Damien Mander has lived an extraordinary life for 37 years old. At 19, as a garbage collector in Melbourne, he joined the Australian Defence Force, graduating through one of the military’s most arduous courses as a Clearance Diver.

Following the September 11 attacks, he went on to become a Special Operations Sniper in an elite counter terrorism unit.

Later becoming a mercenary, he deployed to Iraq where, amongst other roles, Damien Mander Project Managed the Iraq Special Police Training Academy overseeing paramilitary training and deployment of troops.

Following three years of service in Iraq, he left the front lines with no direction in his life.

Damien Mander | Wildlife Conservation

Topics from Damien Mander include:

• Follow your passion to live your dream: How giving up everything, and breaking away from societies’ expectation can set you free to fulfil your true destiny
• Conservation, Adventure & Leadership: From 12 tours of Iraq and travel through more than 60 countries, Damien can recount numerous tales, lessons and methods to overcome many obstacles that life can throw at you
• Destroying fear of failure: Conquering a fear of failure to graduate through some of the world’s most arduous military selection phases can only come with the acceptance of mistakes along the way. Some fatal. These are the school fees of life, not failure
• Entrepreneurial spirit & raw grit: If you chose not to follow anyone’s dreams but your own, it will require two things above all else: The belief that your concept is different and can effect change and the refusal to give up on making it reach its full potential.
• Overcoming adversity in hostile environments: The ability to operate a multinational organisation across three continents, with multiple cultures, languages and often in a hostile environment is not an online lesson or something university can prepare us

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