I’ve spent three decades in the trenches of global finance, rebuilding after crises, watching empires fall, and exposing risks before they explode. From Asia’s distressed assets to Lehman’s boardrooms to public inquiries, I’ve seen what happens when systems fail. Now, I bring that hard-won clarity to analyzing current and emerging risks and opportunities in energy, technology, ESG, geopolitics, business, and governance—all of it.

My Experience

I am both match fit and battle fit. As Associate Director at Presidio in Singapore, I restructured distressed assets across Asia in the aftermath of the 1997–98 Asian Financial Crisis—turning wreckage into workable strategies under pressure.

Then came Lehman Brothers. I was in the hot seat at the world’s leading investment bank—Senior Vice President in the Asia Special Situations Group—when my 158 year old employer filed for bankruptcy with $639 billion in assets, the biggest corporate collapse in US history. I saw it all unfold from the inside: the deals, the panic, the global shockwaves.

After Lehman, I joined Nomura as Senior Vice President and navigated the Global Financial Crisis, restructuring companies amid the chaos.

Since 2009 I have remained self-employed all over the world.

Military

In January 1992, I enlisted in the Army and was interviewed by Channel Ten News - click here. I completed recruit training at 1st Recruit Training Battalion (1 RTB), Kapooka; graduated from the School of Infantry, Singleton; and was posted to the 8th/9th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (8/9 RAR). Later that year, I was in Borneo’s jungles with the Royal Brunei Land Forces (RBLF).

That discipline is wired into my work. I stand against cancel culture, “woke” ideologies, leftist extremism, and political violence. I champion honesty, free inquiry, and evidence over ideology, welcoming counter-evidence and open debate. Mutual respect isn’t optional; it’s essential for real progress.

What I Do Now and Why It Matters

Today, I deliver rigorous, evidence-based analysis grounded in primary sources, real-world scars, and meticulous citations. No sponsors, no paid placements, no affiliate links—just the facts. Each piece is current as of publication, transparent about assumptions and limitations, and aimed at practical: practical implications for allocators, operators, policymakers, journalists, and serious readers.

New work drops weekly—articles, briefs, working papers, videos. I cover the intersections: corporate finance, governance, legal frameworks, immigration, religion, modern history, and geopolitics. It’s wide-angle because the world is—silos miss the threats (and opportunities).

Got a tip, challenge, or confidential source? Email: paulgardnerbrook72@gmail.com. For citations or corrections, see Editorial & Corrections.