"If you are ferocious in battle, remember to be magnanimous in victory"

Colonel Tim Collins OBE delivered the now infamous speech to his troops of the 1st Royal Irish Battle Group on the eve of battle in Iraq, March 2003. Such was the notoriety of this particular address it is believed that a copy of the speech hung in the Oval Office of the White House. From the moment Tim Collins' speech to his men in Iraq was made public, Collins became a hero and an inspiration to world leaders and infantrymen alike.

Tim was commissioned into the Army and joined the 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Rangers in Berlin. He took command of the 1st Royal Irish in the aftermath of the Sierra Leone hostage crisis. After completing several tours including Northern Ireland and the Falklands, he became aide to the UN Chief of Staff in Cyprus. Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, Tim took on the role of Project Director for the Peace Support Training Centre in Sarajevo, before returning to HQ Land Command with responsibility for training. Tim Collins' book Rules of Engagement was published in 2006.

 Tim is a naturally inspiring speaker, combining extensive experience of active service with broad knowledge of military and political history. An authority on teamwork, leadership and motivation, his speeches show a clear parallel between military problem solving and the challenges faced by leaders in any walk of life.

Tim's philosophy can be summed up in a handful of rules. Know what your objectives are and have a plan; pick the right team; make sure everyone has a role and that it has been communicated clearly to them; understand your responsibilities as leader but learn to trust your team.