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ILS was founded by George and Rebecca in 2010. The aim was to deliver quality security consultancy services to International Organisations, using the wealth of knowledge and experience they’d gained from working with NGOs in post-conflict environments and other complex settings. Since then, the team has grown significantly and we are extremely proud to employ such a unique team of professionals.
George has led the development of ILS from its inception in 2010. He maintains oversight of all ILS’ service delivery and business development, with a specific focus on our Global Learning Programme. George has worked in aid and development since 2003, in both strategic and operational roles, in the UK and in various complex and post conflict settings around the world.
Rebecca has led the strategic development of ILS since our inception. Today she oversees various functions of the business including strategic development and growth, financial management and sector engagement. She has a varied background including working in international development programmes in countries including Kenya, Ethiopia, India, Egypt and Pakistan.
Leandro oversees the development and delivery of ILS global training programme. He joins ILS following a period of time working in academia and as an L&D consultant within the Human Rights, Democracy and Election Observation space. Prior to that he spent 8 years as an Election Monitor in a range of complex environments. He is fluent in English, French and Spanish and has worked in 18 different countries over the past 10 years.
Helen is a chartered accountant, she has previously worked in practice, national companies, and charities. She is your contact for all things finance.
Stephen has an extensive background in security risk management, crisis management and humanitarian operations management from a 23-year operational and director-level career in the United Nations. Prior to joining ILS, Stephen held senior positions for the World Food Programme in the Philippines, Italy, and Pakistan from 2009 to 2019, after being a chief security officer for the United Nations for 13 years.
Hannah is a consultant, trainer and keynote speaker. She has a strong journalism background, specialising in media safety and mental health. As former CEO of the International News Safety Institute, Hannah has global experience working at Reuters, The Times, ITV News, Channel 4News, and the BBC.
Chris is the Group Director of Security for News UK. He has over 30 years of safety and security experience. Chris is a former Army Officer, and Senior Security Advisor for the UK Government’s Stabilisation Unit. Most recently Chris worked as the head of the BBC High Risk and News Safety team.
Hannah delivers risk advisory projects to our clients in the UK and the field. Hannah has extensive experience providing operational and strategic risk advice to clients, having previously worked as a Senior Threat Analyst for Crisis24 and for Palladium within the FCDO Office for Conflict, Stabilisation and Mediation. She has wide country experience, including in Moldova, Ukraine, Montenegro, UAE, Rwanda, Kenya, and Indonesia.
Monica is an experienced humanitarian with a background in protection, and extensive operational risk management experience. Having worked for more than 20 years in fragile and high-risk environments, predominantly with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), she has held a broad range of management and advisory positions throughout her career, both operational and office-based. She has managed and coordinated field operations in countries such as Mozambique, Colombia, South Sudan, DRC, Mali, OpT, Rwanda, and Angola; and has worked directly with communities affected by armed conflict and violence, as well as liaised with a wide range of civilian and military state and non-state authorities and local and international organisations. Monica is equally comfortable working in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Zoe has a background in research and operations, with a focus on human rights and international security. Most recently, she held the position of Senior Security Specialist at International SOS where she delivered assistance to a range of clients operating in high and extreme-risk locations. Zoe has extensive travel experience, and has a keen interest in West Africa, having conducted security assessments in Gambia, Senegal, and Guinea-Bissau. Building on previous positions in academic research and client-facing risk management, her work at ILS involves developing the risk advisory team’s analytical function.
Nicola has 15 years experience in programme design, delivery and technical support, including learning and knowledge development - seven of which were spent delivering and advising on humanitarian assistance for complex emergencies in fragile and conflict-affected contexts. Her areas of expertise include child protection in emergencies, human security, gender based violence, mental health and psycho social support and reintegration. Her humanitarian career has seen her working in complex contexts including South Sudan, Iraq, the Sahel, Bangladesh and NE Nigeria to name a few.
Beth delivers training and Risk Advisory work for ILS in the UK and globally. An experienced security trainer, travel safety and risk professional, Beth previously worked at Comic Relief and the Prince's Trust in the UK, as well as on refugee projects in Greece and Iraq with various NGOs.
Paul is a training officer delivering courses for ILS in the UK. He brings a varied experience to ILS from the British Army, private security roles and the private sector. In his roles, Paul has worked and travelled extensively in Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Australia/NZ. He is a qualified coach and instructor, having trained people of all backgrounds (including volunteer management) for the past 25 years in hostile environment awareness technical, commercial and recreational diving, and first aid. A proven problem solver, qualified electrician and rugby coach in addition to the above, Paul can address any issue, whilst delivering a professional service, remaining conscious of his audience and their individual needs.
Rachel is responsible for the administration, logistics and coordination of our global training programme. She has enjoyed a career in administration and holds a degree in Zoology and Ecology.
Naomi provides admin support across the operations and training teams. She trained as a Children’s Social Worker and practised in the UK for a number of years. After starting a family, she has worked in administrative roles in Sussex. An active member of her community, she established a WI for local women, started the first girls football team in their area, has been a guest speaker on personal growth and development, and has been involved in voluntary projects both at home and abroad.
Nicky is a Finance Assistant, she has enjoyed a career in legal administration and finance.
Caroline manages all aspects of client contracting and compliance and leads the management of the ILS corporate risk register, working across the business to mitigate a range of strategic and operations risks. Caroline is an experienced senior operations professional with over 16 years’ experience in managing complex international operations and project implementation for FCDO and other donor clients. Having previously worked as the COO for the FCDOs HEROS programme and a Senior Operations Manager for Palladium, she has wide range of business operations experience in the UK, Africa, Middle East and Europe.
Jacob leads on proposal writing and business development at ILS. He has a background in international development and experience working with government agencies, INGOs, private consulting firms, and research institutes. Prior to joining ILS, Jacob has been a research and community partnership consultant delivering work for the French Development Agency, Mountain Sentinels (National Science Foundation), McMaster University, SOAS University of London, and Colorado State University. Prior to moving to the UK, Jacob lived in Gifu and Kagawa Japan for four years and is comfortable working in both English and Japanese. Jacob holds an MSc in Environment, Policy and Development and a BA in International and East Asian Studies.
Ruairí leads on marketing, design, branding, content creation, data protection, and information management. Prior to joining ILS he worked for the Fonthill Foundation as warehouse and donations manager.
With over 15 years' experience in the operational delivery and management of overseas travel safety and security, Beth has worked in partnership with many humanitarian and environmental NGOs, notably in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia to deliver safe and effective programme visits in complex environments. Beth is an outstanding trainer, and brings a strong understanding of Duty of Care to our team.
Richard has a wealth of experience in security, health, and safety. He is skilled in security and risk management, occupational safety and health, emergency medical services, and firefighting. Over the last 15 years, he has honed his deftness in instructing, designing, and developing training curricula for different audiences. He often delivers training and workshops for humanitarian organisations, private sector companies, security firms, and various government agencies across Africa. He is an ardent team player and enjoys learning new things.
Imogen delivers our Field Resilience & Stress Management Training; a mental health trainer and qualified therapist specialising in staff welfare and crisis management, she also has extensive experience as a frontline humanitarian responder. Prior to ILS, she carried out frontline humanitarian work in Indonesia, Sudan, Haiti and the Philippines for the UN, and worked for the BBC world Service as a producer and editor. A survivor of burnout and associated conditions herself, she continues to work as a humanitarian consultant and responder alongside her teaching and mental health work.
Terry leads on First Aid Training for ILS. He has served in the Fire Service for over 25 years, and is a team leader within the UK’s International Search and Rescue Team.
Loise is a security trainer with ILS. She has a background in disaster management, for the last 2 years she has trained both online and in person on numerous personal security, HEAT and travel safety courses in Kenya, Ethiopia and Nigeria.
Natalie's expertise in safeguarding and gender equality and social inclusion and safeguarding spans a 15-year career working in the international development and humanitarian sectors globally with a particular focus across Africa and Asia. She has worked with a vast range of clients ranging from international NGOs, Foundations, private sector companies, government agencies and bilateral development banks. Natalie has direct experience conducting organisational assessments and providing technical support to address key gaps and risks; developing and setting up safeguarding policies and procedures; delivering safeguarding training; conducting investigations; and developing technical products to support clients to strengthen their ability to implement effective safeguarding measures. She has particular expertise in child safeguarding and safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.
Nick has delivered training for ILS in the UK, and recently in Ukraine. He is an adaptable and outgoing security professional with proven experience of leading civilian and military teams through the demanding environments of the UN and Defence at international level. He has experience in policy formulation, stabilisation, programme management, humanitarian affairs, and negotiation. Nick is fluent in French and is an articulate and dynamic communicator, skilled in complex decision-making processes.
Jane delivers security training and supports crisis management training for ILS in the UK. A fluent Russian speaker, she has extensive work experience in law enforcement, police and peacekeeping training, and hostile environment training.
With over nine years of experience in Security Risk Management spanning both humanitarian and civil sectors, Karokh has a unique blend of expertise. His aid sector journey includes navigating complex security landscapes in many countries of the Middle East, and Africa, with a focus on strategic leadership, crisis response, capacity building, and risk mitigation. He holds an MSc in Security Management, and he is fluent in English, Arabic, Kurdish, Assyrian (neo-Aramaic), and intermediate in French.
Daniel is a security industry professional with more than 20 years of experience working in support of civilian missions and NGOs in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas in a variety of complex and hostile contexts. Specialising in risk analysis and security training, Daniel regularly contributes to ILS trainings overseas in French and English.
Tess is a consultant trainer on our security and risk management courses. Tess has over 25 years’ experience within the humanitarian sector, in progressively senior operations and programme roles. She has been working as a security consultant since 2017, and alongside training, has developed security frameworks and crisis management plans for organisations. Tess has had a long term interest in security, originally writing her undergraduate thesis on the use of acceptance as a security strategy in conflict environments. Tess is also a qualified coach, including certifications in trauma informed coaching, and has a particular interest in the psychology of risk and the impact of stress on personal and organisational security.
Carla is a licensed clinical psychologist with over seven years of professional experience and has seamlessly integrated her expertise into diverse international and local organizations spanning multiple sectors, including medico-social, livelihood, community health, and child protection. Coming from Lebanon, she possesses fluent proficiency in English, French, and Arabic, facilitating effective cross-cultural communication. Her focus and research on the interplay between the mind and body have positioned her as a specialist in addressing issues related to stress, depression, trauma, grief, and anxiety.