PRESS RELEASE TUESDAY 29TH March 2022
SHEENA THOMSON CONSULTING LAUNCHES
FREE MEDIA COMMENTATOR SERVICE
Experts available for media interviews on international conflict/post-conflict and wider crisis topics
LONDON: Today Sheena Thomson Consulting launches a free media commentator service for news organisations reporting the wider issues and impacts arising from international crises, including the Russia/Ukraine war. The areas of subject matter expertise are:
Conflict/post-conflict
- Peacekeeping, disarming, and monitoring of peace agreements
- Critical infrastructure repair and recovery, international community commitment
- Refugees and displaced people, length of stay, returning and repatriation
Broader crisis management issues
- Kidnappings, arbitrary detentions, and missing persons
- International and cross-culture considerations in foreign trade, company ownership, and reputational considerations
- Psychological factors in crisis management
Sheena Thomson explains:
“Sheena Thomson Consulting comprises several associates, all of whom have specialist post-conflict experience, subject matter expertise, and knowledge that can add more context and understanding of some of the storylines being reported in what seems to be an increasingly troubled world.
Ceasefires, negotiating and ratifying a peace agreement, and identifying post-conflict instruments, mechanisms, and practicalities of a country’s journey to post-conflict recovery will be the next phase of the Ukraine/Russia war. Our experts draw on their experience and knowledge from their post-conflict field experience which includes Cyprus, Cambodia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Afghanistan, and Iraq.
In addition to these topical issues, we offer commentary on wider crisis issues in which we are all practicing experts”
Journalists, researchers, and guest editors can get in touch with the experts detailed in the attachments or contact Sheena Thomson directly on 07941 415 524 to facilitate.
Ends
For further information, please contact:
Sheena Thomson 07941 415 524 sheena@sheenathomson.com
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE EXPERTS
Refugees and displaced people, length of stay, returning and repatriation
Former RN Officer Sheena Thomson can explore these themes, drawing on her subject-matter expertise and experience as spokesperson for the Stabilisation Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina (SFOR), the NATO-led peacekeeping force, from 1998 to 1999. She has lived experience as part of international efforts to reconstruct post-war Bosnia, and building trust with refugees, diaspora, and internally displaced Bosnians on the security environment. Sheena is now a crisis communications advisor and trainer focusing on special risks.
Peacekeeping, disarming, and monitoring of peace agreements: implementing and monitoring a peace agreement.
Former RN Officer Sheena Thomson and former Army Officer Mark Harris can explore these themes, drawing on their subject-matter expertise.
Sheena was the spokesperson for SFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1998-1999) and the EU Special Representative in Northern Macedonia, whose main task was implementing the Ohrid Peace Accords. Both these missions included disarming. Sheena is now a crisis communications advisor and trainer, focusing on special risks and high-risk environments.
Mark was a member of the UN’s peacekeeping force in Cyprus and a UN Military Observer team leader in Cambodia. Mark is now a crisis management advisor and trainer, specialising in special risks and hostile environments.
Critical infrastructure repair and recovery, international community commitment: how do you manage the recovery and restoration of basic services in Ukraine?
Former RN Officer David Mugridge can explore these themes, drawing on his subject-matter expertise and military experiencein the aftermath of both the Sierra Leone and Iraqi conflicts. A career naval officer, he now resides in either academia or the energy sector, where he specialises in high-risk project execution.
Kidnappings, arbitrary detentions, and missing persons
Mark Harris can explore these themes by drawing on his subject matter expertise and long track record of success in over 150 kidnap and hostage-taking cases globally, over 25 vessel hijackings off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Guinea. He spent several years in the crisis response sector as a consultant with Control Risks and Team Leader with the Olive Group. Mark is now a crisis management advisor and trainer specialising in special risks and hostile environments and is retained by special risk insurance company as a Kidnap and Ransom (K&R) expert.
International and cross-culture considerations in foreign trade, company ownership, and reputation considerations
Sheena Thomson and Mark Harris can explore these themes, drawing on their subject matter expertise and experience:
Mark is an accomplished crisis management consultant who has advised a long list of clients on a number of issues that threaten operations and reputation internationally. These include product recalls, product tampering, evacuations of staff from regions of conflict, and incident management following terrorist attacks. Mark has expertise in special risks, politically challenging and sometimes hostile environments.
Sheena spent a number of years living and working in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. She has worked for and advised various foreign governments and companies. Sheena is now a crisis communications advisor and trainer, focusing on special risks and high-risk environments.
Psychological factors in crisis management
Strong emotions define crises, distort facts, and end up determining the outcomes. Dr Adrian Britten can explore themes relating to the emotional landscape of crisis management and the perils of ignoring its importance.
Adrian is a chartered psychologist who has been supporting the communications and reputational needs of major corporations for over 30 years, including high-profile crisis responses. A former media spokesperson for the British Psychological Society, global alumni for his emotional intelligence and leadership communications programmes number in the thousands, and over half a million employees in four continents have participated in his bespoke Employee Engagement systems. Adrian remains an independent advisor and trainer.
NOTES TO EDITORS
Founded in 2018, Sheena Thomson Consulting is a boutique, global, crisis and issues management consultancy. We provide clients with the expert guidance and operational support they need in order to plan for the best outcomes when faced with risk, challenges, opportunities, and unexpected or complex events. We also offer our unique CrisisFit® programme - crisis preparedness courses and masterclasses.
Sheena Thomson Consulting is the trading name for Conduit Associates Ltd, 70 Gracechurch Street, London, EC3V 0HR: registered in England and Wales (Company Number 11613677).