Each week a different academic, industry or government expert will deliver a session. Speakers for 2021 are currently being confirmed but examples from previous years include:

Dr William G Proud (Module Leader)

William Proud is a Security Science Fellow in the ISST and Director of the Institute of Shock Physics in Imperial College London. 

His main research areas are multi-disciplinary involving Physics, Chemistry, Bio-sensors and Materials Science in the Security and Resilience space. He is one of the founding academics of the Royal British Legion Centre for Blast Injury Studies and former chair of the IOP Group 'Shock Wave and Extreme Conditions'. 

Prof. Deeph Chana

Deeph is Co-Director of the Institute for Security Science and Technology, and Professor of Practice at Imperial Business School. Deeph also consults on technology development and strategy, particularly with SMEs. He's recently been involved with developing innovative products ranging from explosives detection devices for airports, crowd analytics software for smart cities, and consulting on security of autonomous transport. Prior to this, Deeph worked as a senior UK government science policy adviser on critical infrastructure security in Whitehall.

Robert Murray 

Rob was appointed by NATO’s Secretary General as the Head of NATO’s Innovation Unit in December 2019. Throughout his career Rob has amassed vast experience of both leading the strategic thinking and writing of innovation policy at an international level, while also implementing innovation efforts ‘on the frontline’. Rob’s main professional interest is centred at the national security inter-section of finance, technology, and Defence, underpinned by those relationships between the private sector, academia, and public sector.

Dr Alba Graciela Avila Bernal

Dr Alba Avila is an Associate Professor at the Electrical and Electronic Department of the University of Los Andes (UA). She holds a PhD in Physics from the University of Cambridge, a MSc in Electrical Engineering, and a BSc in Physics and Electrical Engineering from the UA. Her research interests include nanomaterials (NMs), electrical characterization of using Scanning Microscopy techniques, nanomaterials and nanocomposites-based approaches for sensing physiochemical water parameters, food’s physical properties, and nanocomposites for energy harvesting applications. She also works on designing and developing kits to promote nanotechnology and energy harvesting education and engages regularly in outreach activities with marginalized communities.

Dr Margaret Wilson

Dr Margaret Wilson is a Chartered Forensic Psychologist best known for her research on the psychology of terrorism. She is an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the ISST and an affiliate investigator at The US National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START), one of the first centres of excellence of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Dr Wilson has been conducting research on terrorist behaviour for 30 years and has frequently been invited to present her findings to professional meetings in law enforcement, security, and hostage negotiation worldwide.

Prof Jason Blazakis

Jason Blazakis is a Professor at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies (MIIS) where he focuses on threat financing, sanctions, violent extremism, and special operations-related research. He is also the Director of MIIS’s Centre on Terrorism, Extremism, and Counterterrorism, where he directs research on a wide range of national security challenges. From 2008-2018, he served as the Director of the Counterterrorism Finance and Designations Office, Bureau of Counterterrorism, US Department of State. In his former role, Jason was responsible for directing efforts to designate countries, organizations, and individuals as terrorists, also known as State Sponsors of Terrorism, Foreign Terrorist Organizations, and Specially Designated Global Terrorists. Jason previously held positions in the Department of State’s Political-Military Affairs, International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Intelligence and Research Bureaus, and at U.S. Embassy Kabul. He has published articles in the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Time Magazine, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, The Hill, Philadelphia Inquirer, Lawfare and many other outlets.

Mansoor Ali Khan

Mansoor Khan is a Consultant Oesophagogastric, Trauma and General Surgeon as well as Honorary Clinical Professor of Trauma Surgery at Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals.  He has recently retired from the Royal Navy, at the rank of Surgeon Commander after completing over two decades of military service with distinction. His interests include research into Primary Injury Prevention, Blast Mitigation strategies, Haemorrhage control,