Who Am I?

I’m Gary Wilson, a keynote speaker, celebrant and master of ceremonies who believes that meaning, humour and human connection can change a room, a team, or even a life.

Before I ever stood behind a lectern or in front of a wedding crowd, I learned what presence really means. I served in the Australian Army, deploying on a combat tour to Iraq in 2006–2007 and later training Iraqi forces for the fight against ISIS in 2015. Those experiences taught me about leadership under pressure, responsibility when no one’s watching, and the quiet power of composure, all among the importance of loyalty and mateship.

After the military came chapters in police capability, community service, and professional sport; From opening, owning and running successful barber shops, to coaching premier Rugby, national women's teams, gaining post-graduate qualifications in Sports Coaching, working as a coach educator and trainer with World Rugby. I’ve run businesses, led teams, mentored young players and coaches alike and built programs that still stand today. Every one of those roles sharpened my ability to lead, speak, and connect with people from every walk of life.

Today, I bring all of that to what I do ; as a keynote speaker, I deliver talks that cut through corporate noise with real-world stories and relatable humour. As a celebrant, I create ceremonies that actually sound like the people involved; heartfelt, engaging, and full of personality. And as an MC, I keep events flowing with calm professionalism, sharp timing and a bit of cheek when the moment calls for it.

People trust me to lead their biggest moments because I know how to read a room, balance emotion with levity, and make people feel at ease, whether it’s a nervous couple at the altar or an audience of 500 executives.

I’m not a motivational speaker, and I’m not a showman. I’m a communicator who’s lived a few different lives, learned a lot about people, and knows how to bring meaning and humour to the moments that matter most.