Graduated Oxford University. (Modern History). Worked in technical and scientific publishing 1964-71 (McGraw-Hill, Butterworth Scientific, Pergamon Press, Institution of Electrical Engineers).

Worked for ISI (Philadelphia) as Head of European Operations 1971-79, based for four years in France and four years in England.

Joined Learned Information in Oxford in 1979 as a director responsible for publishing, newsletters and projects. In December 1987 he formed his own company, Infonortics Ltd to specialise in conferences, studies, seminars and projects in the area of electronic information. Harry Collier has been a frequent speaker at meetings throughout Europe and North America.

Harry Collier speaks English and French, with some Italian and German. Hobbies and interests include music, food, wine, playing the violin, and collecting recordings of violinists. Favourite countries to visit in Europe are France, Germany and Italy. Outside Europe he enjoys visits to south-east Asia.