Mark Wales

Mark Adam Wales
Born	(1979-11-03) November 3, 1979 Newman, Western Australia, Australia
Occupation(s)	Writer, Businessman, Former Army Officer
Years active	1997–2012 (military), post-2012 (business and writing)
Known for	Winning Australian Survivor; Military service in Australian Army Special Air Service Regiment
Notable work	Survivor (2021 memoir)

Mark Adam Wales (born 3 November 1979) is an Australian writer and business figure, recognized for his victory on Australian Survivor. He dedicated 16 years to serving as an officer in the Australian Army, undertaking ten deployments, including four tours in Afghanistan with the Special Air Service Regiment. Following his military career, he pursued studies in business within the United States and established a clothing brand based in New York. His 2021 memoir, Survivor, recounts his encounters with combat, post-traumatic stress disorder, and moral injury.

Family background

Wales was born in Newman, Western Australia, where his parents had moved for employment reasons. Growing up alongside two brothers under strict household rules—no drugs, no motorcycles, and always striving for excellence—he experienced childhood in regional Australia during the 1980s. Regular visits to his mother’s relatives in Cookernup, Western Australia were a significant part of his early years.

He has openly discussed that both he and his elder brother endured sexual abuse during childhood on a family-owned dairy farm, a traumatic event that influenced his choice to join the military as a means to assert control over his life. Additionally, his grandfather’s military service acted as an inspiration; notably, he received a shin guntō sword captured during World War II from him.

The family relocated multiple times due to his father’s role with Australian Customs before finally settling in Leeming, Western Australia, where Wales completed high school. A defining moment occurred when he saw a magazine cover depicting soldiers storming the Iranian Embassy siege, sparking his ambition to "rescue people from hell." In 1996, the loss of 18 soldiers in a Black Hawk crash further reinforced his determination to pursue a military path.

Military service

In 1997, at age 17, Wales took the Oath of Allegiance during an Australian Defence Force ceremony. Commissioned as an officer cadet, he relocated to Canberra to attend the Australian Defence Force Academy, where he faced considerable challenges. Reflecting on this period, he described himself as "a disaster as cadet," citing episodes such as a failed fire and maneuver exercise that left many cadets lost and an accidental grenade incident that fortunately resulted in no harm. Nonetheless, he completed his academic program and progressed to the Royal Military College, Duntroon in 2000. After enduring a demanding ambush exercise there, an evaluator identified leadership qualities in him despite some technical weaknesses. Wales subsequently engaged in active duty with ten deployments spanning Timor-Leste, Solomon Islands, Iraq, Afghanistan, Fiji, and Lebanon.

Royal Australian Regiment

Upon commissioning as a Lieutenant, Wales led 5 Platoon within the 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (2RAR), stationed in Townsville. In 2001, he commanded the platoon during exercises at Line Creek Junction prior to deployment to East Timor.

Timor Leste, 2001-2002

During a seven-month mission in Timor Leste, Wales commanded an infantry platoon of 30 troops tasked with protecting civilians from pro-Indonesia militia groups. These operations involved extended patrols lasting up to nine days without resupply and securing Junction Point Alpha along the border with West Timor. Reporting directly to Angus Campbell, then a former Squadron commander, Wales gained valuable perspectives on the SASR—learning that it was at that time "a menagerie" and understanding that warfare "brings nothing but misery." During Easter 2002, his platoon managed the repatriation of approximately 3,000 East Timorese refugees from camps, marking his initial close encounter with profound human suffering.

Solomon Islands Deployment, 2003

Wales' 2RAR unit was sent to the Solomon Islands in support of Operation Anode, aimed at restoring stability. Their tasks involved conducting missions using rigid inflatable boats near historical Australian sites linked to the Guadalcanal campaign of World War II. By the conclusion of that year, Wales had advanced to the rank of Captain and took charge of training exercises for the 11th/28th Battalion based in Perth.

SAS Regiment

Following successful Selection, Wales joined the special forces, completing four deployments in Afghanistan between 2007 and 2010.

Selection Process, 2004

In 2004, Wales was one of 83 contenders for the Special Air Service Regiment Selection. After the first week, he progressed to undertake an additional officers’ module. The rigorous selection involved planning a hostage rescue under extreme conditions and navigating a 130-kilometre route during which he sustained significant injuries. Although his height (six foot three inches) raised concerns regarding endurance capabilities, he completed every phase and earned acceptance into the regiment, commencing a one-year reinforcement cycle in 2005.

Close Protection Assignments, 2006

Wales’ initial operational roles within special forces focused on leading close protection teams in conflict zones. He commanded security detachments safeguarding visiting generals and political figures such as Lt Gen Peter Leahy across multiple locations including Baghdad, Basra, Talil, and Camp Victory in Iraq; as well as Kabul, Camp Russell, Kandahar, and Bagram in Afghanistan. His squadron also provided security for Xanana Gusmão during the 2006 crisis in East Timor before transitioning into combat operations.

Timor-Leste Operations, Early 2007

After fulfilling security responsibilities for world leaders at the 2007 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, Wales returned to Timor for a third tour serving as Operations Officer. His duties included tracking down fugitive rebel officer Major Alfredo Reinado, who was killed in early 2008.

Afghanistan Deployment, Late 2007

While stationed in Timor, Wales contributed to assembling a composite troop for Rotation V that deployed to Uruzgan Province in September 2007. Leading E Troop—his inaugural troop command—he was charged with clearing insurgent presence from the Chora Valley. On 24–25 October, Wales directed a prolonged 12-hour engagement against Taliban forces within a greenbelt cornfield. Supported by Australian snipers, British AH-64 Apache helicopters, the 1st Gorkha Rifles, and U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drones, he coordinated fire support, troop maneuvers, and medical evacuation efforts.

During the early phase of the battle, sergeant Matthew Locke was fatally wounded by a PK machine gun. The soldiers’ determined defense was acknowledged by observers. Wales later expressed profound personal regret over Locke’s death, attributing it to underestimating the hazards posed by the greenbelt environment.

Between 1–5 December, Wales commanded Australian forces assisting an offensive against the Taliban stronghold at Musa Qala in Helmand Province. While intercepting reinforcements near Deh Rawood, an Australian vehicle became immobilized in the Helmand River amid advancing Taliban fighters. Despite enduring mortar bombardment, the unit repelled enemy attacks utilizing heavy weapons, artillery fire from a Panzerhaubitze howitzer, and B-1 Lancer airstrikes deploying 500-pound bombs. By the end of this deployment, Wales developed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) alongside depression.

Lebanon, 2008

Amid the 7 May clashes, Hezbollah captured sections of Lebanon and confronted the Lebanese Army. Wales was assigned a covert reconnaissance task within a 24-hour timeframe, preparing for a potential nationwide evacuation plan.

Afghanistan, 2009-2010

In 2009, while coordinating with Australian forces, Wales noticed a decline in discipline at the Australian base despite enhancements in infrastructure, observing a shift toward more aggressive combat mindsets. Serving as Executive Officer of 1 Squadron in 2010, he directed combat missions from Camp Russell in Tarin Kot during the troop surge. His responsibilities encompassed planning air support packages, managing rotary-wing operations, conducting counter-insurgency activities, and targeting enemy leadership.

By the end of 2010, Wales had identified several strategic, operational, and ethical challenges within Operation Slipper. He described the conflict as an "aimless war" lacking definitive goals, which allowed insurgents to gain the upper hand despite Western technological advantages. From an operational standpoint, he criticized Australian deployments as insufficiently resourced compared to their American counterparts, expressing frustration with misunderstandings at the national command level.

On a personal level, Wales faced struggles with heavy alcohol consumption, sleeplessness, and a deteriorating "moral compass." His confidence in the Afghan populace diminished, often presuming hostility until proven otherwise. Surrounded by soldiers experienced in multiple tours of duty, he concluded that extended warfare "will turn good men bad, and bad men evil." Nonetheless, journalist Masters regarded Wales as one of the few SAS officers respected for both intellect and integrity amid a turbulent environment. In response to the Brereton Report on war crimes within the regiment, Wales conveyed feelings of shock but not surprise, attributing such misconduct to the corrosive effects of prolonged combat on soldiers’ perceptions of normality.

Duntroon, 2011

Upon returning to Australia as a Major, Wales faced uncertainty regarding his career path. With the backing of his previous Commanding Officer, Peter Winnall, he accepted a teaching position at Duntroon in 2011. Concurrently, he explored entrepreneurial ventures and prepared for the GMAT while applying to business schools in the United States. After multiple attempts, he earned admission to the Wharton School in Pennsylvania, subsequently resigning his military commission and departing from the army in 2012.

Business and entertainment

During his 2012 MBA studies at Wharton, Wales collaborated with veterans worldwide and participated in extracurricular activities, including competing as a heavyweight boxer in Philly Fight Night. Following graduation, Wharton honored him by naming him to their "40 under 40" list for outstanding business achievement.

McKinsey

Post-MBA, Wales joined McKinsey & Company, securing his position through a confident presentation of strategic recommendations during the interview process. His initial assignment involved working with an iron ore company based in Newman, Australia, after which he oversaw the McKinsey Academy program. Eventually, he departed from McKinsey to dedicate himself fully to launching his own startup.

Kill Kapture

While pursuing his MBA, Wales founded Kill Kapture, a "tough luxury" fashion brand, and moved to New York City in 2017 to concentrate on growing the company. The brand launched with leather jackets designed to embody the experiences of Wales and others. Inspired partly by retired general Jim Mattis, who advocated entrepreneurship as a means of economic empowerment, Wales crafted the initial jacket—named Pathfinder—from kangaroo leather, which is ten times more durable than traditional cowhide. The design drew heavily on contemporary special forces combat apparel, featuring a streamlined fit. Targeted at individuals who had overcome adversity while maintaining their principles, the jacket incorporated an embedded tracking device to recover lost items. Early adopters included General Mattis and Wales himself.

Eco-challenge and Survivor

While living in New York on a limited budget, a friend encouraged Wales to audition for the fourth season of Australian Survivor. Out of 20,000 applicants for Endemol Australia's 2017 season, Wales distinguished himself as a 'special ops / fashion designer' and was invited for a screen test. Filmed in Samoa, he developed a relationship with ultramarathon runner Samantha Gash; both were eventually voted out due to their alliance but maintained their relationship afterward.

Wales further engaged with adventure-based entertainment by participating in the World's Toughest Race: Eco-Challenge Fiji, filmed in 2019 and released on Amazon Prime Video in 2020. The grueling 700 km race challenged contestants with extreme conditions such as hypothermia risk. Wales' team secured 26th place out of 44 participants.

In 2022, both Gash and Wales returned for Australian Survivor: Blood V Water, filmed in Queensland. Wales emerged victorious among 24 contestants, including his wife.

Following his success on Survivor, Wales was cast as Hefty Brakeman in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, filmed in mid-2022 and slated for release in 2024.

Survivor

In 2019, Macmillan Australia released Wales' memoir, also named Survivor. This marked his initial foray into non-fiction, crafted amid challenging introspections regarding his family and military experiences, which he later characterized as deeply unsettling both ethically and psychologically. Around the book’s midpoint, Wales offers a critical examination not only of himself but also of the strategic decisions and leadership that shaped the conflict:

"...the death toll would rise, accompanied by more declarations about ‘fragile, difficult’ progress. Meanwhile, moral wounds accumulated behind the casualty figures—particularly within special forces. We were driven hard by operational demands, which initially energized us... Yet the price was steep. Death, injury, and burnout were becoming increasingly apparent. I had witnessed all three as early as 2007."

The memoir garnered praise from Bear Grylls and received favorable feedback from members of the Australian military community, who described it as "inspirational" and an "epic tale of endurance." It was shortlisted for the Margaret and Colin Roderick Literary Award in 2022. Being the first memoir published following the release of the Brereton Report, it empowered Wales to further engage in discussions about Afghanistan, including an op-ed in the Sydney Morning Herald titled "SAS war crimes: 'killing became incentivised, a toxic culture grew.'"

Wales' first novel is anticipated for release in 2024. It is said to portray a fictional conflict involving Australia, sparked by a coup influenced by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), mirroring current geopolitical tensions.

Outrider

Wales debuted his fictional writing in 2024 with Outrider. The narrative unfolds in the near future after China has annihilated three US Navy carrier groups and wiped out the Royal Australian Navy entirely before instigating a civil war within mainland Australia. In territory occupied near Melbourne, protagonist Jack Dunne spearheads a rebellion against forces aligned with the PLA while safeguarding his 11-year-old son.

Peter Hartcher, international editor at The Sydney Morning Herald, observed that the novel’s "gritty action" is grounded in geopolitical authenticity and suggested its portrayal of civil unrest reflects Australia's divisive struggles during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Australian described the book as "explosive," likening Jack Dunne to "the next Scarecrow," a character from thrillers penned by Matthew Reilly. Meanwhile, Books+Publishing praised it as a "fast-paced, high-octane thriller," drawing favorable comparisons to works by Lee Child and Chris Ryan.

Personal life

In 2024, Wales ended his relationship with Samantha Gash. By 2025, reports indicated he had begun a new relationship with Phoebe Timmins. He has a son named Harry Locke Wales from his previous partnership with Gash.

In April 2024, Wales was chosen as the Liberal Party candidate for the federal electorate of Tangney, securing majority support among six pre-selection voters. However, he later withdrew from contention to support a close family member facing a critical health crisis.

After years of silence concerning childhood abuse, fatherhood motivated Wales to report the abuse to Western Australian Police in 2019. The perpetrator—his mother’s cousin Richard Ernest Jackson—was subsequently convicted.

Bibliography

• Wales, Mark. Survivor: Life in the SAS. Macmillan, 25 May 2021. ISBN 978-1760982751.
• Wales, Mark. Outrider. Macmillan, 25 June 2024. ISBN 9781761264962.