Colonel Tim Collins OBE

Soldier, author, columnist, broadcaster and commentator, Colonel Tim Collins is best known for his leadership skills honed over a career lasting 22 years with the British Army including eight years as an officer in the elite Special Air Service.

Tim came to public notice with his inspirational speech to the troops on the eve of the invasion of Iraq, when, as commander of the 1,200 strong Royal Irish battlegroup, he urged his men to ‘liberate and not to conquer''.

He has since left the Army and published his memoirs of command in the form of the best-selling Rules of Engagement. He is currently CEO of a private consulting company providing security and policing training and advice.

Colonel Tim Collins was educated at The Royal Belfast Academical Institution, Queen's University and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. A Graduate of the British Army Staff College, Tim holds a Masters Degree as well as a degree in Economics from Queen's University Belfast. Tim is an honorary member of Rutherford College at the University of Kent at Canterbury.

From the moment Colonel Tim Collins’ speech to his men in Iraq was made public, he became a hero and an inspiration to world leaders and infantrymen alike. To a public suspicious about the motives for war, he offered some explanation for it and inspired a mood of optimism and humanity that has since been sadly lost.

Colonel Tim Collins took command of a battalion which had suffered having eleven men captured in a hostage crisis in Sierra Leone and then been rescued by a SAS operation which he had planned in his last job as an SAS Lieutenant Colonel. Undermanned and with morale at an all time low he knew he had to rebuild the battalion for operations.

Using the inspiration of an old boy of the Regiment, Field Marshall Templar Tim focussed turning the organisation around using the formula of, analysing what they were there to do, getting the organisation right, making sure the people within the organisation were a good fit, getting the right spirit into the people, getting the communication right on a daily basis and then letting them get on with it. It worked and the Royal Irish were recognised within two years as perhaps the finest regiment in the British Army.

On leaving the service Tim started a new company on the same basis and now from a start up the company turns over £100m a year and employs 500 people world-wide.

During his motivational speech, illustrated by examples from history mixed with his personal experience Tim Collins shares with the audience his experience of that journey and the pitfalls and opportunities that he encountered. During a question and answer session Tim explores with the audience how these experiences could benefit them.

The talk is aimed primarily at leaders and aspiring leaders. With discussion and analysis of managing change and dealing with crisis and opportunity Tim will seek to share his experiences of leadership in difficult times.

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Clients often ask about purchasing books for giveaways and delegate packs. Below you’ll find a selection of products by Colonel Tim Collins OBE. Click the images to view on Amazon's website. For bulk orders, please speak with your Booking Agent.