Billy Perham

How I Started:

I was not the most academic person at school, but I was determined, physically active, and always had a strong sense of purpose. Sport played a big part in my early years and helped shape my mindset. I learned to lead by example, work hard, and never give up when things got tough.

After leaving school, I wanted something that challenged me both physically and mentally, so I joined the Royal Marines. I completed recruit training in 1992 and began what would become a 32-year career serving in demanding environments around the world.

From the beginning, I knew success came down to resilience, teamwork, and maintaining a positive attitude, even when setbacks happened.

My Greatest Achievement:

Over my military career I deployed operationally across Kuwait, Northern Ireland, Afghanistan, Iraq, and other global locations. I also worked in training and leadership roles, helping recruit, mentor, and develop others as they progressed through their own journeys.

Later, as a commissioned officer, I held senior command and advisory roles, including serving within the Ministry of Defence and as the UK’s Senior Military Adviser to Cameroon.

Since leaving the Royal Marines, my focus has remained on service. I became a listening volunteer with the Samaritans and have taken on endurance challenges to raise money for charities, including cycling 1,000 km along the Western Front Way and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.

More recently, I have worked as Operations Lead for Mission Spiritus, taking part in science-led expeditions in remote parts of the world to help collect environmental samples that support research into micro and nanoplastics. These expeditions have taken me across Oman’s Empty Quarter and the Faroe Islands, combining adventure with purpose.

My Greatest Challenge:

Military life teaches you quickly that setbacks are unavoidable. One of the biggest lessons I learned was to never let failures or difficult moments define you.

Operating in demanding and often unpredictable environments tested me physically and mentally. The biggest challenge was learning how to stay calm under pressure, support the people around me, and keep taking one more step forward, even when things felt hard.

That mindset has stayed with me long after leaving uniform. Resilience is something anyone can build, and asking for help when you need it is a sign of strength, not weakness.

My Hobbies:

Outside of work and expeditions, I enjoy adventure and pushing myself physically. I have always loved travel and exploring new places, whether that is through endurance challenges, charity events, or simply spending time outdoors.

I also value relationships and teamwork, and I enjoy being part of projects that bring people together for a shared purpose. Since leaving the military, volunteering and supporting charitable causes have become an important part of my life.

My Future Aspirations:

My focus now is on continuing to serve in different ways. Through charity work, volunteering, and programmes like Mission Spiritus, I want to keep contributing to causes that make a difference while encouraging others to take on challenges of their own.

I want people to understand that resilience, teamwork, kindness, and respect matter every day. Whether in the military or civilian life, these values help us succeed and support one another.

Most importantly, I hope my story shows young people that you do not have to be perfect or the most academic person in the room to succeed. If you stay determined, keep learning, and take one more step, you can achieve far more than you think.