Former SAS Soldier, Royal Marine Commando, Champion of the Army Cadet Force & Bestselling Author of “Born Fearless”
Phil Campion’s Biography:
Phil Campion is a former Special Air Service soldier, Royal Marine Commando and Parachute Regiment veteran, best known for his extraordinary journey from the care system to elite military service. A bestselling author, media personality and accomplished speaker, Phil has become a powerful voice on resilience, discipline and leadership forged under extreme pressure. His life story, marked by adversity and determination, underpins his ability to connect authentically with audiences across corporate, educational and defence sectors.
Phil’s early life was defined by significant challenges. Growing up in the care system and enduring abusive foster placements, he left school at 16 with no formal qualifications. Determined to change his future, he joined the British Army and went on to pass both the Royal Marines Commando Course and the Parachute Regiment’s P Company in 1997, an exceptionally rare achievement. He also represented the Royal Hampshire Regiment and earned the distinction of wearing the Maroon Machine beret, demonstrating early signs of elite mental and physical resilience.
Phil later passed selection for the Special Air Service, one of the most demanding military selection processes in the world. During his service, he was deployed to multiple conflict zones, including Northern Ireland, Sierra Leone and the Balkans, operating in high-risk environments that required absolute discipline, trust and decision-making under pressure. His operational experience shaped his understanding of leadership, accountability and the realities of teamwork when failure is not an option.
Following his military career, Phil transitioned into media, writing and innovation. His bestselling autobiography Born Fearless detailed his journey from adversity to elite service and led to the Sky television series Big Phil’s War. He has since appeared widely across television and media, worked as a private security contractor and invented the USB Dog Tag, UTag, combining technology with security awareness. Alongside this, he is a passionate champion of the Army Cadet Force, committed to inspiring young people to develop confidence, structure and self-belief.
Why Hire Phil Campion?
Phil is hired as a speaker for his raw, honest and deeply compelling story of overcoming adversity to perform at the highest possible level. His experiences span elite military service, high-risk operations and life beyond uniform, giving him powerful insight into resilience, leadership and personal responsibility. He speaks candidly about discipline, mindset and the cost of poor decision-making, lessons that translate directly into business, leadership and personal development.
Audiences are drawn to Phil’s authenticity and straight-talking style. He delivers impactful talks that challenge complacency, inspire accountability and demonstrate how individuals can take control of their circumstances, regardless of where they start. His message resonates strongly with organisations seeking grit, clarity and real-world leadership lessons.
Phil Campion’s Career Highlights:
Here are some of the key milestones that define Phil Campion’s inspirational career:
- 2025 – Featured as the subject of Born Fearless: The Big Phil Campion Story on the Once a Warrior podcast series.
- 2019 – Published the bestselling autobiography Born Fearless, a candid account of his journey from the care system to elite military service.
- 2019 – Big Phil’s War, a television series based on his life and military experiences, aired on Sky, bringing his story to a wider audience.
- 1997 – Passed both the Royal Marines Commando Course and the Parachute Regiment’s P Company, a rare dual achievement in elite military training.
- 1990s – Selected for and served with the Special Air Service (SAS), deploying to operational conflict zones including Northern Ireland, Sierra Leone and the Balkans.
- 1990s – Represented the Royal Hampshire Regiment and earned the Maroon Machine beret as a Parachute Regiment soldier.
Videos
Phil Campion’s Official Keynote Speaking Videos & Showreel:
Testimonials
“Phil was fantastic! He really brought the room to life after a powerful RBL presentation and tour of the Arboretum. It was just what we needed. His life and career were an eye-opener and really talked up that we can always take a positive from a negative. It really resonated with the room and we are so pleased he was able to join us. Thanks for supporting me with this throughout the last few months” – Vanessa, Human Resources Manager, Suez Recycling and Recovery UK Ltd
“We at Childline Rocks are extremely fortunate to have Big Phil as one of our Ambassadors. I have had the privilege of seeing him speak in public on 2 separate occasions, and-hand on heart-I can say that he is one of those rare individuals who has the ability to grip and enthrall an audience. We have no hesitation in recommending him!” – Skerritt Chartered Financial Planners
“Phil Campion was kindly pointed out to us by Champions to be an after-dinner speaker at our Military Unit awards evening, he did not disappoint. Phil is truly a great bloke and took time after his insightful talk to meet with people and share the odd story or two from his military past. Nothing was too much trouble and I would highly recommend him to anybody, he tailored his talk to suit the audience and his unique storytelling had everyone on the edge of their seat. Hopefully, we can have him back to another event to hear more from him. A massive thanks to Champions too for their help and guidance from the initial enquiry to the end result. Constant communication and help ensured a worry-free booking and their recommendation of Phil Campion was spot on. Many thanks.” – Trevor, MOD
Speaking Topics
Phil Campion’s Official Keynote Topics:
- Resilience Through Adversity
- Leadership
- Mindset
- High-Performance
How Much Does Phil Campion Cost to Hire?
How Much Does it Cost to Hire Phil Campion?
The cost of hiring Phil Campion varies depending on the event format, location, audience size and duration of appearance. For an accurate and tailored quote, please contact a London Keynote Speakers Agency booking agent for expert guidance.