In this episode of The Debrief, former 22 SAS Trooper Big Phil Campion speaks to Mandy Hickson.
Naturally sporty & adventurous as a child, coupled with first-hand stories of flights from her WW2 pilot grandfather, Mandy joined the Air Cadets and began her flying career. Securing a flying scholarship, before progressing into the Birmingham University Air Squadron, Mandy faced both conscious and subconscious bias and challenges in her journey to the cockpit. Becoming the first woman to fly the Tornado GR4 in active combat, Mandy served 16 years in the RAF and 8 as a reservist.
Mandy is now regarded as one of the best public speakers on the circuit, and has achieved incredible results in her effort to speak to children in schools, cadet forces and girl-guiding to help change the narrative on enforced gender roles in children. Mandy serves as a valuable ambassador for a number of organisations including the Girl Guides, and is a trustee at the RAF Charitable Trust.
