Speed, risk, and leadership at the edge

Former Special Forces officer and record-setting Everest mountaineer Garth Miller on decision-making when failure is not an option.

What does it take to move fast without losing control?

In May 2025, Garth Miller led a team of former Special Forces soldiers to the summit of Mount Everest in just six days and thirteen hours, door-to-door from London. It was a record-breaking ascent, built on brutal preparation, disciplined execution, and the kind of judgement that only matters when the margin for error is close to zero.

Miller draws on three worlds where mistakes are expensive: elite military operations, high-altitude mountaineering, and the cockpit of commercial aviation. In conversation, he unpacks how high-performing teams manage risk, stay coherent under pressure, and keep trust intact when conditions turn hostile.

He will be joined by Charlie Stuart, a British diplomat and former army officer, now the European Union’s Chief Security Advisor on Africa. Charlie has held senior diplomatic roles across complex environments, including Iraq and Tanzania.

The conversation goes beyond performance, into the systems and habits that keep teams steady when conditions turn hostile.

speaker

Garth Miller is a former British Army Major and Special Forces officer, now a long-haul commercial airline captain. In May 2025, he led a team of former Special Forces soldiers in a record-breaking ascent of Mount Everest, reaching the summit in six days and thirteen hours door-to-door from London. Across military operations, aviation, and extreme altitude expeditions, he has built a career around leadership in environments where decisions carry real consequences. A graduate of Sandhurst and the University of Cambridge, he is also a ten-time IRONMAN finisher and has taken part in multiple 8,000-metre expeditions, including Everest and K2.

moderator

Charlie Stuart is a distinguished British diplomat with a rich background in military service, diplomacy, and security strategy. Currently the European Union’s Chief Security Advisor on Africa, Charlie plays a crucial role in shaping security policies across the continent. Before entering diplomacy, Charlie served with distinction in the British Army. His transition into diplomatic service saw him hold senior roles, including Head of Delegation for the EU in Tanzania and Deputy Chief of Mission in both Tanzania and Iraq. In addition to his public service, Charlie brings valuable experience from the private sector, where he served as a director of a global security firm based in the UK. He also has a background in corporate law, specializing in major projects and oil exploration.

Speed, risk, and leadership at the edge

Garth Miller

Charlie Stuart

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Speed, risk, and leadership at the edge

Garth Miller

Charlie Stuart

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