Speaker Biograghy: James Brandon is director of Geo-Political Intelligence at Stirling Assynt, a leading political and security risk analysis and forecasting company, and foremost experts in the strategy and behavior of jihadist groups. James joined the company in early 2016 as head of Security and Political Risk having previously worked for various political and security risk consulting firms, including Control Risks, Maplecroft, and IHS Janes. Earlier in his career, James worked for various US and UK think-tanks on security-related issues, focusing on Islamist violence. He has also worked as a journalist for Bloomberg, al-Jazeera and the BBC, covering political, security and financial issues from around the Middle East, Europe and parts of Africa. He has lived and worked in a range of countries, including Iraq, Yemen, Qatar and Singapore, and has been widely quoted in the international media. He has an MA in Near and Middle Eastern Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS).


Day 1 - 14 March
Session: Aviation Security, Border Control & Facilitation

14:05 - 14:20 - Crumbling caliphates and the resurgent jihadist threat to aviation
Synopsis: Islamic State is placing increasing emphasis on targeting the West and other regions outside the Middle East. The group is seeking to show continued momentum in its battle for supremacy over Al-Qaeda, as the latter's caliphate in Iraq and Syria is steadily lost. This will involve increasing emphasis on high-profile attacks, and its targeting of aviation will rise as technical expertise is spread from its core areas. In response, Al-Qaeda will seek to use its own residual capacity to target airliners, in an attempt demonstrate its continued relevance and to capitalise on Islamic State's difficulties.

Audience will learn:

• Understanding of evolving jihadist threat to airliners
• Understanding of technical capabilities of jihadist groups
• Understanding of competing strategies of rival jihadist groups
• Understanding of Islamic State's objectives in Europe
• Understanding of Al-Qaeda's current thinking

Day 1 - 14 March
Session: Aviation Security, Border Control & Facilitation

14:50 - 15:30 - Panel Discussion: Security Intelligence