Ian Gardiner

Keynote Speaker and Writer        

 Ian Gardiner was commissioned into the Royal Marines in 1968.  He fought in the Dhofar War in Oman from 1973 to 1975, where he was decorated with the Omani Distinguished Service Medal for Gallantry.  He also commanded a rifle company in 45 Commando RM in the Falklands War in 1982.  From 1994 to1996 he commanded 40 Commando Royal Marines, which included his fourth operational tour in Northern Ireland.

As well as serving in the Far East, the Arctic and the Mediterranean, he has commanded a Royal Marines detachment in a RN frigate, and the Royal Marines School of Music at Deal in Kent.  He served twice at the Naval headquarters at Northwood and once in the Ministry of Defence. Concurrently with the latter appointment, he was the Royal Marines Equerry to HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.

He graduated from the Army Staff College, taught at the Royal Naval Staff College and, in 1997, was a member of the Royal College of Defence Studies.  His final appointment was Secretary to the Military Committee at NATO Headquarters in Brussels where he was involved in the political/strategic direction of the Kosovo conflict.  He left the Royal Marines in 2001 in the rank of Brigadier.  He was the Chief Executive of the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals until 2004. He is now a freelance keynote speaker and writer.  He also hosts on the Royal Scotsman Train.    

In 2006 Ian Gardiner was appointed the Honorary Colonel of the Royal Marines Reserve in Scotland and, in 2007, he was elected to the Council of the Royal Scottish Society of Arts.

  

  July  2008