CONSEC - 13th October 2022.
CONSEC 2022, the annual conference and exhibition of the Association of Security Consultants, aims to assist greater understanding of diverse threats and risks, to examine and share current good practice, and to reinforce the need for well-informed independent security advice.
The theme of this year’s event is ‘The UK Security Sector’s role in confronting the ‘perfect storm’ of global crises’ and will take place on 13th October at Twickenham Stadium.
The Association of Security Consultants (www.securityconsultants.org) is the UK’s single source of Registered Independent Security Consultants. Participation in CONSEC 2022, should be an essential learning, sharing and networking opportunity for security professionals and any user of security services.
With our nation facing major issues such as post-Brexit stabilisation, the Covid pandemic and its recovery, global terrorism, war in Europe, actions of hostile states, food and energy supplies and faltering economies, we’re left with a potentially toxic cocktail of threats and risks to contend with. Each of these issues alone would present a major challenge - but facing them together was recently described by a leading commentator as the ‘perfect storm’ of crises.
CONSEC 2022 will commence with a comprehensive examination of the ‘Rich Mixture of Global Threats and Risks’ led by well-informed senior government and industry experts. It will cover, among other things, the prospect of a widening of the Russia/Ukraine war, the overt and covert actions of hostile states, global terrorism, economic crisis and how these are likely to impact on the future provision of security.
This session will be followed by a session focusing on ‘Conducting Business in the Face of Crises’. We have all learned new ways of working and are experiencing the return to a ‘new normal’ following pandemic forced isolation. During this session delegates will hear, and have the opportunity to discuss, the experiences and adopted good practices of cross-sector practitioners in relation to safely and effectively returning to the workplace, travel and aviation security, supply chain security and operating safely in cyberspace.
The tragic bombing of the Manchester Arena in 2017 led to an in-depth forensic examination of the facts leading up to and including the fatal attack. Speculation abounds regarding the anticipated ‘Protect Duty’ legislation. CONSEC 2022 aims to cut through the speculation and to deal with the facts only. The session ‘Lessons Learned and Applied from the Manchester Arena Inquiry’ will be informed in detail by the leading counsel for the Manchester Arena Inquiry. Leading security practitioners from within public space management, sport, retail, and government will discuss and share the measures that they have put in place as a direct result on Inquiry findings.
Confirmed speakers so far include Paul Bean, (Royal Mail), Andy Blackwell (AVSEC) Paul Greaney KC (Manchester Arena), Nick Knight (Commonwealth Games). The conference will be chaired by Bill Butler.
Event Information
| Event Date | 13-10-2022 8:30 am |
| Event End Date | 13-10-2022 4:30 pm |
| Location | Twickenham Stadium |
Agendas
| 08.30 - 09.15 |
Registration, Coffee, Exhibition, Networking |
| 09.15 - 09.25 |
Welcome to CONSEC 2022Joe Connell, ASC Co-Chair |
| 09.25 - 09.30 |
Introduction by Conference Chair, Programme and House RulesBill Butler LLB, CPFA, CSyP |
| 09.30 - 09.55 |
Global Threat ForecastBrigadier Philip Clark, British Army, Ministry of Defence |
| 09.55 - 10.20 |
The enduring threats from terrorismProfessor Peter Neuman, Kings College London & International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation (ICSR) |
| 10.20 - 10.45 |
Security impacts emanating from the Russian invasion of UkraineDr Kristian Gustafson, Director of Studies, Centre for Intelligence and Security Studies, Brunel University |
| 10.45 - 11.15 |
Morning Coffee / Exhibition |
| 11.15 - 11.40 |
Enterprise Security, the value of security in crisesPaul Bean, Director of Security and Organisational Resilience, Royal Mail |
| 11.40 - 12.05 |
A new normal: Understanding and managing threats to civil aviation in the post-pandemic worldAndy Blackwell & John Wood, Consultancy Practice Directors, 3DAssurance |
| 12.05 - 12.30 |
Panel DiscussionASC Board and members. Hosted by Bill Butler, CONSEC 2022 Chairman |
| 12.30 - 12.45 |
A word from CONSEC 2022 SponsorDallmeier |
| 12.45 - 14.15 |
Lunch and Exhibition |
| 14.15 - 14.40 |
Update on the findings of the Manchester Arena InquiryPaul Greaney KC, Counsel to the Manchester Arena Inquiry |
| 14.40 - 15.05 |
Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and the impact of the Manchester Arena Inquiry, Volume 1Nick Knight, Ex-Director of Security, 2022 Commonwealth Games |
| 15.05 - 15.30 |
The challenges faced in the application of lessons from the Manchester Arena Inquiry, Volume 1Eric Stuart QPM, Gentian Events Ltd, Chair, UK Crowd Management Association (UKCMA) |
| 15.30 -15.55 |
Public/Private Sector CollaborationSuperintendent Adam Thompson, National Counter Terrorism, Security Office (NaCTSO) |
| 15.55 - 16.20 |
Panel DiscussionPractitioners and Stakeholders, Hosted by Bill Butler, CONSEC 2022 Chairman |
| 16.20 - 16.30 |
Conclusion and Vote of ThanksJoe Connell, ASC Co-Chair |
Speakers
Andy Blackwell
Andy Blackwell is a subject matter expert on SeMS and a wide range of transport security matters. He provides support to the UK CPNI’s SeMS Study and consultancy to the UK Department for Transport. Andy was formerly Head of Security with Virgin Atlantic, where he was responsible for all aspects of the airline’s security programme, including Security Management Systems (SeMS) implementation and development.
John Wood
John Wood is a Security Management Systems (SeMS) subject matter expert, and was responsible at the UK CAA for developing the UK SeMS framework published jointly by government and the CAA. As the CAA’s Aviation Security Strategy Lead and SeMS subject matter expert, John worked with many industry stakeholders and guided the first two pathfinder organisations to develop their SeMS to achieve a successful regulatory assessment.
Dr. Kristian Gustafson
Dr. Kristian Gustafson is Reader in Intelligence & War. He is the Deputy Director of BCISS and runs our very successful Distance Learning MA in Intelligence and Security Studies. After an MA at the University of Alberta, Canada, he moved to the UK to take his PhD at Downing College, Cambridge. Before coming to Brunel, Dr. Gustafson was senior lecturer in War Studies at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. He has served in the Canadian Army and as a Reservist in the British Army, and taught at the Joint Services Com-mand and Staff College of the United Kingdom. Dr. Gustafson has conducted consultancy and advisory work for the MOD's Develop-ment, Concepts and Doctrine Centre, including an integral role in developing UK Joint Intelligence Doctrine. He has provided other work for the UK Land Warfare Centre, the UK Cabinet Office, and multiple units and formations across the UK military. Dr. Gustafson has delivered professional development courses to multiple Allied and partner organisations, including the EU Intelligence Centre, and the governments of Norway, Latvia, France and the United Arab Emirates. In 2013 he worked as an intelligence advisor for the General Command Police Special Units (GCPSU) of the Afghan Ministry of Interior.
Paul Greaney KC
Paul Greaney KC is Counsel to the Manchester Arena Inquiry. He practises from New Park Court in Leeds, where he specialises in serious crime, inquests, public inquiries and regulatory law. Paul has been involved a number of high profile inquests, public inquiries and trials in recent years including the Hillsborough Inquests, the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, the Deepcut Inquest and Football Association disciplinary proceedings relating to, among other players Luis Suarez and Nicolas Anelka. He has prosecuted a substantial number of terrorism cases and has defended in many high profile cases.
Eric Stuart, QPM
Eric Stuart, QPM, BA, is the director of Gentian Events and the chair of the United Kingdom Crowd Management Association (UKCMA). He has been involved in crowd safety for 17 years and currently is a crowd safety manager for events ranging from summer festivals and concerts to Edinburgh Hogmanay. Eric is also engaged with crowd management at many complex “crowded space” environments, including large shopping centers and religious gatherings across the United States, Canada, and the UK. He has supported crowd management operations of 600,000 in Vancouver, on St. Patrick’s Day in Toronto, and during the largest Diwali celebrations outside India in Leicester, UK. He delivers crowd safety management training in Europe, the United States, and Canada. Most recently, he supported the U.S. Event Safety Alliance in its successful efforts to launch an ANSI Standard for Crowd Management, which was approved and launched in 2020. Eric holds an FdA and a BA in crowd safety management and was the co-author of the 2015 “UK Good Practice Guide to Working in Safety Advisory Groups.” He also supported the UK Government Cabinet Office “EPC” in its rewrite and relaunch in 2019. He was an advisor to the British government counterterrorism “Crowded Places Guidance.” He spent much of 2020 supporting government and industry in writing guidance for the return of mass attendee events in a COVID environment.
Superintendent Adam Thomson
Adam Thomson spent 20 years as an officer in the Royal Air Force Regiment. During this time he was deployed on operations in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Southwest Asia and the Caribbean. On the majority of these deployments he was responsible for Protective Security and Preparedness for the coalition forces operating in that area. This culminated in a role as the Chief of Staff (Force Protection) at Kandahar Airfield – not only the busiest single runway airport in the world, but also a hub for 35,000 soldiers and contractors. On retiring from the military, Adam joined North Yorkshire Police on the Direct Entrant (Superintendent) scheme. When he completed his probation he commanded York and Selby, the Force’s largest district. In 2017 he joined Counter Terrorism Policing as the Deputy National Coordinator Protect and Prepare, where he oversaw the expansion of the role of NaCTSO to cover Hostile State Actors and formally incorporate Prepare. This growth in the role brought an elevation in the rank of Head of NaCTSO and in 2019 Adam was appointed as the first Superintendent Head of NaCTSO.
Paul Bean
Paul Bean is the current Director of Security and Organisational Resilience for The Royal Mail Group Ltd (RMG), a multi-site, listed (FTSE250) business with c.140,000 employees and £12billion revenue. He delivers the strategic direction of the function and for the identification and management of external and internal threats to infrastructure and employees. He has responsibility for ensuring products and processes are safe and secure, whilst maintaining commercial viability and growth, the investigation of economic loss and recoveries, security of the aviation network, compliance, strategic change of products and policies. He is the business lead and key interface with UK Government and regulators within the Critical National Infrastructure and others such as the Civil Aviation Authority, OFCOM and Surveillance Commissioners. Prior to his work within Royal Mail he completed a 31year career within the Metropolitan Police Service and Devon & Cornwall Police specialising in covert policing and the investigation of serious and organised financial crime.
Peter Neumann
Peter Neumann is Professor of Security Studies at the Department of War Studies, and founded the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation (ICSR), which he directed between 2008 and 2018. In 2017, he also served as the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s (OSCE) Special Representatives on Countering Violent Extremism. Neumann has authored or co-authored seven books, and is currently working on a research monograph on the ideas and ideologues of the contemporary Far Right. He established the MA in Terrorism, Security, and Society at the War Studies Department, and served as its Co-Director from 2008 to 2016. He has taught courses on terrorism, counterterrorism, intelligence, radicalisation and counter-radicalisation at King's College London, Georgetown University, Johns Hopkins University, and Sciences Po (Lyon). Neumann holds an MA in Political Science from the Free University of Berlin, and a PhD in War Studies from King’s College London. Before becoming an academic, he worked as a radio journalist in Germany.