Episode #022 - Dr Timothy Less - The Intersection Between Geopolitics, Terrorism, and Risk.

Dr Timothy Less is a Senior Advisor for Geopolitics at the Centre for Risk Studies where he is developing a programme of work in geopolitical analysis. He also leads a study group at the University’s Centre for Geopolitics which introduces final-year undergraduate and postgraduate students to the rudiments of political and geopolitical risk analysis. Outside the University, Tim provides analytical and consultancy services for public and private-sector clients, specialising in the politics, economics and legal/regulatory environments in Russia and eastern Europe. Previously, Tim was an Associate Lecturer in East European Politics at the University of Kent, and a member of the British Diplomatic Service during which time he served as head of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s EU Institutions department, head of the British Embassy Office in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the lead analyst on the government’s Countries at Risk of Instability initiative.

Tim holds a MA in Eastern European Studies from the School of Slavonic and East European Studies, University College London, and a MSt in International Relations and PhD in contemporary geopolitics from the University of Cambridge. He is functional in Serbian, Russian and Albanian.

In this episode, we will explore the intersection between geopolitics and terrorism, as well as how best businesses can prepare themselves for future geopolitical flashpoints. Tim will provide his own assessment on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, how future conflicts will be fought within a New World Order, and its impact on the UK.

Please note, this episode was recorded on 17 June 2025.

For regular insightful terrorism threat and risk information, as well as other Pool Re updates, please sign up to receive our emails at https://www.poolre.co.uk/signup/.

If you enjoyed this podcast episode, please subscribe on your streaming app of choice, and share so we can help build a better understanding of the terrorism threat to the UK.

Disclaimer: The views or statements expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the podcast does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by Pool Re employees are those of the employees and do not necessarily reflect the view of Pool Re.

Episode #021 - Heather Arrowsmith-Tosley - The Competent Person Scheme

Heather Arrowsmith-Tosley is the Head of Professional Capability at the National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) and the national training lead responsible for the training and accreditation of Counter Terrorism Security Advisors (CTSA’s) and Prepare Officers. Heather's portfolio area includes being the lead for the Competent Person Scheme Project and she is the NaCTSO lead for Disruptive Effects (Project Servator and SCaN). Heather is a qualified CTSA, whose specialism has afforded her to work across the public and private sectors at a local, national and international level. Before specialising in Counter Terrorism, Heather developed a firm grounding in Policing having performed roles across Criminal Justice and Intelligence. This included working to prevent cross-border organised crime, child sexual exploitation and drug offences. Heather has a strong academic background and found a career in Policing following completion of her Master’s degree and a research posting.

In this episode, we’ll be asking Heather to provide an update on the Competent Person Scheme developed by NaCTSO, and exploring her thoughts on what competency is, development pathways in the security industry, and also how the UK’s journey of professionalisation of the Security Industry is progressing.

For regular insightful terrorism threat and risk information, as well as other Pool Re updates, please sign up to receive our emails at https://www.poolre.co.uk/signup/.

If you enjoyed this podcast episode, please subscribe on your streaming app of choice, and share so we can help build a better understanding of the terrorism threat to the UK.

Disclaimer: The views or statements expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the podcast does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by Pool Re employees are those of the employees and do not necessarily reflect the view of Pool Re.

Episode #020 – Matt Jukes QPM - Insights from the Head of UK Counter Terrorism Policing.

Matt Jukes QPM is the Head of UK Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) and a member of the Metropolitan Police Service’s Management Board as Assistant Commissioner (Specialist Operations). He has held this role since July 2021. His responsibilities span countering threats from domestic and international terrorism and the protection of the Royal Family, Ministers and Parliament. Matt oversaw the CTP investigation into the murder of Sir David Amess MP and contributed to security at the funeral of HM The Queen and HM The King’s Coronation. Most recently, this has seen him lead the responses to the recent conflicts in Ukraine and Middle East.

Matt is the national policing lead on national security policing and has led through a four-fold increase in operations emanating from espionage, foreign interference and war crimes in the last three years. His leadership includes membership of the Five Eyes Law Enforcement Group. Matt joined policing in 1995 and first started working in counter terrorism in 2001, going on to advise the UK law enforcement delegation to the G8 and undertaking operational duties as a CT Commander. Security and intelligence have been recurring themes of his career, woven into periods of territorial police command, including as the Chief Constable of South Wales Police.

In this episode, we’ll explore Matt’s current assessment of the UK terrorism threat landscape, the increasing involvement of young offenders in Counter Terrorism Policing’s casework, and how Counter Terrorism Policing has had to evolve in line with an evolving and enormously diverse range of terrorism ideologies, methodologies and threat actors.

For regular insightful terrorism threat and risk information, as well as other Pool Re updates, please sign up to receive our emails at https://www.poolre.co.uk/signup/.

If you enjoyed this podcast episode, please subscribe on your streaming app of choice, and share so we can help build a better understanding of the terrorism threat to the UK.

Please note: This episode was recorded on 16 April 2025.

Disclaimer: The views or statements expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the podcast does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by Pool Re employees are those of the employees and do not necessarily reflect the view of Pool Re.