Major Chris Hunter

Former British Army Intelligence Officer, Bomb Disposal Specialist and Author

 By the time he arrived in Iraq in 2004, Major Chris Hunter was one of the most experienced counter-terrorist bomb disposal specialists in the British Army. In fourteen years, he’d seen active service in the Balkans, East Africa, Northern Ireland, Colombia, and Afghanistan. But Iraq was different...despite being shot and wounded in an ambush just four days into his tour, he and his team became so successful at disabling insurgent bombs, that the bombers ended up placing a price on his head and designing bombs specifically for him.

He also deployed a number of anti-terrorist arrest operations in the UK and was the architect of the UK’s EOD response to a suicide bomb attack on the UK mainland. Later, he played an instrumental role during the July 2005 London bombings when he was seconded to the British Government’s COBR-A as a suicide terrorism expert.

For his actions during his Iraq tour Chris was awarded the Queen’s Gallantry Medal by HM Queen Elizabeth II. His citation read: ‘There can be few other individuals who have so willingly played Russian roulette with their own life to safeguard the lives of others’.

What the audience can expect

Since retiring from the army as the MOD’s senior IED intelligence analyst, Chris has become the director of Kratos, a counter-IED consultancy company, training members of the US Department of Defence and providing specialist consultancy services in the UK and overseas. He has also written the acclaimed bestselling memoirs: 'Eight Lives Down' and 'Extreme Risk - A Life Fighting the Bomb-makers' and embarked on a successful career as a free-lance writer and motivational speaker. He is a regular contributor to the BBC, ITN, Channel 4 and CNN news stations, has an impressive international speaking reputation and continues to expand his TV, radio, and media experience. His highly captivating story about ‘the world’s most dangerous job in the world’s most dangerous place’ makes for a compelling and incredibly moving event.

Presentation approach

Chris is renowned for his passionate and enthralling motivational speeches. His natural style and exuberant spirit allows him to set an audience at ease whilst keeping them mesmerised and on the edge of their seats throughout the course of the presentation. His unique and inspirational story offers a powerful message. Delivered with humour and heartfelt emotion, the audience enjoy the lighter side of his experiences, whilst being encouraged to question their own focus and leaving them with a heightened sense of purpose and a greater understanding of how to achieve their goals.

Languages

Chris presents in English, but also speaks colloquial Russian and German

Style

Compelling, Motivational, Passionate, Inspiring, Engaging, Humorous, Un-phased, Leader and Team-builder.

Quotes from previous audience members

'Inspirational, thought provoking and moving. Chris presented to our sales & marketing community - a team that has gone through change and is under no small pressure to raise the bar in terms of delivery and success…He was an excellent speaker and I was totally engaged throughout. Despite having worked in such an extreme and diverse environment, his style of delivery and humour made it easy to get real learnings from how to cope with pressure and keep motivated to take back to the corporate world. Highly recommended.'
International Accountancy Firm

'Chris was able to relate the objectives we had identified clearly and concisely, but most importantly subtly! It made the delegates think outside the commercial box and think more about their relationships and more importantly the impact they have on others not just how others impact them.
I felt the analogy about the helicopter particularly relevant and one that many of the team discussed in the following days.'
Multinational Finance Conglomerate

'I just wanted to say a big THANKYOU for your contribution to yesterday’s successful event. Noel also asked to me extend his personal thanks and said that he too was extremely impressed with your presentation. We got loads of feedback forms returned and 100% of them stated that they found the content of your presentation “very interesting”. 95 % found the presentation relevant relevant to their organization. 96% said it covered what they were expecting and 95% said it ran for just the right length of time with 5% saying it was too short.'
SCANNA MSC LTD

'94% of delegates rated the Guest Speaker, Major Chris Hunter as good to excellent'
RBS Group

‘I heard him speak and can tell you he delivered an absolutely fascinating and relevant presentation; acclaimed by all as by far the best of the many countries represented...’
Charge d’Affaires; British Embassy. Bogota, Colombia.

‘Your presentation was expertly delivered, extremely clear and very well received by the delegates...and I am particularly grateful for your time and talent.’
The Director. Royal United Services Institute.

‘I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the excellent briefing and support you provided to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Your briefing was not only exceptionally well done, but also very informative and timely.’
FBI

‘Your presentation was fantastic, definitely the highlight of the day, and was very well received by all those who attended.’
Clinical Lead - Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance