Josh Griffiths CGC

Josh Griffiths CGC Resilience & Leadership Speaker | Author | Conspicuous Gallantry Cross (CGC) Recipient | Veteran | Mental Health Advocate | Decorated British Army Veteran

I spent my military career serving as an infantry soldier in the British Army, deploying on operational tours of Northern Ireland, Iraq, and twice to Afghanistan. Throughout those years, I experienced the very best and the very worst of human nature. I fought in countless battles, lost close friends, and witnessed many of my fellow soldiers killed or seriously wounded in combat.

My final tour of Afghanistan changed my life forever. During my last battle, a suicide car bomb detonated against our compound wall, killing one of my closest friends and leaving me with a broken back. The explosion tore a massive breach in the camp's defences, allowing enemy fighters to storm inside.

Despite my injuries, and wearing no body armour or helmet, I picked up a light machine gun and moved towards the attack. During the battle I was wounded again when an RPG exploded beside me, breaking my cheekbone and sending fragments into my face and eye. I continued fighting for more than six hours alongside my fellow soldiers until the attack was defeated.

For my actions that day, I was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross (CGC), the United Kingdom's second-highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy. While I am incredibly proud of that honour, it is not the achievement that defines me.

The hardest battle I ever fought began after I came home.

Like many veterans, I struggled with Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD). There were times when the weight of my experiences became almost unbearable, and I reached a point where I questioned whether life was worth living. Through determination, support, and a willingness to confront my struggles, I found a way forward.

Today, I use my experiences to help others understand that courage isn't just found on the battlefield—it is found in asking for help, facing adversity head-on, and refusing to let your past define your future.

As a keynote speaker, I share powerful stories of leadership under extreme pressure, resilience in the face of overwhelming adversity, teamwork, decision-making when everything is on the line, and the realities of mental health after trauma. My goal isn't simply to tell a remarkable story; it's to give audiences practical insights into overcoming setbacks, building resilience, leading through uncertainty, and finding purpose after life's darkest moments.

My message is simple: no matter how difficult the battle, there is always hope, there is always a way forward, and the greatest victories are often the ones no one else can see.