Born and raised in Australia, Aidan’s childhood was basically an action-packed nature documentary. From a young age, he was knee-deep in adventure, whether it was hunting, fishing, or camping in the wilds of his family’s rural property. If there was dirt to be found, Aidan was in it, cultivating a deep love for the outdoors while other kids were still figuring out their multiplication tables. He became an active member of clubs focused on team-based activities, which basically involved finding excuses to get out into nature as often as possible.

At an Agricultural boarding school famous for its sporting excellence, Aidan thrived both on and off the field. The camaraderie and teamwork he found in sports were just a preview of what was to come in his military career (rugby and the military both seem to rely on men fumbling around together in the mud).

After school, Aidan decided to try his hand at just about everything Australia had to offer. He worked as a stonemason, barkeeper, and depot manager for a national transport company—a résumé that reads like a collection of random job titles from an Aussie-themed adventure novel. But it didn’t take long for him to realize that his heart lay in adventure and teamwork, so he enlisted in the Australian Army. Naturally, he took to military life like a kangaroo to the outback, earning accolades as Most Outstanding Soldier and Best Marksman, and even representing the Australian Defence Force in an exchange with the British Army.

In 2009, after meeting the love of his life and deciding it was time for a new chapter, Aidan swapped his army boots for a carpentry apron and moved to Switzerland. He completed an apprenticeship, renovated a house, and somehow found time to raise three children while still getting his adrenaline fix through mountain biking, fly fishing, hiking, and motorbike riding. Always on the lookout for the next big adventure, Aidan continues to push the limits—because why settle down when there’s a world to explore?