Testimonials

“Tom ran a two-hour workshop at the Deakin MBA Principles of Leadership residential program of which I am the Unit Chair and Lecturer. Tom’s workshop ‘Leadership in Crisis’ was not only a fantastic learning exercise but a thoroughly enjoyable experience. He is a dynamic presenter who held the full and undivided attention of the 39 students, a challenging task given they have a full week of activities. Tom’s workshop was not just suitable for an MBA cohort but would be of extreme value for any organisational context. The students and I agree it was one of the highlights of the week.

- Dr Andrea North-Samardzic, Course Director Master of Leadership at

Deakin University

“I have had the pleasure, on a number of occasions, to attend public presentations by Mr Tom Trumble. Those presentations related to wartime events which placed individuals under enormous pressure and responsibility.

He has a natural ability to tell a gripping story well and does so. He has a capacity to convey the big picture but has the underlying knowledge of detail which allows him to field and deal with probing questions from his audience.”

- Justice Richard RS Tracey AM RFD

“A thrilling and instructive tale told by an experienced and insightful story-teller. The lessons learned as to what had to be done to confront an unplanned, ever-changing, and deteriorating position, that was outside of the experience of the participants and that forced them to adapt ‘on the run’ were well brought out. An uplifting story with a successful outcome, its findings are still very relevant today. Highly recommended.”

 - Andrew Porter, Chief Financial Officer at Australian Foundation, Investment Company

“Tom effortlessly brought to life the leadership of Bryan Rofe, a 23-year-old meteorological officer, who stepped up to bring his men home. Tom’s clear knowledge of Military History and the associated lessons in leadership in constantly changing environments with a team of diverse individuals who contain the human elements of doubt, fear and despair; whilst at the same time making tactical decisions with limited information, was outstanding. Tom exceeded expectations and joins the list of our best speakers.”

- Lieutenant Colonel David G Blackwell OAM RFD (Retd)

“Tom spoke at the FEAL Forum dinner on the subject of leadership. He used his grandfather’s experience on Timor in 19442 to illustrate some valuable lessons based in his book “Rescue at 2100 Hours”. Tom has a fantastic delivery style and is a very engaging speaker. His grandfather’s story was enthralling and Tom drew out the relevance to the audience. I would highly recommend Tom as a dinner speaker.”

- Joanne Davison, CEO of Funds Executives Association Ltd

“I have heard Tom Trumble speak at the War Veterans of the Melbourne Cricket Club lunch. I am the MCC Committee Representative on the War Veterans Sub Committee. Tom is a well-researched, passionate and engaging speaker. He held his audience of 300 in the palm of his hand as he allowed this incredible story to unfold piece by piece.

The story itself has parallels with the Sir Ernest Shackleton expedition to Antarctica. In both cases a group of men went to a difficult location with a specific task which then became, due to circumstance, obsolete when the main function of the group became survival.

In this case, a group of young airmen who did not have dependents, were asked to volunteer to stay behind for an extra day in Timor before evacuation. Their allocated pick up aircraft was destroyed the night before the rescue in the bombing of Darwin, and the men were left behind enemy lines without their senior command (who had dependents, and thus were evacuated first).

The story of this group, and how it responded to the challenge highlights the

following lessons in leadership:

  • Behind enemy lines, the situation changed on a day to day basis—the group had to reset plans.

  • Survival meant plotting the most likely tactic of the enemy and unseen obstacles.

  • Strategies on how to manage a group of individuals with varying capabilities and allegiance to the group and task.

  • Winning and keeping the trust of the team during setbacks, resetting the plan, and making them trust in it and the group.

  • Resetting naysayers back into the team.

  • Navigating a path against unseen obstacles.

  • The role of ingenuity in success ie. to scramble together the critical things that you need.

  • Making decisions on the information you have, not the information you would like.

  • Maintaining morale when all seems doomed to failure. Tom’s powerful presentation on dynamic leadership in periods of great change or crisis is most relevant in today’s uncertain world.

Should you wish to discuss this further, please don’t hesitate to call me on 0425 722 737.”

- Clare Cannon – Director of Cannon Group, Chair of Woomargama

Station, MCC Committee Member