David Tait

Dave is an accomplished leader with a background in operations, strategy, transformation, human resources, and learning and development. His expertise is rooted in both practical field experience and headquarters-based roles spanning a 35-year career in the military. He retired from the Royal Air Force as an Air Commodore and is now transitioning into leadership development, mentoring, executive coaching, and executive team transformation.

Dave began his career as a Royal Air Force Regiment officer and evolved through a variety of roles, including operational leadership in Afghanistan and Iraq, strategy, policymaking, procurement, and international engagement. As a Station Commander, he led a team of 2,000 personnel, successfully delivering complex training programmes and operational outputs. His career culminated as Head of Training, Education, Skills, Recruiting, and Resettlement for all 150,000 Armed Forces personnel within the Ministry of Defence Head Office. An experienced high-altitude mountaineer, Dave served as Chair and then President of the Royal Air Force Mountaineering Association. He also led the highly successful British Services Expedition to Makalu, the world's fifth-highest peak, in 2008.

A passionate advocate for personal development, Dave believes everyone deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential, regardless of background, demographics, or education. A strong proponent of outdoor education as a medium for growth, he is a qualified winter mountain leader and is training to become a rock-climbing instructor.

Additionally, he serves as a trustee and non-executive director of the Mountain Heritage Trust, a charity dedicated to documenting, preserving, and celebrating the heritage of British mountaineering and climbing.

Dave is currently half way through training to become an executive coach with Henley Business School and has just commenced formal mentorship training with TPC. Following completion of the latter in April 25, Dave will be better qualified to mentor on aspects such as business development and financing in addition to areas highlighted in the next section.