Security Forward Risk & Intelligence Forum
Forum (Invitation Only)

Thursday, 30 April, saw Security Forward and Intelligence Forum host its inaugural virtual meeting, co-chaired by Chris Smith. Given these extraordinary times, alternative measures were necessary, including but not limited to imbibing Crispin Black’s famous cocktail recipe.

Crispin shared a provocative and thoughtful presentation where he dealt with the “The Miracle Rescue”; the 1943 evacuation of Denmark’s Jews. We celebrated this extraordinary account of adversity and hope with an unusual "HM Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother”, or “HM Queen Elisabeth II”, cocktail. Traditionally the cocktail is had at the end of our meetings but Crispin, with admirable forethought, sent attendees the recipe in advance to partake over conversation - 1 part Gin and 2 parts Dubonnnet with ice and a twist of orange peel for the QEII, 2 parts Gin and 1 part Dubonnet with ice and a twist of orange peel for the Queen Mother. You may draw your own conclusions.

The agenda then moved on to Peter Fraser-Hopewell’s thoughts on covid-19 and the security implications of the pandemic. The discussion broadened out into current issues faced by members and replaced the traditional In-Tray discussions. Given the small size of the Group, the Co-Chairmen allowed this to continue.

Feedback was sought from the attendees and is summarised as follows:

  • Could we have an author join us if we need to meet via video-conferencing next time? Whilst we won’t have the benefit of receiving their book by having a video-conferencing meeting, we could still benefit from hearing from various authors on topics that are relevant to us all.
  • The question of hosting webinars: What would be the theme or themes? Whom would we target as an audience to attend the webinars? Would it be just Forum members or would we open it to others that are selected invitees [not guests of members] bearing in mind that we operate under Chatham House Rule? Webinars are overdone - they are everywhere and their value is sometimes questionable. The question of focus is key.
  • Despite the agenda, we didn’t stick to it and perhaps the round-robin of in-tray items works less well in this setting. The cocktail remains ever enjoyable and Crispin’s talk was extremely good as always.
  • The clunky nature of video-conferencing precludes the chat and relationship building which is the essence of Security Forward, plus the dinner and speaker who often has a book to offer. We still prefer the usual format and hope we can get together as normal next time. Missed the dinner and drinks bit.

Christopher Smith
Programme Co Chairman

Chris has spent over 30 years in senior corporate security roles in the leisure industry (Marriott, Four Seasons and Trust House Forte), financial services (Deutsche Bank and HSBC) and currently in media and advertising (WPP). His responsibilities have included fraud risk, physical security, business continuity, cyber security, geopolitical risk, insider risk and crisis management. Chris started life in law enforcement and intelligence. He is a founding Fellow of the Security Institute, an Advisor to the Asia Crisis & Security Group and past Chair of OSAC (Hong Kong & Macao). He is a Board Trustee and Chair of the fund raising committee for Hostage International. Chris has an MSc in Criminology from Leicester University.

Crispin Black MBE
Senior Advisor

Crispin Black is a former Lt Colonel in the Welsh Guards who has served in Northern Ireland, headed the U.K. Defence Intelligence Staff's Yugoslav Crisis Cell, and was posted to the British government’s Cabinet Office to work for the Joint Intelligence Committee and COBRA. Since leaving the British army he has been director of analysis at a leading U.K. security firm with extensive interests in Iraq, written a book on the London Bombings of 7 July 2005, and is currently a highly sought-after commentator for the UK and US media. He is a Fellow at Chatham House.

For further information, please contact Linda_cook@zyen.com

Date
Thursday, 30 April 2020

Time
16:00 - 18:30 BST

Cost
By Invitation Only

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Speaker(s):
  • Christopher Smith
    Programme Co Chairman
    Z/Yen Group
  • Lt Col Crispin Black MBE
    Senior Advisor

Location
Webinar