Security & Resilience Dispatches

Andy Thompson talks with Chris Goodwin-Hudson, Founding Partner and Director of Watchman, about training in Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights born from extensive international experience of working in highly challenging environments alongside large multinational projects that impact on local community’s wellbeing and way of life. How do you characterize Watchman? Watchman’s strapline is “Where security meets social responsibility”, and our specific commitment is to act as bridge between Read more…

Andy Thompson talks with James Ross, Co-Founder and Director of Nomad Risk, who provide risk management strategies for organisations working in remote, austere, and extreme environments across the globe, including Media and TV Production companies. What is the backstory of Nomad Risk? My business partner, Trevor Smith, and I met in South Africa. I was working as a security consultant for a group of mining companies based out of Cape Read more…

Andy Thompson talks with Chris Lawton, Founder of Silk Road Training, who provide online, 360 degree and physically immersive courses that make life-saving hostile environment skills accessible to all. Training through Virtual Reality Technology What was the genesis of Silk Road Training? Grant Wootton, my co-founder, and I have been delivering training, amongst other functions, for several years. One of the things that had always bothered me personally was that Read more…

The Safety, Security & Risk Management sector is largely characterised by a “contingent workforce”: diverse, niche expertise, often sourced and mobilised quickly for short term projects and contracts. Risk Analysts – Close Protection Officers – Paramedics – Crisis & Disaster Management Consultants – EOD/C-IED Search – Cyber Security Experts – Hostile Environment Training Instructors – Security Directors – Health & Safety Consultants – Canine Handlers – Protective Security Specialists – Read more…

Andy Thompson talks with Simon Mallin, a freelance Consultant Canine Trainer, highly experienced in patrol, explosive search, narcotic detection, anti-poaching, and medical alert training courses for dogs and their handlers, working with public and private clients, nationally and internationally. What is the background to your career in Search Dog Training? I’ve been working within the canine industry since I was 18. I kicked off initially with the British Army, the Read more…

Andy Thompson talks with Carolyn Pearson, Founder & CEO of Maiden Voyage, a Travel Community and Risk Awareness Training provider that focuses on “Making Business Travel Safe in a Diverse World”, through gender-specific and minority groups solutions. What is the origin of Maiden Voyage? I was happily working in technology for ITV and I had the fortune of going on a business trip to Hollywood. My number one passion in Read more…

Andy Thompson talks with Mark Scoular, founding Director at Protect and Prepare Ltd, a multi-agency protective security and preparedness consultancy, providing high level strategic, tactical & operational interoperability from the development of policy and doctrine to hands-on delivery, training, testing and exercising and gap-analysis in any given high threat/risk environment both domestically and internationally. What brought you to establishing Protect & Prepare? The ten to twelve years prior to launching Read more…