Gareth Timmins

 Gareth Timmins is a former Royal Marines Commando, behavioural scientist and bestselling author. Known for his ability to combine lived military experience with cutting-edge psychology, he has become a sought-after keynote speaker on resilience, mindset and decision-making under pressure. His debut book, ‘Becoming the 0.1%: Thirty-Four Lessons from the Diary of a Royal Marines Commando Recruit’, captured the reality of elite military training in a way never seen before, while his follow-up, ‘The 0.1% Academy: Master the 7 Mindsets to Maintain Peak Performance’, established him as a leading voice on sustaining performance without sacrificing wellbeing.

Gareth’s story began when he joined the Royal Marines at just twenty years old. He completed 34 weeks of Commando training in 2005/06, a process where only 0.1% of applicants succeed, earning the coveted Green Beret. During training, he kept a detailed diary, recording each week of the gruelling journey. Those reflections became the foundation of his first book, which combined raw experience with psychological insights on motivation, resilience and adaptability. Beyond his military background, Gareth pursued higher education and is now undertaking a PhD at the University of Huddersfield, researching rapid decision-making under pressure and how to manage irrational belief structures in critical environments.

His career has since blended academic research, business education and leadership development. Gareth has taught at the University of Surrey Business School, delivering MSc-level courses in Entrepreneurial Thinking. He went on to found the Elite Edge Academy®, which provides structured programmes for resilience, peak performance and burnout prevention, and later launched the Leaders Think Tank®, a forum for senior executives and entrepreneurs to develop strategic thinking and leadership skills. Alongside these ventures, Gareth has established himself as a respected speaker and author. His two books have been widely praised for their mix of authenticity and science, while his practical expertise has been trusted by organisations across sport and business. Leaders such as Rohan Smith, Head Coach at Leeds Rhinos, and Jason Cranswick, Managing Director of Norton Way Group, have publicly endorsed the impact of his work.

Audiences are drawn to Gareth because he offers a rare blend of credibility, openness and humour. He speaks on topics such as resilience, adapting to change, overcoming adversity, the science of togetherness, and military mindset in business. These themes are particularly relevant to leaders and teams facing high-pressure demands and constant change. Gareth does more than inspire; he equips people with practical tools to perform at their best while maintaining balance and wellbeing.