Speaker Profile

Neil has led IR’s growth to become an international leader in the provision of strategic planning, risk management, performance reviews, infrastructure design and security operations. The team or individual staff at IR have won an Outstanding Security Performance Award (OSPA) each year for the last four years. Neil was awarded a 2022 OSPA as the Outstanding Security Consultant in Australia.
Neil’s part-time roles include being the Senior Security Adviser for the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), continuously for 18 years. He has also been a Director of the Australian Security Medals Foundation (ASMF), since 2020, and a Member of the Australian Himalayan Foundation (AHF) since 2021.
Neil has led IR teams advising on security planning and delivery for eleven Olympic Games. He was a senior adviser on the successful bids for the Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020, Paris 2024 and Brisbane 2032 Games; as well the 2027 and 2029 Rugby World Cups in Australia.
Neil is a globally recognised risk and crisis commentator. The US State Department’s Anti-Terrorism Assistance (ATA) program has engaged Neil to participate in numerous international reviews and capacity building projects; in the Middle East, Asia, Africa, South America and Europe. He’s the author of over 100 professional articles, co-author of the Security Risk Management handbook (SAI, HB167: 2006) and has been contracted as a specialist international security commentator by Nine Media since 2005.
Since the fall of Kabul in August 2021, Neil led IR operations that evacuated/exfiltrated over 180 Afghanis assessed as being at very significant risk of Taliban violence; mainly sports women, female professionals, civil rights activists, and their families. They have all been successfully resettled in safe environs, predominantly in Australia.
Neil has received the Award of the Golden Rings from the President of the International Olympic Committee; the Australian Sports Medal (ASM) from the Governor-General of Australia and a Commissioner’s Commendation from the New South Wales Police Commissioner.