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Mark Wales is a former Special Forces Commander, bestselling author, and founder who has dedicated his life to mastering chaos — on the battlefield, in business, and beyond.
After enlisting in the Australian Army at 17, Mark rose through the ranks to become a troop commander in the elite SAS, leading high-risk operations across ten deployments, including four tours in Afghanistan. His time in the military shaped his resilience but also left him with invisible wounds, which he would later transform into a story of powerful personal reinvention.
Driven to grow beyond the battlefield, Mark earned an MBA from the prestigious Wharton School and launched a luxury brand born from his combat experience and designed to equip people for modern survival. His entrepreneurial journey earned him the Wharton “40 Under 40” Award for Business Excellence.
Mark gained national fame by winning Australian Survivor and competing in World’s Toughest Race: Eco-Challenge Fiji, proving his resilience wasn’t just physical — it was mental, emotional, and enduring. He also features in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024), continuing his mission to push limits in new arenas.
Today, Mark is the author of the memoir Survivor: Life in the SAS and the geopolitical thriller Outrider. As a keynote speaker, he shares lessons from the front lines of combat, crisis, and change — delivering powerful insights on leadership, mental resilience, decision-making under pressure, and building elite performance systems.
Based in Melbourne and a devoted father, Mark’s mission is to help others build the mindset and systems to thrive in high-stakes environments — just like he did.
An SAS commander’s practical blueprint for elite resilience, leadership and high-performance strategies, perfect for readers of Jocko Willink and David Goggins.
Race facts:
671km, 66 teams from 30 countries, 350+ athletes 700+ crew members.
“The most gruelling competition known to man”
From the creator of Survivor, and over 10 episodes, 66 teams descend upon Fiji to compete in the most epic global adventure race ever attempted. Bear Grylls hosts this 11-day expedition, over mountains, jungles, rivers, oceans, and swamp, that pushes competitors to their physical and emotional limits
For the veteran teams the goal is to win – but for most, the dream is to finish and prove to themselves and the world, that they can prevail in the World’s Toughest Race.
Samantha & Mark appear on Team Aussie Rescue and Sam is the leader of 3 men.
Samantha is a trailblazing endurance athlete, social impact entrepreneur and inspiring change leader with a focus on resilience.
Former SAS Troop Commander, Mark, is on a mission to educate others on leadership, strategy and peak performance whilst under stress.
Watch Amazon Prime Video on Friday, 14 August 2020 and follow their journey.
