Matthew Addison-Black (PCC)

Matthew Addison-Black is a leadership expert, Associate Professor at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and former Royal Gurkha Rifles officer who spent fifteen years leading and operating in some of the world's most demanding environments, including five years in counter-terrorism and hostage rescue. Combining frontline experience with psychology, executive coaching and doctoral research in moral psychology, he helps senior leaders understand who they are under pressure so they can adapt, make better decisions and lead with clarity without losing themselves.

Matthew commissioned into the Royal Gurkha Rifles through Sandhurst in 2011. He served on operations around the world, qualified as a jungle warfare instructor and led Gurkha soldiers in environments where leadership, communication and judgement carried real consequences. He later spent five years as a senior officer in a specialist counter-terrorism and hostage rescue unit in Singapore, working across cultures and in situations where communication couldn't afford to fail.

His understanding of leadership under pressure is also deeply personal. At 23, while serving in the Army, Matthew was diagnosed with cancer. He declined the offer of medical discharge and returned to operations in Afghanistan twelve months later, having lost 20 per cent of his lung capacity. Since then, he has undergone four further major operations and navigated the transition from military command to a new professional identity. These experiences didn't simply test his resilience. They forced him to confront what happens when the role, performance or identity on which you have relied is no longer enough.

Today, Matthew teaches the psychology of leadership, ethical decision-making and international negotiation at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. He also supports the assessment of moral and ethical judgement under pressure and is undertaking doctoral research at the University of Liverpool into moral psychology and the ways identity holds, adapts or fractures under pressure. He holds an MSc in Psychology, a degree in Philosophy and Ethics, and is an International Coaching Federation accredited Professional Certified Coach.

Through his keynotes, Matthew challenges the assumption that resilience is simply about becoming tougher. His central premise is that the greatest risk to leadership isn't external pressure. It's not knowing who you are when that pressure arrives. To lead when it matters, you have to become Unshakeable Under Fire.

Unshakeable doesn't mean immovable. It means knowing yourself well enough to adapt to changing circumstances without surrendering your values, judgement or sense of self. Matthew shows leaders how identity shapes the way they respond to pressure, influence others, make difficult decisions and lead through uncertainty. His military experiences and personal story aren't presented as war stories or tales of endurance. They become case studies through which audiences can examine their own leadership when comfortable answers and familiar ways of operating stop working.

Intellectually rigorous but highly accessible, Matthew translates complex psychological and leadership thinking into practical ideas audiences can apply immediately.

His work combines evidence, lived experience and disciplined self-examination, helping leaders develop greater clarity about who they are, what they stand for and how they need to respond when the stakes are real. Clients have praised his ability to make demanding concepts understandable, challenge audiences without alienating them and turn reflection into meaningful behavioural change.

Matthew works with corporate leadership teams, senior executives, high-performance professionals and organisations operating in demanding or high-consequence environments.

His clients and engagements have included S&P Global, PPRO, TrackUnit, Eastern Pacific Shipping, the Centre for Army Leadership, the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and expedition teams preparing for extreme challenges, including successful Everest projects.

Whether addressing leadership, resilience, decision-making, communication or influence, one question runs through all Matthew's work: Who are you when the pressure is real?

Origin

The coaching industry is crowded and noisy ; a vast 'Red Sea' of programs, many of which offer little preparation for the pressures of high-stakes work. I founded Veritas High Performance to cut through that noise and bridge the gap between theory and real-world capability. Having faced my own share of adversity, I understand that the person sitting opposite you must be credible, experienced, and unwaveringly supportive. Veritas stands out through the convergence of academic rigour and operational experience: internationally recognised qualifications, practical leadership in high-pressure environments, and a servant mindset, all focused on guiding individuals through pressure, challenge, and growth.

Mission

My intent is to help individuals cultivate authenticity, resilience, and psychological stability, and to understand their identity clearly so that they can act deliberately under pressure. The goal is simple: operate with clarity, purpose, and considered focus, making decisions that align with who you are, sustain your effectiveness, and allow you to navigate high-pressure environments with confidence. This is realised through disciplined self-inquiry, reflection, and the ongoing development of personal mastery.

Ethos

Veritas [truth in Latin] lies at the heart of our ethos. The VHP logo, a Spartan shield inverted to form a “V”, represents the protection and strength that truth provides. Those who pursue truth must embody ambition, bravery, curiosity, and determination. Those capable of wielding it demonstrate selflessness, resilience, confidence, competence, and considered character; qualities that underpin authentic leadership, moral courage, and sustained performance under pressure.