John Donlon joined the police service in 1976 where he served in a wide variety of roles including; operational policing, major crime investigation, training and specialist operations. He was an accredited Gold Commander for Firearms, Public Order and Major Sporting Events. He was also a qualified Senior Investigating Officer.In July 2005, as a Chief Officer, John was appointed to a National role within the world of Counter Terrorism and National Security, working with the Association of Chief Police Officers, Metropolitan Police (New Scotland Yard) and the UK Government. It was here that he provided the strategic policing lead on all matters within the Protect and Prepare portfolio of the UK Counter Terrorism Strategy, CONTEST.Within his Protect remit he was accountable for the oversight of Special Branch and protective security policing at ports-encompassing all modes of transport, the National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) and the police contribution to protecting Crowded Places and the UK Critical National Infrastructure. For Prepare, he had responsibility for the national police response to effectively manage a range of terrorist attacks, as outlined in the National Risk Assessment, building resilience, the national Counter Terrorism training portfolio and incorporating learning from CT incidents and exercises. In 2010 he retired from the Police Service and set up his own company providing management and security consultancy services and was retained by UK Policing and Government to continue to develop the activities of the Protect and Prepare portfolios for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. He was the strategic Counter Terrorism lead for a range of disciplines across the preparation and delivery of security for the London 2012 Olympic Games, which included; membership of the National Counter Terrorism Olympic Steering Group, Chairman of the Aviation Modal Group, and an advisor to the Department for Transport Steering Board on all transport security operational activity. John is the Immediate past President of the European Association of Airport and Seaport Police, an organisation that promotes co-operation between international partners, delivers exchange opportunities and has an advisory role to European and International policy makers. He is a Board member of the International Association, the Interport Police and is currently the Chairman of the International Association of Critical Infrastructure Protection Professionals. John has worked closely with all the main government, industry and other strategic stakeholders and was a member of high-level Government sub-committees dealing with Counter Terrorism, protection, resilience and transport security issues, including the CONTEST boards on Protect & Prepare; the National Aviation and Maritime Security Committees; the National Security Intelligence Programme and the Strategic Steering Group for the Centre Protection National Infrastructure. Since 2012 he has provided security professionalism and advice on behalf of a range of companies and Governments across Europe, Middle East, the United States and Africa.He is a Director of two companies and a Senior Advisor for another. His recent work includes the design of a security master plan for a Major Event in the Middle East, the use of biosecurity within the Energy sector and he is also engaged as a Conference speaker and moderator on subjects such as; Border Security, Aviation Security, Crisis Management and the protection and resilience of Critical National Infrastructure.
Speaker's bio
