Gareth Tennant's biography
- Former head of operational intelligence for the Royal Marines
- Expert in Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR)
- Strategy and Decision-Making consultant
Gareth Tennant is an experienced Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) consultant with a background rooted in 14 years of service with the Royal Marines. His career has spanned tactical, operational, and strategic levels, where he specialised in Information Exploitation, a field in which he is now considered one of the UK’s leading experts.
Gareth’s military service saw him working across all branches of the UK Armed Forces and with international partners on various operations worldwide, with experience ranging from combat leadership to advanced intelligence operations.
Throughout his career, Gareth has been instrumental in developing training, tactics, and procedures for UK ISR capabilities, advising on projects such as the Royal Navy’s Information Superiority Policy and contributing to NATO doctrine on intelligence operations. His qualifications include an MSc in ISR Management, a BEng in Command, Control, and Communication Information Systems, and a Chartered Management Institute Level 8 Extended Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership, among other distinctions.
Today, Gareth leads Decision Advantage, a consultancy focused on helping organisations navigate complex environments by enhancing their decision-making processes and optimising their use of information and intelligence. He works with governments, militaries, and businesses, integrating lessons from military operations into corporate strategy, particularly in the areas of cybersecurity, data exploitation, and decision-making.
His expertise in managing information and data in high-pressure environments has made him a sought-after speaker, workshop leader, and advisor for senior executives, offering practical insights into leadership and strategy in today’s fast-paced, decentralised world. Gareth regularly speaks to a wide range of audiences, from specialised military and defence forums to corporate events for sectors such as finance and asset management, where he addresses topics including geopolitics, intelligence, and the future of defence.
Gareth’s ability to connect global security challenges with the complexities faced by modern businesses has earned him recognition as a compelling and insightful speaker. His presentations, drawing on vivid examples from his military career, resonate with audiences seeking to better understand the intricacies of leadership and decision-making in an increasingly connected and unpredictable landscape.
Gareth's showreel and videos
Topics, sessions and talks
Decision-Making in Complex Environments
In this session, Gareth Tennant focuses on how individuals and organisations make decisions by introducing the key factors involved in decision-making and exploring the processes used to rationalise complexity. Drawing comparisons between the chaos of combat and the challenges posed by big data, Gareth shares hard-fought lessons from military planning to help overcome information paralysis. Attendees will gain practical insights into navigating complexity and making effective decisions in fast-moving environments.
Leadership and Organisational Culture
We all have different ideas of what leadership is, but if we don’t understand organisational culture we are only focusing on half the problem. Gareth Tennant explores the symbiotic relationship between leadership and organisational culture through compelling examples from both military operations and corporate settings. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how leadership styles impact culture, and how both elements can be leveraged to foster greater team performance and resilience.
Strategy, Tactics and Planning
In an increasingly chaotic, competitive, dynamic, and unpredictable world, the challenge of closing the gap between strategy and execution is ever-growing. This session explains the end-to-end process of linking ethereal strategic visions to clear, tangible, and above all, achievable objectives. By providing insights into effective planning and execution, Gareth Tennant empowers attendees to align their organisational strategies with daily activities, fostering a culture of clarity and focus.
Fostering Innovation Amid Complexity
In a world overwhelmed by data, fostering innovation and identifying new opportunities is crucial for long-term success. Gareth Tennant’s session demonstrates how organisations can use foresight to anticipate changes and align innovation with strategy. With his unique military perspective, Gareth explains how to navigate uncertainty and seize opportunities amidst complexity. Attendees will leave with tools for linking innovation to business goals, ensuring that new ideas are not only generated but also successfully implemented.
A Conversation with Gareth Tennant
In an era where data is paramount, Gareth Tennant offers a compelling exploration of how information shapes our understanding of complex geopolitical landscapes. He delves into the interplay between data analytics, surveillance, and strategic decision-making, drawing from military philosophy and contemporary intelligence practices. Attendees will discover how to navigate uncertainty, leverage insights from big data, and enhance their decision-making processes to adapt effectively in an increasingly interconnected world.
Why we recommend booking Gareth
Book Gareth Tennant to gain expert insights into decision-making in complex environments. Drawing on his military intelligence background, Gareth offers practical strategies for leadership and data-driven decision-making, connecting global security challenges to business needs. His thought-provoking, real-world examples provide actionable solutions for thriving in today’s fast-paced, connected world.
An exceptional session from Gareth that translated hard-won operational experience into directly applicable frameworks for navigating complexity, uncertainty, and decision-making under pressure.
Gareth is a very inspiring presenter and his insights showed how military processes could be applied to industry to close the gap between strategy and data science.
Dr Ian M Harrison B.Sc Ph.D
Gareth provided some really insightful feedback to the trial which will directly inform future NATO ISR practices and ongoing NATO ISR Operations
Head of ISR policy, NATO Brussels
Head of ISR policy, NATO Brussels
