Guy Levene OBE

Guy Levene OBE is a former British Army officer, business leader and entrepreneur whose career spans military leadership, conservation and renewable energy. Having served in demanding appointments across Germany, Northern Ireland, Canada, the Falkland Islands and Africa, Guy developed extensive experience leading people and operations in complex environments. He later transferred these skills into entrepreneurship, sustainable tourism and the renewable energy sector, including serving as CEO of Spiralis Energy. Awarded an OBE in the 2012 Queen’s Birthday Honours, Guy is hired as an inspirational leadership speaker for his perspectives on resilience, adaptability, responsible leadership and turning ambitious ideas into practical outcomes.

Guy trained at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst before beginning his British Army career in 1984. Alongside operational appointments, he completed an MSc in Operations Management at the University of Manchester and an MA in Defence Studies at King’s College London. As Senior Logistics and HR Officer in the Falkland Islands, Guy supported a 1,650-strong military and civilian establishment, managing an extensive supply chain and overseeing a £20 million annual capital works programme. His international leadership experience later included serving on the Directing Staff at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, becoming Military Advisor to the Eastern Africa Standby Force and serving as British Military Advisor to the Ethiopian Peace Support Training Centre.

Beyond the military, Guy applied his leadership experience to conservation and entrepreneurship. He secured a pioneering conservation concession within Ethiopia’s Bale Mountains National Park and developed Bale Mountain Lodge through Jember Ltd, opening the eco-lodge in 2014. He later became Managing Partner of Hawthorn Land and founded Greenwater Ventures. In 2023, Guy was appointed CEO of Spiralis Energy, leading the development of its Axial Skelter tidal energy technology. Under his leadership, the company secured an £800,000 strategic investment from Kistos PLC in 2024 and progressed plans to test its technology in Orkney, supporting ambitions to develop commercially scalable tidal energy.

Guy is hired as a speaker because his career demonstrates leadership across dramatically different environments, from military operations to conservation projects and emerging technologies. He draws on decades of experience to explore decision making, managing uncertainty, building resilient teams and maintaining momentum when circumstances change. His transition from senior military responsibilities into entrepreneurship and sustainability also provides a compelling perspective on reinvention and transferable leadership. Guy gives audiences practical lessons on remaining adaptable, taking responsibility and leading people towards ambitious objectives when there is no established path to follow.