Meet the Steering Group

Phil Candy is the Security Advisor for Medair, a Swiss multi-sectoral humanitarian NGO. His role is to provide advice, training and capacity building for staff safety and security management across all of Medair’s operations.

Previously, Phil has worked in the field in various project management, security and logistics roles, and in training and security consultancies, designing, organising and delivering trainings in safety and security to humanitarian aid workers in Europe, Africa and Asia.

'I am honoured to have been chosen as Chair and hope that together with the Secretariat and the rest of the Steering Group we can keep GISF moving from strength to strength in supporting, equipping and enabling good security management in our sector.'

Frances is the Director of Security Operations Support for World Vision International. She has worked in the private and NGO sector for more than a decade in a range of roles including analytical, training, consultancy, crisis management and security operations positions. Frances is an emerging sector expert in dynamic humanitarian security management, the role of gender in security, and the changing face and nature of security delivery.

'GISF provides practical support, guidance and advice to a multitude of NGOs; the more we work together as a sector to share, enhance and improve our security practices the more all our organisations' benefit. Being part of the GISF Steering Groups allows me to directly support and contribute to this vital work, which is an honour.'

Brian Kerr is the Senior Director for Safety and Security at HIAS. HIAS is the world’s oldest organization dedicated to refugee rights.  Drawing on Jewish values and history, HIAS provides vital services to refugees and asylum seekers around the work and advocates for their fundamental rights so they can rebuild their lives. Brian’s background is in security and program management for international humanitarian actors. He is based out of the HIAS HQ in Silver Spring, Maryland.

'I’m involved with GISF because as a member-led platform GISF allows the security management community to come together, learning from one another as we seek to maximize value for our organizations serving those in need around the world.'

A global leader who aims to eliminate poverty and improve human rights, Shannon has built and improved organisations’ security, duty of care and crisis management systems, helping organisations achieve their ultimate purpose safely.  She was a key contributor in writing and reviewing international NGO security standards and exam certifications. She spent most of her career in Africa prior to relocating to the US.

'GISF has been an integral part of my journey as a security leader. When I began this journey, security risk management didn’t exist in my organization.  GISF had the resources to help me think through the challenges and develop systems and processes.  Now I’m part of the global steering group and the America’s steering committee and can contribute back to GISF and its members.'  

Oliver Sudbrink has been working with GIZ since 2012 in a variety of roles, including as the Head of their Risk Management Office in Nepal. Oliver currently holds the position of GIZ’s company crisis officer and coordinates a team of security risk and crisis managers at their Corporate Security Unit based in Germany. Prior to joining GIZ, Oliver worked with a number of NGOs in the fields of peacebuilding as well as political and security analysis with a particular focus on South Asia. Oliver holds a BA in political science from Bielefeld University (Germany) and a Master’s degree in Conflict Resolution from Bradford University (UK). He is also a trained mediator.

Humanitarian worker for more than 20 years, started as Field Coordinator then as Country Director in high risk environments (Sierra Leone and Liberia during civil wars in the early 2000s then in Afghanistan in particular). After obtaining a Master diploma at the Institute of Political Sciences in Bordeaux in 2008, specialised in security management for humanitarian workers. Worked as Regional Security & Safety Advisor in the Middle East before taking the position of Security and Safety Director at Action Against Hunger in Paris in June 2019. In the past decade, I have also undertaken several consultancies for various INGOs enabling a better understanding of shared security related problematics in the Aid sector.

'My dual experience as field practitioner but also as policy maker is certainly of an added value for the Steering Group.'

Javier Teofilo-Sanchez is the Head of Global Security for Mines Advisory Group International (MAG). Javier started his career as a Royal Marines Commando after which he moved into the commercial sector, specialising in facilitating access and operations in complex and high threat environments and special risks. He then worked for the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and Department for International Development in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin as an Expeditionary Security Advisor. Most recently he was the Senior Security Advisor to the Northern Ireland and Territorial Offices, focussing on counter-terrorism, critical national infrastructure, continuity of government and crisis management.

After 10 years in the IT industry, an inspirational 6 months backpacking trip to Latin America and an International Cooperation and Migrations Master, Marcial finally decided to focus his professional career in the humanitarian sector, where he has been involved for the last 14 years, working in logistics, operations and security positions in headquarters and Africa and Middle East countries.

Marcial joined Médicos del Mundo headquarters in Spain 2 years ago, with the main goal of supporting the development of the security culture and contributing to the digital and data-driven evolution of the organization. During this year he is also the representative of the security working group of the Spanish NGOs Coordination Group (CONGDE).

'As an active supporter of the Global Interagency Security Forum initiative, it's a fantastic opportunity and honour to join the Steering Group, hoping to contribute to the spread of the security culture and best practices exchange amongst all non-profit organisations.'

Marek Stys, head of emergency programmes, People in Need (PIN) – Marek has been with PIN for over two decades on various positions abroad, particularly in Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Ukraine, Ethiopia and other countries. Marek is currently based in Prague and his portfolio includes management of new responses, humanitarian policy, financing and partnerships, while he is also in charge of PIN’s security framework. Marek has been GIFS SG member since 2020.