Every challenge provides opportunities, and my journey is a testament to that.
During my 16 years of serving in the military - where I lead elite teams and completed over 100 combat missions with the Special Forces - I found inspirational purpose defending and protecting those who were innocent - and taking the fight to those were not.
But transitioning back to civilian life was challenging to say the least. In August 2020, feeling irrelevant and isolated, I almost gave up on life. In this harrowing moment, I realised the person truly holding me back was myself.
Now, I'm on a mission to use my experiences learning leadership and human performance to help solve real world problems and empower people to achieve their full potential.
military career
My service within the Special Forces provided me with unique insights into what can be achieved when people are inspired by authentic purpose.
As a fifth generation Army Veteran, I followed in my father's footsteps and joined the Australian Army at the age of 17.
Graduating from the prestigious Royal Military College of Duntroon, I was deployed to carry out peacekeeping operations in Timor Leste as Platoon Commander with the 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (2 RAR).
But that was only the beginning.
In 2010, I successfully completed the highly-competitive Special Forces selection (to become a Qualified Commando Officer within the 2nd Commando Regiment (2 CDO REGT), Special Operations Command - Australia (SOCOMD).
My time in the military included:
- Peacekeeping Operations in Timor-Leste
- Four Combat Operational Deployments to Afghanistan and the Middle East.
- Multiple Domestic Counter Terrorism Operations within Australia and the Asia-Pacific Region.
- Serving as Commando Platoon Commander, Company Executive Officer and Adjutant, within the 2nd Commando Regiment.
- A year-long exchange within the United States Special Operations Command.
- Officer Commanding of the Commando and Support Staff Selection and Training continuum at the Special Forces Training Centre.
- Serving in Iraq as the Special Operations Joint Lead Planner within the Special Operations Joint Task Force.
Through my journey, I've learned that with unwavering dedication, a relentless pursuit of excellence, and a deep sense of purpose, we can achieve outcomes beyond belief.
Honours and Awards
Honours and Awards
Barry's Bootcamp
After returning from my deployment in 2017, I took extended leave to lead the expansion of the US originated fitness brand Barry’s Bootcamp to Australia and Singapore before officially discharging from the Australian Defence Force in January 2019.
voice of a veteran
In 2020, I founded the Voice of a Veteran platform to ignite action and promote change within the government systems that support our modern Veteran community.
My mission is to ensure that the wider Australian community understands the value of our Veterans and recognise the struggles they face when transitioning to civilian life.
I've launched, led and supported a number of successful campaigns supporting Veterans, including:
- Successfully retaining the Meritorious Unit Citation award for over 3,000 Special Forces personnel in the wake of the Brereton report release (October - December 2020)
- Successfully reinstating the 2021 Sydney CBD ANZAC Day march (January - March 2021)
- Achieving majority approval through the Senate and Parliament of Australia to call for a Royal Commission into Defence & Veteran Suicide (March 2021) resulting in the Royal Commission called by Prime Minister Scott Morrison on 19 April 2021.
Supporting Veterans
To further empower our Veteran community, in 2021 I founded Veteran Support Force (VSF.org.au) - a Charity that proactively supported Veterans and their families throughout the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. In 2022 I founded the Veteran Games (VeteranGames.com) - an ongoing annual proactive health initiate and national competition for current and former serving Veterans.
Where I am today
Today, I maintain my support for Veterans through the Veteran Games - an annual proactive health initiative that I founded to take action on key findings from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.
I enjoy work as a public speaker, giving keynotes and workshops focusing on leadership, mindset and learning to lead in all walks of life.
In my personal life, I enjoy keeping fit and healthy, traveling, spending time at the beach and my sausage dog, Copper - who has some books of his own (head to the shop).
