‘Her audience is taken to a world we know little of, as she astounds us with her courage and integrity…’
‘More than just another INCREDIBLE life-story, Matina drew-out her life lessons in a way that I could relate to.’
‘…a journey of self-reflection for perspective. I was so moved personally and professionally.”
“Authentic leadership often takes great courage”.
“Create a purpose-driven culture to thrive through change.”
“Resilient people, teams and organisations have the courage to turn challenges into opportunities.”
“Ensure clear ‘mission alignment’ to deliver on the ‘vision'”.
“Actions-on ‘war game-planning’ to equip for success.”
“10 mission-critical factors for high performing teams.”
Really knowing your team; your support may just be the impetus to turn a life around.”
“Managing stress to operate effectively outside your comfort zone.” (Learning opportunities!).
Research-backed decision making frameworks tested in some of the most hostile environments on earth.
“Planning, practicing and executing with military precision.”
“Creating a high performance culture that supports decision making.”
“Draw on diversity to strengthen teams.”
Game changing perspective, for your corporate battlefield.
…for immediate & long-lasting impact!
One-on-one sessions* for life-changing clarity.
“It takes leaders who are courageous, who have the vision to take an organization in a direction where they may not be 100% sure about how things will look on the other side…”
– Matina Jewell, 2018
[ * Very limited places ]
“Thank you for your fantastic contribution to our [8 event] national roadshow… You delivered the most amazing life and corporate lessons which everyone could take away.”
“Matina’s presentation style is impressive, but even more impressive are the core thoughts within her speech.”
“You have left a lasting impression on the leaders… I have been begged for you to come back.”
“Inspiring presentation… Nothing but extremely positive feedback… Exactly on the theme..”
“I was beyond inspired… I am still affected by the story you tell… You are making a REAL difference in so many ways.”
“Matina is hands down the best speaker I’ve experienced. Her inconceivable circumstances,raw courage, storytelling and rare ability to package her lessons in risk and leadership into a realm that we could digest and own was a gift to us all. The entire room was transfixed and moved in 45 mins.”
“In a noisy world, Matina is someone worth listening to. Poised, understated, Matina brings a room of hundreds to a quiet, engaged standstill so they hear every word she utters.”
“I was focused from the first second…brilliant speech…Persona in action encapsulating that which we hope they will all become”
“Matina is a speaker that will truly inspire any audience and take most on a journey of self-reflection as a result. I would recommend her to any organisation considering her for future events.”
“You had our finance executives in a spell… a most fascinating and moving account of a very special life experience. You draw excellent parallels to relevant leadership competencies.”
“The crowd loved your presentation and there were quite a few emotions flowing. Feedback on your section was superb, with participants rating it the most engaging presentation of the day.”
“Matina Jewell is a special breed of person – an Australian to be proud of. Her audience is taken to a world we know little of and astounds us with her courage and integrity.”
“Matina is a powerful and engaging speaker with a story to match. Our audience was captivated … (and) were able to take away some valuable business lessons on leadership and change management in particular.”
“Matina’s address was most inspiring indeed… She is a very articulate and well presented speaker who gave us an amazing insight into the challenges of leadership.”
“Matina was an excellent presenter and a great addition to our conference… Matina tailored her approach to our audience and objectives really well.”
“Not only was Matina the ultimate professional in the sharing and presentation of her personal experiences in a critical incident to a team of emergency services personnel, but she also engaged with the diversity of the audience.”
“WOW!! What an amazing Australian we have in Matina Jewell. Matina’s moving, awe-inspiring presentation showed us how a remarkable team leader/member works under pressure.”
“Matina is an inspiring and generous presenter who had our audience of over 600 enthralled from her first word… Not only is she an excellent presenter, Matina is one of the most courageous and empathetic people I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting.”
“Matina Jewell surprised the audience with the story of her operational service as a young Australian Army Officer… it is an emotional and inspiring story worth hearing. It will leave you with admiration for what these young Australians are doing on our behalf and the burdens we ask them to bare.”
“From a place of war and violence, injury and betrayal, Matina Jewell emerges with grace and wisdom and still retains her humour and youthful spirit. Matina takes her audience to a world we know little of and astounds us with her courage and integrity.”
“It was clear to all that (Matina) is a highly skilled, honest, intelligent and well informed public speaker. As a measure of her skills, the audience response was to give her a standing ovation and many stayed back after the presentation to speak personally with her.”
“Matina delivered a captivating presentation that was motivating and inspiring. Everyone in the room was silent, fascinated by her story… The standing ovation she received was thoroughly deserved.”
“Matina captured the audience right from the very opening of her presentation. The material used to support her presentation had delegates completely mesmerised.”
“Matina’s story is deeply moving. But what I liked most is her translation back into the corporate world… one of the most compelling and inspirational speakers we have seen”
LOOK! View Matina’s footage through-out the book. Just scan the QR codes – an Australian first!
‘Caught in the Crossfire’ is a frighteningly dramatic first-hand account of what really happens in modern warfare and the high price our soldiers pay for their country.
“Readers will travel with you through the emotional roller coaster ride – it will bring tears… but it is the triumphs that will capture hearts and minds.”
– Rear Admiral Ken Doolan AO RAN (retired), RSL National President
(Please enquire via contact form below for international postage.)
Knowing what’s coming, I put on my sky-blue UN armoured vest and helmet. My team-mates laugh and joke about how cute I look in my little blue armoured suit. But after the first 1000-pound aerial bomb hits a nearby town seconds later, smashing buildings apart, the mockers scramble for their own flak jackets and helmets.
It’s my turn to joke now, as they frantically put on their body armour behind the parapet of the observation platform, which, though made of reinforced concrete, would be no match for a direct hit. Our excitement and fear grow. Adrenaline is pumping through our bodies, making our voices high-pitched and speech rapid.
The Israeli artillery batteries open up from the Golan Heights. Crump-crump-crump! They are after the Hezbollah headquarters and other bases in and around the town of El Khiam. We are in their line of fire. Freight-train sounds crack overhead and then – Kaboom-kaboom-kaboom! – the town is ripped up. I cringe at the thought of hot metal flying into buildings, cars and people.
The artillery barrage continues for twenty minutes and then it stops. Silence. Time freezes. The artillery lifts to allow an Israeli fighter jet to fly in on its bombing run.
Lethal load inbound.
Then in slow motion – at eye level from me, just a cricket pitch distance away – comes a massive 1000-pound laser-guided aerial bomb. With its fins out, it glides smoothly and relentlessly to its target only 75 metres behind our observation post.
We dive for cover. Instinctively tucking our bodies up into self-preservation positions on the deck behind the ramparts, my team-mates and I await our fate. There is an ear-splitting explosion as the bomb hits the Hezbollah bunker, right on target. A compression blast rocks our observation deck like an earthquake and an enormous fireball ignites above our heads. Large pieces of steel shrapnel, chunks of concrete and metal reinforcement crash into our compound and bounce back into the sky as I bury my head between my knees. I pray that a big piece of debris doesn’t fall on me.
The chunks of metal and concrete and clods of dirt continue to fall around us. Clunk! Thud! They rain down – big bits and small bits. The air is stained with dust and smoke. I wait for a cry of agony, as something heavy smashes an exposed arm or leg – or worse. I hope that it will not be my own cry for help.
Suddenly the noise stops and my ears are ringing. Wolf ’s voice breaks through: ‘Bunker! Bunker! Go! Go! Go!’ The five of us run towards the spiral stairs that lead down to our underground bunker.
And so, on 12 July 2006, began another ordeal in a military career that had already had its trials and adventures. When I graduated from the Royal Military College Duntroon in 1997, I could never have imagined the operations I would become involved in, both in the Solomon Islands and the North Arabian Gulf. Or that, nine years later, I would be running for my life in southern Lebanon as a member of a team of bright-blue peacekeepers – unarmed sitting ducks in the middle of a war.
Matina’s many honorary roles have included the Prime Ministerial Advisory Council, National Mental Health Forum and advisor to the Veterans Suicide Prevention Commission. Matina’s continuing involvement with a long list of charities, worthy causes and youth mentoring include:
Matina is Ambassador for the Australian Peacekeeping Memorial Project, helping to raise the funds to construct the memorial honouring the service, courage and sacrifice of Australian peacekeepers in the service of international peace and security. It opened on 14th September 2017, on the 70th anniversary of Australia’s involvement in UN Peacekeeping Missions. Matina was one of the six member ANZAC Centenary Commission which included the former Prime Ministers Bob Hawke and the late Malcolm Fraser, providing advice to the Prime Minister and Government on how to commemorate arguably one of the most important milestones in our Nations history. Matina is a founding Ambassador for Project Thankful™, a global movement to encourage us all to reflect and remind ourselves how the everyday can be extraordinary. Thankful™ is partnered with the United Nations to help empower and end cessation of violence against women and children globally.Please use the form or feel free to e-mail Matina’s friendly team: [email protected]
