Former Royal Marine Commando, turned motivational speaker and television presenter, JJ Chalmers epitomises the mental resilience and determination required to overcome adversity. Severely injured in combat was not the end of Chalmers’ story, as he fought to not only live but thrive, going on to win gold at the Invictus Games and carve out a new career in television presenting and public speaking. With first hand experience of the qualities required to be undeterred by defeat, Chalmers makes the ideal speaker for a range of demographics, facing business dilemmas, personal challenges or looking for inspiration, a truly compelling speaker. 

In 2011 a confident, qualified and dedicated Royal Marine Commander was deployed to fight in Afghanistan for England. The risk of the role became all too real when Chalmers was severely injured by an improvised explosive device (IED) on duty, causing facial deformity, loss of two fingers, leg wounds and the destruction of his right elbow. What followed was months of gruelling rehabilitation and him undergoing nearly 30 operations in eight weeks, however, his mental resilience never faltered and his determination to overcome the devastating blow in order to live a full life was nothing short of inspirational. Being limited in his new life was not an option for Chalmers, who set the challenge for himself of reaching the 2014 Invictus Games for injured former or current army personnel. Not only did he participate in the adaptive sports event, but he secured gold in the Men’s IRecB1 Recumbent Circuit Race, bronze in the 1-mile timed trial and bronze in the 4x 100 mixed relay. A stand out star of the competition, the team spirit Chalmers had missed from his Forces days was reignited in his sports team. With such talent, and first hand experience of the cause the Games represent, Chalmers returned in 2014 as the presenter, fronting coverage for the BBC.