delivered in the UK and across Europe in 2025.
The report, by Champions Speakers – the UK’s leading keynote speaker agency, compiled feedback from 2,245 events and conferences that took place between January to the end of November.
This provided speakers with a score out of 10, and Jo came out on top securing an incredible ranking of 9.9.
Jack Hayes, director of Champions Speakers, who led the research, said: “This list identifies the best of the best when he comes to keynote speakers working in the UK and Europe. Congratulations to Jo for coming top and underlining her position as such a superb and inspirational speaker. 2025 has been another incredible year for the sector, and 2026 is set to be even bigger and better.”
Champions Speakers boasts a world-leading roster of keynote speakers, from former world leaders, technology entrepreneurs, to Olympic athletes to help energise employees.
Its 2025 list of the best-rated speakers spans a huge breadth of talent with seven inspirational women in the top ten.
Jo said: “It’s an honour to be at the top of this list, as there are so many inspirational people on there, it’s humbling really. My only wish when taking on speaking engagements is to inspire someone in the audience to have the confidence to take that big step that they’ve been thinking about but maybe have lacked the self-belief.
“If just one person can be persuaded, then that is a positive life-changing decision for them and I am delighted to be able to facilitate those transformational moments.”
The full 2025 list, and each speaker’s satisfaction score out of ten, is:
Jo Salter 9.9 – Dr Jo Salter MBE made history as the RAF’s first female fast jet pilot, flying the Tornado GR1 on frontline missions with 617 Squadron. Born in Bournemouth in Dorset, she also went on to become a director and Chief of Staff at PricewaterhouseCoopers, responsible for digital capabilities within the people and organisation practice.
Jez Rose 9.8 – originally from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, Jez is an internationally renowned keynote speaker, award-winning author, and broadcaster, celebrated for his ability to captivate audiences. He has spent 21 years at the forefront of positive behaviour change; Microsoft has named him the 10 most sought-after business speakers in North America.
Katy Leeson 9.6 – Katy, who hails from Stockport in Greater Manchester, is the former managing director of Stephen Bartlett’s company Social Chain. Today, she helps leaders, teams, and entrepreneurs unlock clarity, confidence, and meaningful growth without the burnout.
Derek Redmond 9.5 – Derek is a retired sprinter from Bletchley in Buckinghamshire who held the British record time for the 400m sprint. He has won gold medals in the 4 x 400m relay at the World Athletics Championships and the European Athletics Championships.
Nicky Moffat 9.5 – after graduating from Liverpool University, Brigadier Nicola Moffat CBE, was the highest-ranking woman in the British Army until she left in 2012. She has also worked at the heart of government as a private secretary to the Secretary of State for Defence and now specialises in leadership development.
Sarah Armstrong-Smith 9.5 – originally from Swindon in Wiltshire, Sarah Armstrong-Smith is Microsoft’s chief information security officer and revered in the world of cyber-security. She is also a member of the government’s Cyber Advisory Board, and a trustee and fellow of the British Computer Society.
Harriet Beveridge 9.4 – Harriet, from Bath in Somerset, is a comedian turned coach and TED speaker, combining business acumen, comedy and neuroscience. She leads impactful performance programmes that help individuals and teams achieve what truly matters.
Mary Aiken 9.4 – Dr Mary Aiken is the Professor of Cyberpsychology (the study of the effects of technology on human behaviour) at Capitol Technology University in the USA. She is also a Member of the Interpol’s Global Cybercrime Expert Group and inspired the CBS television series CSI: Cyber.
Jason Robinson 9.4 – Jason Robinson OBE is from Leeds and is a former rugby league and rugby union player turned motivational DEI speaker. He has represented Great Britain and England in rugby league, and England and the British & Irish Lions in rugby union.
Katie Piper 9.3 – Kate Elizabeth Sutton is an English writer, activist, television presenter and model from Andover, Hampshire. She was raped and stabbed several times by an ex-boyfriend who, two days later, returned with an accomplice and she was attacked with acid – Katie is a sought-after speaker and advocate for burns victims.
*The data was compiled from 2,245 events and conferences across the UK and Europe by Champions from Jack Hayes and Mark Mathews from January – December 2025
For more information please see champions-speakers.co.uk
