As a former British Diplomat & HM Consul, I volunteered for the posts & locations my colleagues avoided in various embassies in sensitive and conflict areas around the globe. I have had extensive strategic as well as hands-on experience of emergency, security, contingency, earthquake and evacuation planning, all disciplines well tested globally particularly during the Arab Spring. In addition I was also responsible in these embassies for formulating and updating FCO travel advice, major incident response plans and setting up ex-pat warden networks.

Participated in hostage release negotiations in Iraq 2005, Iran 2007 and the evacuation of 72 oil workers in Libya in 2011.

I am the only British Diplomat to have served in all the so called "Axis of Evil' countries as well as being the first accredited British Diplomat to North Korea. Had the unique experience of working with the North Korean military. I still keep a close watching brief on the Hermit Kingdom following and reporting on events there as they develop.

Another skill garnered was the planning, security & organisation of many Royal, Presidential, VVIP, Ministerial and Diplomatic overseas visits and events.

In addition, I was tasked with setting up new missions and Embassies from scratch in Kosovo post conflict in 1999, Pyongyang in North Korea in 2001 and Astana in Kazakhstan in 2006.

For all of the above, the need for precise planning and attention to detail was paramount. Failure or lack of adequate planning, whatever the event or situation was never an option in the world I lived and worked in. Regular liaison with external agencies was essential especially NGO's, IOM, DfID, ODA, UK, US and other National militaries and the UN and OSCE when acting as an election monitor in Kosovo and Iraq.

Now a freelance writer, researcher and consultant on international affairs working with an extensive and diverse range of contacts worldwide focussing mainly on MENA political developments and the frontier/emerging business markets in the Far East. In addition now embarked on my own blogsite International Politics - Risk & Threat

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Prior to my Diplomatic service, I served in the Royal Air Force as a dual Russian & German linguist serving in West Berlin, GCHQ and in airborne operations globally.