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Paddy Ashdown
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Paddy Ashdown Biography
Topics:
- Leadership
- Politics
- Security & Risk
Lord Paddy Ashdown is an internationally renown keynote and conference speaker whose vast knowledge of international politics and strategic issues make him a fascinating and erudite speaker.
The early years and in the Armed Forces
Paddy Ashdown was born in New Delhi on 27 February 1941, the eldest of seven children. When he was 4 years old, his family returned to Britain to buy a farm in Ulster. Between 1959 and 1972 he served in the Royal Marines and saw active service as a Commando Officer in Borneo and the Persian Gulf. After Special Forces Training in England in 1965, he commanded a Special Boat Section in the Far East. He went to Hong Kong in 1967 to undertake a full-time course in Chinese, returning to the United Kingdom in 1970, where he was given command of a Commando Company in Belfast.
The Foreign Office
In 1972, Paddy left the Royal Marines and joined the Foreign Office. He was posted to the British Mission to the United Nations in Geneva where he was responsible for Britain’s relations with a number of UN organisations and took part in the negotiation of several international treaties and agreements between 1974 and 1976, including aspects of the European Security Conference (the Helsinki Conference). After leaving the Foreign Office Paddy worked in industry in South-West England between 1976 and 1981 and in 1981 went to work as a Youth Worker with the Dorset County Council Youth Service, with responsibility for initiatives to help the young unemployed.
Leader of the Liberal Democrats
He stood as the Liberal Parliamentary candidate for the Yeovil constituency in 1979, raising the Liberal vote there to its highest ever level. Shortly after entering the UK Parliament in the 1983 General Election, Paddy became the Liberal spokesman for Trade and Industry within the Liberal/SDP Alliance team in the House of Commons and went on to be Education spokesman four years later. He was elected Leader of the Liberal Democrats in July 1988 and appointed as a Privy Councillor in January 1989. In the 1997 General Election he further increased his majority in his Yeovil constituency to over 11,000. Paddy stood down as the leader of the Liberal Democrats in 1999 and retired from the Commons in 2001. He was made a Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 2000 and a Life Peer in 2001. Lord Ashdown was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG) in the 2006 New Year Honours List for his work in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
United Nations and the EU
During the conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Paddy was one of the leading and most vocal advocates for decisive action by the international community. He argued strongly that this would help bring the conflict to an early close, and that this was in the interests of all the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina whatever their ethnic background. He visited the country many times during the conflict and subsequently. Lord Ashdown was the UN High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina from May 2002 until January 2006. Paddy now sits in the House of Lords as a Liberal Democrat peer.
Author and Public Speaker
In 2000 and 2001 Penguin Books published two volumes of The Ashdown Diaries, to critical acclaim. Paddy has since written other books inclunding To Build a State, a book examining the challenges of nation-building in a post-conflict environment and bringing stability to destabilised and lawless spaces and 'Swords and Ploughshares: Bringing Peace to the 21st Century'. He lectures and speaks to audiences worldwide on a variety of international and strategic issues.
For further information or to book Paddy Ashdown, call us at Speakers Corner on +44 (0) 20 8365 3200 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
Outside of appearing and speaking at live corporate and private events Paddy Ashdown has a number of retail products available that can be purchased through Speakers Corner. For upcoming new book and product launches related to Paddy Ashdown then please contact one of the Speakers Corner booking agents on +44 (0) 208 365 3200 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
Paddy Ashdown Books
A Fortunate Life: The Autobiography of Paddy AshdownPrice: £9.99
A Fortunate LifePrice: £20.00
Swords And Ploughshares: Building Peace in the 21st CenturyPrice: £12.99
Paddy Ashdown News
A selection of relevant news related to Paddy Ashdown and Leadership stories. For more information on Paddy Ashdown or details as to how to book Paddy Ashdown for your corporate event, then please contact one of the Speakers Corner booking agents on +44 (0) 20 8365 3200 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
The Hay Literary Festival kicks off today in Wales
21st May 2009The Hay Festival hoovers up the writers, comedians, and musicians of the moment to contribute to the biggest book event in Britain. Over the next week and a half, people will flock to Hay on Wye in the Brecon Beacons National Park to listen to the most exciting new performers as well as some of the biggest names in contemporary issues. This year is no different, some of the speaker highlights include, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Stephen Fry, and former EU Commissioner Chris Patten.
21st May 2009The Hay Festival hoovers up the writers, comedians, and musicians of the moment to contribute to the biggest book event in Britain. Over the next week and a half, people will flock to Hay on Wye in the Brecon Beacons National Park to listen to the most exciting new performers as well as some of the biggest names in contemporary issues. This year is no different, some of the speaker highlights include, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Stephen Fry, and former EU Commissioner Chris Patten.
US backs Lord Ashdown for Afghanistan role
4th December 2007The United States is backing Lord Ashdown, the former Liberal Democrat leader who served as the international community's "high representative" in Bosnia, to be the United Nations new "super envoy" to Afghanistan.
4th December 2007The United States is backing Lord Ashdown, the former Liberal Democrat leader who served as the international community's "high representative" in Bosnia, to be the United Nations new "super envoy" to Afghanistan.
What Do Leaders Really Do? By Jeff Grout
19th December 2007Jeff Grout writes article for the Edge Magazine due to be published in February 2008
19th December 2007Jeff Grout writes article for the Edge Magazine due to be published in February 2008
Will Howard Gardner, a visionary and one of the world's authorities on leadership, be voted Thinker 50 in the 2009 poll?
3rd August 2009A visionary and lauded public intellectual, Harvard professor, Howard Gardner has not only revolutionized our understanding of intelligence and creativity, but he has also established himself as one of the world’s foremost authorities on leadership and professional responsibility. He is a contender for this year's Thinker 50 poll and is a much sought-after international keynote speaker
3rd August 2009A visionary and lauded public intellectual, Harvard professor, Howard Gardner has not only revolutionized our understanding of intelligence and creativity, but he has also established himself as one of the world’s foremost authorities on leadership and professional responsibility. He is a contender for this year's Thinker 50 poll and is a much sought-after international keynote speaker
Winner of the 2008 Thinkers 50, CK Prahalad one of the most influential business & management thinkers of our time, is a definite contender for the 2009 poll
7th July 2009The winner of the bi-annual Thinkers 50 survey in 2007 was CK Prahalad. He is one of the most influential management and business thinkers of our time and is a definite contender for this year's poll. Coimbatore Prahalad is Professor of Strategy at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan and is a world renowned business speaker
7th July 2009The winner of the bi-annual Thinkers 50 survey in 2007 was CK Prahalad. He is one of the most influential management and business thinkers of our time and is a definite contender for this year's poll. Coimbatore Prahalad is Professor of Strategy at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan and is a world renowned business speaker
Lessons learnt from Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple - one of the greatest speakers ever
19th November 2009The Times is featuring extracts from Simon Maier and Jerremy Kourdi's book 'The 100: Insights and lessons from 100 of the greatest speeches ever delivered'. Read The Times article on lessons learnt from one of the world's best speakers - Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple and former chief executive officer of Pixar Animation Studios.
19th November 2009The Times is featuring extracts from Simon Maier and Jerremy Kourdi's book 'The 100: Insights and lessons from 100 of the greatest speeches ever delivered'. Read The Times article on lessons learnt from one of the world's best speakers - Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple and former chief executive officer of Pixar Animation Studios.
Trained concert pianist, Condoleezza Rice, performs for The Queen
4th December 2008Amid her many talents Condoleezza Rice is also a trained concert pianist. She originally planned a career in music and enrolled at university to study the subject, before switching to political science. The outgoing American Secretary of State fulfilled a dream by giving a recital to her majesty...
4th December 2008Amid her many talents Condoleezza Rice is also a trained concert pianist. She originally planned a career in music and enrolled at university to study the subject, before switching to political science. The outgoing American Secretary of State fulfilled a dream by giving a recital to her majesty...
George Bush is the latest recruit to the US motivational speaker circuit
26th October 2009George Bush is the United State's newest and most controversial motivational speaker. He will deliver the headline keynote speech for the Get Motivated seminar in Texas today, alongside former Secretary of State Colin Powell, former Mayor of New York Rudy Guiliani and Microsoft's President, Rick Belluzzo
26th October 2009George Bush is the United State's newest and most controversial motivational speaker. He will deliver the headline keynote speech for the Get Motivated seminar in Texas today, alongside former Secretary of State Colin Powell, former Mayor of New York Rudy Guiliani and Microsoft's President, Rick Belluzzo
What can conference speakers learn from the great orator, Martin Luther King
22nd October 2009The first of 10 articles in The Times yesterday featured an extract on Martin Luther King from Simon Maier and Jeremy Kourdi's book 'The 100: Insights and Lessons from 100 of the Greatest Speeches Ever Delivered'. Over the coming weeks, other of the world's greatest speakers will be featured including Napoleon Bonaparte, Barack Obama and Socrates. No doubt, there will be much that today's conference speakers can learn.
22nd October 2009The first of 10 articles in The Times yesterday featured an extract on Martin Luther King from Simon Maier and Jeremy Kourdi's book 'The 100: Insights and Lessons from 100 of the Greatest Speeches Ever Delivered'. Over the coming weeks, other of the world's greatest speakers will be featured including Napoleon Bonaparte, Barack Obama and Socrates. No doubt, there will be much that today's conference speakers can learn.
Kenneth Clarke: The once and future Chancellor?
19th November 2008Kenneth Clarke made his name clearing up after Black Wednesday. Now Britain's elder statesman of finance is back with a plan to save the country
19th November 2008Kenneth Clarke made his name clearing up after Black Wednesday. Now Britain's elder statesman of finance is back with a plan to save the country
Paddy Ashdown Reviews
Paddy Ashdown has spoken and appeared at a number of recent corporate events. Please find some client speaker testimonials and reviews for Paddy Ashdown for a number of these events and conferences. If you would like some additional information as to how to book Paddy Ashdown for your corporate event, then please contact one of the Speakers Corner booking agents on +44 (0) 208 365 3200 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
"Lord Ashdown received a great audience and was very warmly welcomed."
"Thank you so much for your support and contribution to our leadership conference last week. Your presentation...was truly memorable. I particularly appreciated the way you were able to convey your simple but very powerful insights as you recounted the story of your own success. A great number of these...resonated for Unum's leadership group."
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