Ash Alexander-Cooper Keynote Speaker

Head of International Public Sector at OpenAI and former senior defence leader
Former combat helicopter pilot, strategic adviser and recipient of an OBE, MBE and the US Bronze Star Medal
Author of Mindful Soldier and expert on leadership, resilience and navigating consequential change

Ash Alexander-Cooper's Biography

Ash Alexander-Cooper is Head, International Public Sector at OpenAI, author of Mindful Soldier, a former senior defence leader and a trusted voice on resilience, leadership and consequential change.

Across more than three decades, Ash has led and advised diverse multinational teams in military, government, technology, business and elite sport. His work is grounded in high-pressure environments where clarity, trust and good judgement are not abstract ideas—they shape outcomes.

He served as a soldier and combat helicopter pilot, spending seven years deployed across Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia. At strategic level, he drafted ministerial strategy for British and Afghan government departments and, as Senior Special Advisor to the Afghan Ministry of Interior, wrote and implemented the National Crisis Response Strategy and Policy.

His business career has included senior roles with McChrystal Group, Palantir Technologies and Dedrone by Axon. Now at OpenAI, he leads international public-sector work at a moment when governments and institutions are navigating the opportunities and responsibilities of advanced AI.

Ash has represented England and Great Britain in three sports up to World Championship level and is an award-winning international musician. That experience—alongside military service and work with elite teams—shapes a practical view of performance: resilience is not an act of individual toughness, but a capability built through preparation, trust, recovery and shared purpose.

Wounded multiple times during his service, Ash wrote Mindful Soldier: Building Resilience to Overcome Life’s Challenges with Dr Jessica K. Miller. The book draws together personal experience and practical psychology to support everyone facing challenge, with 100% of author profits supporting international veterans charities.

Ash was appointed MBE in 2012 and OBE in 2015 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. His international honours include Afghanistan’s Medal of Honour and Service, the United States Bronze Star Medal and a United States Army Commendation for valour. His work now is focused firmly on what individuals and organisations can use next.

Mindful Soldier

Resilience without bravado: how to recover, adapt and keep moving through uncertainty, adversity and change.

Audience Outcomes

Recognise the difference between endurance and sustainable resilience.
Use practical tools to regain clarity when pressure narrows perspective.
Build cultures where honesty, connection and purposeful action improve performance.

Authentic leadership in the age of AI

How leaders can embrace consequential technology while keeping judgement, purpose and people at the centre.

Audience Outcomes

Lead technological change with curiosity rather than fear.
Understand which human capabilities become more valuable as AI advances.
Create the trust and clarity needed for responsible adoption.

Building high-performing teams

Lessons in trust, shared context and empowered decision-making from elite military, sporting and business environments.

Audience Outcomes

Replace information bottlenecks with shared understanding.
Empower decisions without losing alignment or accountability.
Build adaptable teams that perform when conditions change.

Leading through complexity and change

How to create direction, momentum and confidence when the environment refuses to stand still.

Audience Outcomes

Distinguish complicated problems from genuinely complex ones.
Communicate intent clearly when a fixed plan will not survive.
Turn uncertainty into a source of learning and adaptation.

Peak performance across arenas

What combat, international music, World Championship sport and senior leadership reveal about preparation, recovery and sustained performance.

Audience Outcomes

Balance high standards with recovery and self-awareness.
Transfer learning between disciplines and environments.
Build performance that lasts beyond a single defining moment.

Decision-making when the stakes are high

A specialist conversation on crisis leadership, conflict, relationships and making consequential decisions with incomplete information.

Audience Outcomes

Create clarity and calm without pretending certainty exists.
Build relationships before a crisis tests them.
Combine speed, judgement and empathy under pressure.

He helps leaders and organisations navigate high-stakes change, equipping them with practical strategies to build resilience, lead with clarity and make better decisions under pressure.
He translates lessons from military operations, government, technology and elite sport into actionable leadership insights, helping teams strengthen trust, adaptability and performance in complex environments.
He combines more than three decades of experience across defence, public service and technology, including senior roles at OpenAI, Palantir and McChrystal Group, to offer a unique perspective on leadership, resilience and the responsible adoption of AI.
As Head of International Public Sector at OpenAI and author of Mindful Soldier, he is at the forefront of helping governments and institutions navigate the opportunities and responsibilities of advanced artificial intelligence while building resilient organisations.
His inspiring keynotes equip audiences with practical tools to lead through uncertainty, embrace technological change and develop the resilience needed to achieve sustained success in demanding environments.