The PACE First Team
PACE First is a team of highly skilled consultants adept at international risk management, security and training.
The Executive Group
He holds post-graduate and undergraduate degrees in international relations, journalism and risk management, has a military and emergency medicine background, and is regularly deployed as a trusted advisor and emergency team leader during international crises. He is also completing a PhD focusing on environmental peace building and the linkages between climate science and conflict. He hopes to use risk management methodologies and probabilistic simulation models to identify real-time triggers, susceptibilities and protections to limit the destabilizing impacts of climate-catalyst conflicts.
Scott has served as a director on a number of boards and is an avid traveller, expanding on previous experiences to visit some of the world’s most under travelled destinations throughout Africa and the Middle East, including; Libya, Algeria, Somalia, Yemen, Iran, Iraq and Pakistan. Scott’s personal experiences and networks, together with his business knowledge enable him to assist clients to operate in complex, remote and hostile environments and to help identify and mitigate risks for staff.
Cormac has sat on multiple boards, advising on project feasibility, compliance, strategic tendering and product development. He has overseen the rapid growth and restructuring of various companies as well as being responsible for identifying commercial risks and imperatives for green-field projects in emerging and rarely capitalised markets – with recent focus in Africa and Asia.
He is the former Chief of Police of Australia’s Capital Territory and the former A/Deputy Commissioner (Operations) of the Australian Federal Police. Roman’s operational roles have included all facets of policing and national security including uniform, detective, undercover, intelligence and tactical response functions. He is a recognised counter-terrorism specialist having chaired two sub-committees of the Australia and New Zealand Counter Terrorism Committee (Operational Response and CBRNe).
The Consultants
He conducted his training at a Level I Trauma Center at Lincoln Medical Center in the Bronx, New York (an affiliate of the Weill Cornell Medical College), and is currently an Emergency Room Attending at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center and Tri-City Medical Center in Oceanside, California.
Since his kidnapping, Nigel has delivered hostile environment training to foreign correspondents, aid organizations and mining professionals. He has also advised on evasion and conduct after capture training for the Australian Defence Force (ADF), siege negotiations for the Australian Federal Police and state police forces. Nigel is an advocate for peer support networking and mental health awareness, in particularly post-traumatic stress disorder and empowering those dealing with trauma.
Scott has also been a valued member of the Diplomatic Security Branch of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). He has supported governmental operations through risk assessment, threat analysis, training and protection of ambassadors and Ministers in Tehran, Beirut, Tripoli, Abuja, Nairobi, Addis Ababa, Baghdad, Cairo and other locations. His passion is training others, instilling knowledge and a culture of risk awareness within the workplace and in all facets of life.
Tony was the head of international news for Australia’s national broadcaster, the ABC, Australia’s largest international newsgathering operation with news teams and offices in 12 countries, and he oversaw award-winning coverage. He was responsible for the risk management and oversight of operations in war zones and during major natural disaster events. His work included development of security policies and guidelines, training programs, trauma awareness and support, as well as reviewing international operations.
As a foreign correspondent in Asia and the Middle East he reported from more than 20 countries on stories ranging from geopolitics in Indo China and the Middle East peace process, to events such as Tiananmen Square and the first Gulf War.
Elmer is highly experienced in crisis management, planning, project feasibility, operations and continuity. Among his numerous military qualifications he was a Jumpmaster, Pathfinder, Air Assault and SERE (Survival Evasion Resistance Escape). His knowledge in logistics, survival, weapons and anti-terrorism, and recent management and leadership experience as the Site Manager of Bagram Air Base and Senior Operations Manager at Forward Operating Base Salerno RC in Eastern Afghanistan, enables him to assist clients to operate in the most complex, remote, extreme and hostile environments and to help identify and mitigate risks to people and business operations.
His skills range from; business development and project management to directing, producing, non-linear editing on multiple platforms and advanced animation. He has been recognised numerous times with awards in the areas of innovation, business development, screenwriting, cinematography, directing, producing and editing. These recognitions include the Innovation Award at the 2015 Online Video Awards, and the Peoples’ Choice Award at the 2011 MTV one80 Project.
In 2005, Steve was one of the founding directors of a global emergency management company that specialised in providing 24/7 medical and security assistance to one of Australia’s largest insurance company’s along with a range of crisis management and security services to resource, government and media clients. He is a subject matter expert in the fields of crisis management; security services, travel risk management and Hostile Environment Awareness Training.
Yasmin’s education and expertise in business and IT ensures that client requirements are met through intelligence-led technology solutions. Yasmin is currently undertaking an MBA degree, travels extensively and splits her time between offices in the United Arab Emirates, Iran and Australia.
As an accepted subject-matter expert in a variety of techniques used for special operations, Ken consults using proven risk management, personal protection, situational awareness and emergency response concepts. His participative and relaxed style of inclusive instruction, focus on realistic multi-faceted instructional scenarios, and insistence on life-saving concepts resonate with participants, and assists in retention of essential skills offered through Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT).
Phil has deep financial market and economics expertise, has managed large teams across dozens of countries, and was responsible for risk assessment, management of staff and facilities and often covered stories during numerous disasters and conflicts in these regions. These have included the conflicts in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Southern Thailand, the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, major civil unrest in Thailand and during the multi-crisis in Fukushima, Japan post-3/11 tsunami. Since retiring from Reuters News in 2014, he has taught geopolitics, economics and journalism at several universities across Asia and has continued to deliver hostile environments awareness training to working journalists.
Mr. Curtis has a first class security pedigree born from military service as an officer in the Australian Special Air Service (SAS) Regiment. His military experience includes responsibility for the strategic design, development and management of several high profile national capabilities including the in-extremis response force for the Sydney Olympics (2000) and the raising of a national counter-terrorism force (2002). Tim was also selected as an adviser to the Government of Sierra Leone (2001), during a period of regional insecurity, and made a significant contribution to security along the Sierra Leone/ Liberian border.
Since then, Michael has spent over 20 years running risk management consultancy groups in Asia Pacific with both global and regional responsibilities including previous positions as the Head of South and South-East Asia for a leading global risk management consultancy group heading their operations in Singapore (Regional Headquarters), Jakarta and Mumbai; as the founder and CEO of a boutique risk management consultancy; and as the Head of Asia Pacific and the Global Head of the Corporate Investigations practice of another leading global Crisis and Response group.
Michael specialises in Corporate Investigations, Security, Crisis Management, Response, Cyber, Product Contamination and Recall, Kidnap, Ransom and Extortion.
Michael has a degree in Policing and other relevant qualifications in Security Management; Aviation Security; Supply Chain Security; Terrorism; Threat and Vulnerability Threat Assessments; Fraud Examination and Compliance.
Michael is an Advisory Board Member of the Certified Counter Terrorism Board in Singapore.
His career has taken him to a variety of locations globally, including some of the worlds’ least travelled and remote locations. He holds an undergraduate degree in political science, has numerous military accolades and awards and is completing a Nursing program with an emphasis in Emergency Medicine.
Tom handles stress-related situations and long assignments very well. He is a licenced close protection operative, qualified paramedic, combat medic and offshore medic, and has a long experience working in Africa, the Middle East, and Europe with a full understanding of sensitivity and respect for different cultures.
He is now also working to complete postgraduate studies in Security and Risk Management at Leicester University.
Our people have experience in over 130 countries conducting assessments, delivering training, researching project feasibility, leading complex negotiations, developing business continuity plans, providing equipment & logistics, connecting with local experts, ensuring on-ground protection and supporting during crises.
Our clients include international businesses, insurers, media, resources, telecommunications, aid workers, sports administrators and leisure travellers. We manage their operational, travel and security risks in some of the most complex, remote and hostile environments in the world.
