Andrew Mackay. Andrew Mackay has been involved in the stabilisation of fragile and conflict afflicted states throughout his career. These have included Lebanon, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. Since leaving the military Andrew co-founded Complexas a strategic advisory company with an emphasis on sub Sahara Africa. His principal focus has been on providing decision support to the resolution of complex political and social problems that delay the progress of a range of projects.  This also includes the tools required to understand communities, the resolution of social conflict and the implementation of sound  ESG practise. The work undertaken in Behavioural Conflict has been central to the approach taken particularly the role of Narrative, the necessity of ground level community data in order to granular understanding and how to combine elements that provide that provide genuine insight.

Dr Steve Tatham. Steve Tatham served in the Royal Navy for 24 years, resigning as a Commander in 2014. He saw operational service in Sierra Leone, Iraq and Afghanistan. Between 2007-2010 he was Director of Communication research at the Ministry of Defence (MoD) Advanced Research and Assessment Group; between 2010-2013 he commanded 15 (UK) PsyOps Group and until leaving in 2014 he was the Special Projects Officer in Military Strategic Effects, part of the Operation’s Directorate of the MoD. Steve holds an M.Phil. in  International  Relations from John’s College, Cambridge and a Ph.D., from the University of Southampton. He is the author of ‘Losing Arab  Hearts & Minds: The Coalition, Al-Jazeera and Muslim Public Opinion‘. Steve now runs a specialist consultancy, Influence Options Ltd, and works mainly on complex defence and security issues.