Knowler Consulting

About Brian Knowler

Brian Knowler is a veteran police officer, retired lawyer, international speaker, and author who has worked in and around the Canadian justice system since 1994. His unique career path has taken him from law student to front-line officer, to licensed lawyer, and ultimately to a police leader recognized for his integrity, compassion, and innovation.

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In 2004, Brian was the lead investigator in a fatal motor vehicle collision that claimed the life of a close friend. The trauma of that night remained buried for years, eventually leading to a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in 2012. That experience reshaped Brian’s personal and professional life—and ignited a mission to change how leaders understand and respond to trauma.

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Brian is the author of four books. His first, On the Other Side of Broken: One Cop’s Battle With the Demons of PTSD (2016), opened the door for thousands of conversations about trauma, vulnerability, and healing. The overwhelming response to that book—and the stories others shared with him—led to Career Suicide is Overrated (2021), a guide for resilient leadership grounded in mental health awareness and authenticity. His CAPITAL L leadership program grew out of that work and continues to help leaders across sectors build safer, more human workplaces.

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In 2023, Brian published his first novel, Oathtaker Broken, a dark fantasy story woven with themes of duty, trauma, and redemption. In 2025, he expanded his leadership and cultural intelligence work with the release of To Defeat an Enemy, You Must Know Them, a deep, Star Wars-inspired analysis of leadership, strategy, and cultural understanding through the character of Grand Admiral Thrawn. The book combines Brian’s passion for storytelling, strategic thinking, and real-world leadership lessons into an innovative and immersive leadership guide.

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Brian is a sought-after speaker and trainer who has delivered keynotes, workshops, and leadership seminars for public safety agencies, corporations, nonprofits, and post-secondary institutions across North America. His work is praised for its depth, authenticity, and immediate relevance. He has also served as a media expert on issues of leadership, trauma, and public trust.

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Today, through Knowler Consulting and the CAPITAL L and CAPITAL T programs, Brian continues to equip leaders and frontline professionals with the tools they need to lead with empathy, support wellness, and build cultures of resilience.

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