UNHCR Chief of Security Operations Section, Rob McDonald

With a background in military with the Irish Defence forces, Robert has 39 years of experience in the security sector. Prior to working with UNHCR, Robert deployed on 6 DPKO missions primarily in Lebanon, Liberia and East Timor and also deployed for two years with OSCE mission to Georgia. In 2010 he joined UNHCR as the Regional Field Security Advisor covering the Americas and LAC countries until 2016 when he moved to Field Security Service HQ in Geneva taking up the role as Desk Officer covering the EHAGL region. Since 2018 Robert has been serving as the Chief of Security Operations Section, within the Division of Emergency, Security and Supply.

STONE Security Engineering CEO, Holly Stone

UNICEF Principal Security Coordinator, Paul Farrell

Paul Farrell (Canada) is a strategic security risk-management expert with 40 years of military and security experience, 26 at the international level in the United Nations. Paul is presently the Principal Security Coordinator/Director of Global Security for UNICEF. He has served in multiple roles in UN Security, including as the Director of Policy and Compliance in the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS), Principal Security Adviser for the UN in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Chief of the Peacekeeping Operations Support Section in UNDSS, Regional Security Adviser for UNICEF in West and Central Africa, and Security Coordinator for the Witness and Victim Support Section in the UN International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. Paul was the key architect of the “risk-based” approach to security in the UN and is the foremost expert in the UN on Security Risk Management (SRM). Paul is presently the Chair of the UN Inter-Agency Security Management Network (IASMN) working group on SRM. He has extensive crisis-management experience, including with hostage incident management. Paul holds a Bachelor of Education (BEd) from McGill University and Master of Science (MSc) in Security Risk Management from the University of Leicester.

UNRWA Director of Department of Security Risk Management, Brian Baker

Brian Baker is the Director of Security Risk Management in UNRWA, overseeing the security risk management function for over 30,000 UN personnel across the Middle East. He has over 30 years of security management experience, initially with the British Armed Forces, then switching to the corporate and humanitarian sectors.

Capitalising on his proven hands-on experience in executing security risk management at field level in various high-risk environments, Brian has served in the leadership functions at both regional and headquarters within the UN for the last 8 years, providing organisational leadership and policy development to security decision makers, advisors, and personnel on matters relating to security risk management.

UNDSS Deputy Director, Division of Field Operations, Florence Poussin

Florence Poussin is currently serving as the Deputy Director, Division of Field Operations (DFO) in the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS). The Division is responsible for the daily coordination and management of safety and security programmes in more than 130 field operations around the world, including peacekeeping and special political missions. The Division provides operational and technical security support to security professionals and to UN leaders responsible for making security decisions (i.e., Designated Officials for Security). The office of the Director provides guidance, monitoring and oversight to ensure consistency in the delivery of security programmes in field operations, the implementation of the UNSMS policies and of UNDSS strategic goals and priorities. Prior to this, Ms. Poussin was the Officer-in-Charge of the Strategic Planning and Policy Service, providing strategic support to UNDSS senior management in all aspects of policies, communications, gender and inclusivity, oversight and partnerships. She was the Chief of the Policy unit for four years supporting the development of security policies for the United Nations System following four years as desk officer supporting the security management of large peacekeeping missions in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia and Central African Republic and two years in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations. Ms. Poussin joined the United Nations following 12 years of experience in the French diplomatic and security service in various positions. Florence graduated from the Institute of Political Sciences (“Sciences- Po”) in Bordeaux, France. She is married with two children.

Care International Director of Development & Capacity Building, John ODonoghue

John, originally from New Jersey, USA, has served in various safety and security roles over the last 12 years with CARE. John began with CARE as the Country Security Manager-Pakistan, progressing into roles as the Regional Security Manager-Asia and then Regional Security Manager-Americas. John has deployed several times to various disaster responses globally as part of CARE’s surge capacity, and presently serves as the Director of RISKREADY (Training) based in CARE USA’s Headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia (USA). In his current role as Director of RISKREADY, John leads a team of CARE colleagues to develop and deliver a wide range of training strategies and courses in support of CARE’s 10,000+ staff, enabling program delivery and continuity in over 60 countries globally.

Prior to joining CARE, John worked for various humanitarian organizations in East Africa and Pakistan in risk management roles after a period of military service from 2002-2010.

Mercy Corps Senior Director of Crisis Analysis, Jim Arbogast

Jim began his career in the humanitarian sector with a field position at the French Red Cross in Indonesia and Pakistan. Since then, he has amassed almost 20 years of experience with organizations including Solidarités International, Médecins du Monde, Save the Children International, and the International Criminal Court. These roles have taken him to Sudan, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and more.

Jim currently works as Senior Director, Crisis Analytics for Mercy Corps Global in the Hague, Netherlands.