Leading international defence and security experts on counter-terrror and criminality are to speak on Counter Terror Arabia 2011, the organiser of the event has said.

Clarion Events Middle East, which is staging the event in Abu Dhabi from October 31 to November 2, said the conference would review existing best practice and explore the latest techniques and technologies alongside strategic planning, the integration of different agencies and authorities and the practical aspects of emergency response for both governments and companies.

It will be held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec) and co-located with Fire and Rescue Middle East.

Christopher Hudson, managing director, Clarion Events Middle East, said some of the world’s leading authorities would give their opinions and advice at Counter Terror Arabia 2011.  Speakers and panelists include Dr Abdul Latif Bin Rashid Al Zayani, GCC secretary general, and Rear-Admiral Christopher Parry CBE, former director general for development, concepts and doctrine, UK Ministry of Defence, and an internationally recognised authority on transnational terrorism and crime. “Alongside our other speakers, we anticipate a great deal of useful interaction and thought leadership, enhancing the region’s growing reputation for innovative thinking and best practice,” Hudson remarked.

Day one of the conference will have John Bruni, vice president, Royal United Services Institute, highlight the current threats and future risks associated with these activities. Furthermore, Muhammad Rafiuddin Shah, acting chief officer, United Nations Counter Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF), will focus on how a global counter terror strategy can be reached to minimise attacks by those who seek to cause harm and major disruption.

Cyber crime is an established and growing threat to the integrity of civilian, commercial and security structures in the Gulf and Middle East region and forms a key part of the conference programme. Illyas Kooliyankal, chief information security officer, Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, will speak on cyber vulnerabilities faced by governments and multinational companies, and Majid Madhloum, head of security quality, UAE Computer Emergency Response Team (aeCERT), will discuss solutions that can protect systems and information from unauthorised access, as well as outline the work of aeCERT in helping government and other important organisations to prepare for and respond to cyberattacks.

Airport targeted
A recent report by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimates that air travellers will increase to 400 million every year by 2020, thereby making airports increasingly attractive targets for criminals and terrorists. The GCC is set to invest $90 billion on airport development by 2022, with almost a third allocated for security upgrade. On Day 2 Ahmad Al Haddabi, senior vice president, airport operations, Abu Dhabi Airports Company, and Dale R Davis, executive director, national security initiatives at global strategies group, Global Integrated Security (Middle East), will discuss programmes for continuous improvement of all aspects of aviation security.

A persistent, pressing concern for governments and companies is the threat of piracy and other criminal activity at sea,” said Rear-Admiral Parry. “The International Maritime Bureau reported that piracy hit an all-time high in the first six months of 2011, rising from 196 attacks a year worldwide to 266. The Gulf and Indian Ocean are critical to the smooth operation of the world’s trading system and to energy security. Governments and companies will want to access and implement the latest technologies and techniques in their attempts to reduce risks and overhead costs at sea.”

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Captain Duncan McKelvie FNI, area marine representative, NYK Line, will highlight the threats to maritime activity and the links between piracy, trafficking and terror. In addition, R S Vasan, head, strategy and security studies, Centre for Asia Studies, will speak on the challenges facing the littoral states to the west of the Arabian Sea and how they can protect vessels and crew from piracy and criminality.

Day 3 will focus on integrated emergency response.  Speakers will discuss how multi-agency responses to both man-made and natural events need to be anticipated, planned and executed. TB McClelland Jr, president and CEO of Centre House Ltd, will present an analysis of the challenges of managing catastrophic incidents. Other speakers include Dr Ajith George, coordinator, Major Incident Medical Response of Health Authority, Abu Dhabi; Stephen Ramage, director, global outreach, Open Geospatial Consortium; and Ali Asad, emergency response coordinator, Kuwait Oil Company.

Other participants and visitors
Other notable participants include: Lt-Col Tamir Maayta, director, Special Branch Training Centre, Public Security Directorate, Jordan; Andrew Trotter, chief constable, British Transport Police; Robert Grenier, chairman, Advisory Board, ERG Partners, and former director, CIA Counter-Terrorist Centre, USA; Kent Clizbe, CIA counter terrorism expert; Ben Emmerson QC, special reporter, counter-terrorism and human rights, United Nations; Mark Moles, detective chief inspector, SO15 counter terrorism command, counter terrorism and extremism liaison officer (CTELO) for the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the Maldives; Anthony Tompson, LLB, specialist consultant; Guy Thomas, head, global maritime awareness programme, the US Coastguard’s National Office of Global Maritime Situational Awareness; Richard Smith, head, force information management, British Transport Police; and Paul Burke, managing director, Middle East Security.

Visitors to Counter Terror Arabia will include personnel from the intelligence services, armed forces, police and law enforcement. Among them will be protectors of critical national infrastructure, central/regional and local government representatives, officials of private sector companies, systems integrators, and personnel from the building and facilities protection industry, airports and ports and officials working for emergency response, border control, customs and immigration, transport security and the training and consultancy sectors.

Clarion Events Middle East’s Counter Terror Arabia is an extension of the successful London and Washington DC editions.