Former RAF Fighter Pilot & Executive Officer of The Red Arrows, CEO of NetZeroNitrogen & Author of ‘The Business of Ecellence’
Justin Hughes’s Biography:
Justin Hughes is a former RAF fighter pilot and Executive Officer of the Red Arrows who has built a second career advising global organisations on high performance, leadership and culture. Drawing on first-hand experience from one of the world’s most elite aviation teams, Justin translates the disciplines of precision, trust and accountability into practical frameworks for business. Today, he is CEO of NetZeroNitrogen, a strategic adviser to major institutions including Microsoft and the United Nations, and author of The Business of Excellence.
Justin began his career in the Royal Air Force as a fighter pilot, operating in high-pressure, mission-critical environments where performance and teamwork were non-negotiable. In 2000, he became Executive Officer of the Red Arrows, responsible for standards, operations and team cohesion within the RAF’s aerobatic display team. His experience at the heart of one of Britain’s most iconic teams shaped his understanding of leadership, clarity of purpose and collective excellence.
Following his military career, Justin transitioned into consulting and corporate leadership. He founded and led performance-focused ventures before advising global businesses on organisational transformation. Over more than two decades, he has worked across financial services, oil and gas, media and technology, helping senior leaders align strategy with culture. In 2016, he published ‘The Business of Excellence: Building High-Performance Teams and Organisations‘, distilling lessons from elite aviation into actionable leadership principles.
In 2022, Justin became CEO of NetZeroNitrogen, leading innovation in sustainable agricultural solutions. Under his leadership, the company secured funding and advanced field trials for biological fertiliser technology. Alongside his executive work, Justin serves as a trustee and adviser across education and humanitarian causes, maintaining a strong commitment to purpose-driven leadership.
Why Hire Justin Hughes?
Justin is hired as a speaker for his rare combination of elite military leadership and global corporate advisory experience. As a former Executive Officer of the Red Arrows, he understands how to build trust, accountability and shared purpose in teams operating under extreme scrutiny. He translates aviation-grade precision into clear business strategies that improve culture, execution and performance.
With experience advising multinational organisations and delivering engagements across the US, Europe and the Middle East, Justin connects easily with senior leadership audiences. His talks are structured, practical and grounded in lived experience, offering leaders a blueprint for excellence built on discipline, clarity and collective responsibility.
Justin Hughes’s Career Highlights:
Here are some of the key milestones that define Justin Hughes’s remarkable career:
- 2025 – Expanded NetZeroNitrogen’s international pilot programme.
- 2024 – Led NetZeroNitrogen through a successful funding round and advanced early-stage biological fertiliser field trials.
- 2024 – Placed second out of 400 competitors in KPMG’s UK Tech Innovator of the Year competition.
- 2022 – Appointed Chief Executive Officer of NetZeroNitrogen, driving innovation in sustainable agriculture.
- 2020 – Became Board Adviser to Digital Wellbore Ltd and Trustee of the Coastal Learning Partnership.
- 2019 – Appointed Trustee of Humantopia and Director at L3Harris Commercial Aviation.
- 2016 – Published The Business of Excellence: Building High-Performance Teams and Organisations.
- 2012 – Appointed Non-Executive Adviser to Inox Global Capital Management.
- 2007 – Co-founded and became Director of SL Privée.
- 2003 – Served as Managing Director and Director of Consulting at Mission Excellence.
- 2000 – Appointed Executive Officer of the Red Arrows.
- 1990 – Began career as a Fighter Pilot in the Royal Air Force.
Videos
Justin Hughes’s Official Keynote Speaking Videos & Showreel:
Testimonials
“The feedback on Justin’s presentation at the ASIS UK Winter Seminar was sensational—it’s still the talk of the event! He absolutely nailed what we were looking for, delivering a thought-provoking and interactive session.” – David, UK Chairman, ASIS International
“Feedback was massively positive—some of the best we’ve ever had.” – Beth, Head of Technical Talent EMEIA, Fujitsu Services
“Thank you for your amazing presentation at our High-Performance Teams Event in Abu Dhabi. You captured the audience’s attention, even as we neared lunchtime, and the energy in the room was electric. Your keynote transformed our event, and I look forward to future collaborations.” – Marita, Managing Director, SAP Training & Development Institute FZCO
“A year on, and we still use the language and principles Justin introduced.” – Richard, Senior Director, Trade & Marketing, Maersk Deutschland
“Justin delivered a pragmatic insight into business excellence, and emphasized the importance of debriefing and learning from experience. We’ve implemented this in every operational meeting, leading to an excellent first half-year performance that exceeded our corporate objectives.” – Gary, Chief Commercial Officer, Oncology Business Group (Global) and Chairman & CEO EMEA Region, Eisai EMEA
“Justin hosted a two-day workshop in Canada for my global management team, delivering a thought-provoking, hands-on programme on high reliability and balancing growth with safety. It was extremely worthwhile, and I wouldn’t hesitate to bring him back.” – Andrew, Senior Vice President, Trican Completion Solutions
Speaking Topics
Justin Hughes’s Official Keynote Topics:
- Building and Maintaining High-Performance Cultures and Teams
- Decision-Making and Risk Management
- Decision-Making Under Ambiguity
- Leadership
- Mental Health
- Peak Performance
- Resilience
- Strategic Ambiguity and Agility
- Strategy
- Teamwork
How Much Does Justin Hughes Cost to Hire?
How Much Does it Cost to Hire Justin Hughes?
The cost of hiring Justin Hughes depends on your event format, location and requirements. For an accurate and tailored quote, please contact a London Keynote Speakers Agency booking agent for expert guidance.