Team
Mohammed Hanzab – President
Mohammed Hanzab is a former Lieutenant Colonel in the Qatar Armed Forces. He served as a commander of the Qatar Air Defence School and as a project officer for the Qatar Air Defence Project, focused on advancement of secure communication, radar and C4i capabilities. Mr Hanzab also undertook various management roles for the Qatar Information Agency, including Director of Publications. He also currently serves as President of the Qatar International Academy for Security Studies (QIASS).
Mohammed Al Hajri – Vice President
Mohammed Al Hajri is a former Qatar Air Force Colonel with a degree in law and significant experience in project management, consultancy, and security and defence systems design. Mr Al Hajri was the Director of a recent Command and Control Project (C4IS) for the Cooperation Counsel of the Gulf Arab States (GCC), considered to be the largest C4IS project outside of NATO.
Helmut Spahn – Executive Director
Helmut had a long and distinguished career in law enforcement and is a highly respected expert in security, safety, and crowd management. He started his career in law enforcement in 1984 and went on to hold several key positions at the Frankfurt Police Directorate including, Head of Security and Public Order, and Head of Special Operations Command.
Between 2006 and 2011 he was the Chief Security Officer at the German Football Association (DFB). Helmut served as the Head of Security for the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™ for the German LOC and then performed the same role again for the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany™. Since 2007, he has been a UEFA Security Officer for the Champions League, Europa League and UEFA EURO 2012.
Malcolm Tarbitt – Director Security & Risk Advisory
Malcolm has over 30 years experience in major events, law enforcement, and security, including:
• Head of Game Wide Logistics & Security, Arab Games 2011 in Qatar
• Head of Event Logistics & Security, 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup™ & 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™
• Security Consultant for South Africa’s 2004 Cape Town Olympic Bid, 2006 & 2010 FIFA World Cup™ Bids, & 2005 IWCC Cricket World Cup
• Logistics Director & Security, 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup™
• Head of Security for a former South African State president
• Brigadier, South African Police Service
Rick Festorazzi – Director Training
Rick served in the British military for over 25 years and has a wealth of experience in the security training sector including:
• Director of Training, Qatar International Academy for Security Studies (QIASS)
• British Home Office police counter-terrorism trainer
• High Risk Search Coordinator for Northern Ireland
Dr. Shaun McCarthy – Director Research & Knowledge Gathering
A security, intelligence and crisis management professional with over 35 years experience in the public and private sectors, including:
• Director for Special Operations at Kroll
• Group Intelligence Coordinator for Royal Dutch Shell
• Vice President of Monitor Group
• Former intelligence and counter-terrorism officer
Chris Eaton – Director Sport Integrity
Chris has over 40 years public service in the fields of international law enforcement, security and integrity, including:
• Head of Security, FIFA
• FIFA Security Advisor to the 2010 World Cup South Africa™
• Manager of Operations, INTERPOL
• Senior Investigator, Independent Inquiry Committee into the UN Oil-for-Food Program in Iraq
• Federal Agent, Australian Federal Police
Heinz Palme – Director Business Development
Heinz has worked in sport for over 30 years and is an expert in sport management and marketing, communication, mega events and project management:
• Advisor to the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ Local Organising Committee
• Chief Governmental Coordinator, UEFA EURO 2008 Austria/Switzerland
• General Coordinator of the German Local Organising Committee, 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™
• FIFA and UEFA Media Officer
• 22 years with the Austrian Football Association
Massimiliano Montanari – Director International Cooperation and External Relations
Massimiliano has had a long career in security and counter-terrorism with a special emphasis on major international sport events:
• Former Head, United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) – Centre for Public-Private Security Policies and the International Permanent Observatory on Major Events Security
• United Nations (UN)Terrorism Prevention Branch
• UN High Commission for Refugees
• Headed UN programmes on war crimes prosecution, witness protection and anti-corruption
Manfred Schriefl – Director Corporate Services
Manfred has extensive experience in managing international projects, including:
• Director of Special Projects, Qatar International Academy for Security Studies (QIASS)
• Turnaround Management UFIS AS at UTE-SATE ABB Airport Technologies
• Programme Management, UFIS – ASIS Consortium at NBIA, UFIS – SIEMENS at DIAL
• Project Development Director, IBCOL East Europe and IBCOL Asia
• Project Manager for Airport Systems, Strabag International AG
Siham Alawami – Director of the President’s Office
Siham has overall responsibility for the President’s Office and is a public relations and communications professional:
• 32 years at OPEC as a PR specialist
• Developed TV programmes and campaigns to promote the City of Vienna
• Masters in European Integration and European Studies
• Degree in Management and Marketing
