Haydock Series: Stephen McGown - Freedom is an Attitude.

Stephen McGown was abducted by Al Qaeda in North Africa in 2011 while riding a motorcycle from London to South Africa. He was held hostage for five years and eight months before being released in 2017, becoming the longest-held surviving Al Qaeda hostage in the world.

Since his release, Stephen has become a sought-after keynote speaker, sharing his remarkable story with schools, forums and corporate audiences both locally and internationally. He is the author of Six Years with Al Qaeda, which won the South African Book Award for Adult Non-Fiction. His story is now also being developed into an international film and a theatre production in Cape Town.

At the heart of Stephen’s talk is the theme of self-awareness and self-ownership. He believes that when you truly understand who you are—your strengths, weaknesses and values—there is very little that can stand in the way of living an exceptional and fulfilling life.

Kidnapped as a tourist with none of the skills needed to survive in such extreme circumstances, Stephen had to teach himself how to endure through trial and error. His story is a powerful reflection on the resilience of the human spirit.

Through his keynote, Stephen highlights the importance of perseverance, maintaining a positive attitude, finding value in each day, and the power of teamwork, communication and simplicity.