About On A Mission
Helen and Rosie are pioneering former RAF fast-jet aircrew and one of the world’s first all-female fighter jet crews, navigating the high-stakes environment of supersonic aviation where trust, rapid decision-making and teamwork were essential for mission success.
“We engaged Helen and Rosie as our keynote speakers for our law firm’s annual ‘All Firm Meeting’. It can be a challenge finding a speaker that appeals to a relatively diverse audience, but Helen and Rosie absolutely nailed it. They are inspirational, relatable, funny and also clearly incredibly brave – we only wished we had more time with them”
In a traditionally male-dominated field, they proved that excellence depends on mindset, preparation and resilience - not gender. Their shared experiences of operating under extreme pressure forged a bond that has shaped their unique approach to leadership and performance.
Drawing on decades of operational expertise, they co-founded On A Mission to bring the hard-won lessons of the cockpit directly to organisations worldwide. Their dynamic, dual-perspective keynotes - pilot and navigator - provide practical, memorable insights on leadership, collaboration, psychological safety, communication and performing at your absolute best when the stakes are high.
Trusted by global corporates, public sector leaders and major conferences, Helen and Rosie captivate audiences with warmth, authenticity and humour. Their message is bold and empowering: challenge limitations, rewrite the rules, and discover what becomes possible when you dare to back yourself. By sharing their story, they inspire teams to trust, focus, and thrive under pressure, turning high-performance theory into real-world impact.
About Helen
Beginning her career on the front‑line Tornado F3 before transferring to the Typhoon in 2009 she has delivered air defence on Quick Reaction Alert for the UK, the Falkland Islands, and NATO in the Baltic states. She deployed on operations during the liberation of Libya and served as Mission Commander on major multinational exercises across the globe. Her operational experience spans high‑tempo missions, complex air operations, and the kind of decision‑making that only comes from years at the sharpest end of aviation.
Raised by strong female role models, Helen grew up with deep self‑belief and a determination to succeed. That resolve was tested early when she failed the RAF’s aptitude tests on her first attempt, a crushing moment that could have ended her dream. Instead, she dusted herself off, passed on her second attempt, and pushed forward despite being repeatedly told that flying fast jets was “a man’s job.” Her quiet resilience and exceptional skill proved otherwise.
Whilst serving, Helen became a Typhoon Simulator Instructor, a Qualified Flying Instructor and she later held the pivotal Standards and Evaluation role, responsible for maintaining flying standards across the entire Typhoon Force.
Her last post was as an Evaluator Pilot on the Typhoon Test Squadron, leading the safe and effective introduction of new equipment and capability to the front line. Her work included missile firings, weapons trials, and some of the most complex radar, avionics, and test profiles in the programme. She was also the lead pilot for the Typhoon’s defensive aids system.
From a young girl with a dream to a history‑making fighter pilot, Helen’s story is one of resilience, precision, and breaking barriers and she uses it to inspire others to focus, trust, and thrive under pressure. Today, Helen brings the clarity, discipline, and operational insight of a fast‑jet cockpit to boardrooms and conference halls alike.
About Rosie
Rosie is a former fast jet navigator whose career was shaped as much by resilience as by ambition. Inspired to fly from a young age, she held an unshakeable belief that she belonged in the cockpit. That belief was put to the test when the RAF informed her that her petite stature meant she was too small to be a pilot. Rather than allowing a physical measurement to ground her and define her future, Rosie was undeterred. She reapplied as a navigator and embarked on years of demanding training, where she learned to confront self-doubt, recover from setbacks and perform under intense pressure.
Her perseverance paid off when she found herself flying supersonic in a £30 million fighter jet, operating at the sharp end of military aviation alongside fellow fast jet pilot, Helen. Rosie went on to become a highly qualified instructor and finished her career flying with elite test pilots - conducting live missile test firings and operating across multiple fast jet platforms. After leaving the RAF, she joined a major European Airline as Chief Ground Instructor with oversight of all pilot ground training.
Today, Rosie brings her lived operational experience into leadership and high-performance environments across a wide range of industries. She has advised at Board level for over five years as both a Non-Executive Director and Trustee of an Air Ambulance Trust. Rosie holds an MSc in Human Factors and Behaviour Change, further strengthening her work at the intersection of people, culture, and the conditions that shape performance.
Rosie speaks with authenticity about confidence, trust, communication and decision-making in high-stakes environments. Her talks resonate with leaders and teams navigating change, pressure and complexity, offering practical tools and powerful insights that translate directly into the workplace.
Rosie’s story is not just about aviation - it’s about mindset, adaptability and what becomes possible when individuals and teams refuse to let limitations define their mission.
“Rosie and Helen are a phenomenal double act. They weaved together their stories, captivating the audience by relating them to tangible business and leadership lessons”
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Is your team mission ready? Are your crew ready to launch?