
Liz McConaghy
Liz McConaghy was the longest serving female crewman on the Royal Air Force Chinook Fleet spanning a 17 year career flying on the aircraft.
Liz McConaghy's videos
What Liz McConaghy's clients say
"Liz’s presentation was fantastic. By sharing her journey coping through PTSD enabled our people to get a better understanding of the condition and most importantly, how to manage it. The audience was totally captivated on her every word."
"Liz's speaking slot was excellent. I've been in the presence of what feels like half of the "SAS off the TV" squad, comedians and other more publicly visible characters and her session landed the hardest blows, in a good way. Liz had us in stitches of laughter and her sense of humour (I guess partly from spending so long in a largely male environment) absolutely hit the mark, and that was quite often followed up very rapidly with welling up and holding back the sniffles when she opened up about some of her life events."
"We invited Liz McConaghy to deliver a talk this week to our colleagues for International Woman's Day. We'd like to say a massive thank you to Liz for sharing her story about her career in the Armed Forces and journey after. Many of our colleagues thought her story was truly inspirational and by sharing her mental health journey so openly and honestly will encourage others to do the same, and reach out for help if they need it. 'Put your own oxygen mask on first' is a great piece of advice."
"Liz was our inspirational speaker at our flagship event 'Women into Employment' last year (June 2023). Not only was her story inspirational in the true sense of the word, but she spoke with compassion, deep human insight, and most importantly, relatability. She has a talent for connection with people on any level and speaks genuinely and from the heart. Liz also spoke at our staff annual conference, and it was interesting to see how she is able to seamlessly tailor her talks not only to a different audience but to the time slot on offer (her 20 min speech at Women into Employment was as impactful as her 40 min speech at our conference). She has a natural stage presence and is, of course, highly adept at public speaking with clear projection, succinct style and fantastic sense of humour. It was a privilege to hear her on both occasions. Probably the best feedback is shown below in our post event delegate feedback report which we ask all attendees to complete – as you can see, she scored 96% excellent."
Available for
Languages:Â
- English
Liz McConaghy's 2025 biography
Meet Liz McConaghy
Originally from a small town in Co. Down Northern Ireland she attended RAF Cranwell on her 19th birthday to begin her exciting career thereafter on Chinook Helicopters.
She was the youngest aircrew to deploy to Iraq aged just 21 and also the only female crewman on the Chinook wing for 4 years, making her story completely unique.
Her career saw her amass 2 deployments to Iraq and 10 deployments to Helmand Afghanistan in support of Operation Herrick which gave her an insightful and very personal perspective on war.
Upon leaving the RAF in 2019 Liz slowly unravelled after a series of traumatic events which in turn led to her trying to end her life in Aug 2020.
After entering the Veterans Mental Health care system Liz began writing a cathartic autobiography to help her process the past. Chinook Crew ‘Chick’ was released in Sept 2022 and went to Amazon Bestseller within 3 weeks. It is an honest and humorous account of her ‘best of times and worst of times’ and how her experiences flying on the Chinook have changed and moulded her into the woman she has become.
Now booked as a popular motivational and inspirational speaker, Liz McConaghy shares her heartfelt stories of building resilience and battling mental health in the RAF. With an emphasis on the effectiveness of team work and the power of resilience, Liz demonstrates how you can turn adversity into positivity, even in the darkest of times.
Liz is an ambassador for mental health and specifically PTSD with Veterans, she stands as an example that PTSD does not have to be your identity, it can simply be a chapter of your life.
Liz McConaghy's 2025 talks & topics
Inspire your Business
Unlocking Success Through Resilience
Liz McConaghy’s motivational talks for businesses are designed to inspire and empower your team to overcome challenges and achieve new heights of success. With her unique journey as the longest-serving female crewman in the Royal Air Force Chinook Fleet, Liz brings invaluable lessons in resilience, leadership, and effective teamwork.
By booking Liz for your business event, you can expect:
- Resilience: Liz’s story of surviving and thriving after traumatic experiences offers valuable insights into building resilience, enabling your team to bounce back from setbacks and adapt to change.
- Leadership: Liz’s experiences as a trailblazing female in a male-dominated field provide powerful lessons in leadership, encouraging your team to take charge and lead by example.
- Team Building: Learn how to foster a collaborative and supportive team environment, as Liz shares her experiences of working in high-stress situations where trust and cooperation are essential.
Energise your School
Inspiring the Leaders of Tomorrow
Liz McConaghy’s motivational talks for schools are not only educational but also deeply inspiring. She connects with students on a personal level, sharing her journey from a small town in Co. Down, Northern Ireland, to becoming a history-making Chinook crew member.
When you book Liz for your school event, your students will benefit from:
- Resilience and Determination: Liz’s story serves as a powerful example of determination and resilience, motivating students to pursue their dreams, overcome obstacles, and never give up.
- Empowering Young Women: Liz’s journey as the only female crewman on the Chinook wing is an empowering message to young girls that they can achieve anything they set their minds to.
- Career Insights: Gain valuable insights into career opportunities and life beyond the classroom as Liz provides students with a real-world perspective on different professions and life choices.
Uplift your Charity
Inspiring Positive Change
Liz McConaghy’s motivational talks for charities are a source of inspiration and motivation, designed to help you raise awareness and funds for your cause. Liz’s story of survival, recovery, and transformation is a testament to the human spirit’s capacity to overcome adversity.
When you book Liz for your charity event, you can expect:
- Increased Engagement: Liz’s compelling narrative captivates audiences, increasing engagement and support for your charity’s mission.
- Raising Funds: Motivate donors to contribute to your cause by sharing Liz’s journey from adversity to advocacy, demonstrating the impact of charitable donations on individuals in need.
- Advocacy and Awareness: Liz’s commitment to mental health and PTSD advocacy can help raise awareness for your charity’s cause and encourage active involvement from supporters.