Speakers
STEPHEN ULPH
Islamic Analyst
Stephen Ulph is a Senior Fellow at the Jamestown Foundation, Washington DC, and founder editor of Terrorism Focus, where he has specialised in the analysis of jihadist ideology. He is also Research Associate with the Combating Terrorism Center at the United States Military Academy, West Point, NY, working on the Salafi Ideology Project. He has also held a number of chief editorial posts at Jane's Information Group where he founded the publications Islamic Affairs Analyst and Terrorism & Security Monitor.
Mr Ulph is also Consultant and Senior Researcher at the Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis (INEGMA) at Dubai, UAE. Mr. Ulph studied Oriental Studies at Cambridge University, United Kingdom and regularly lectures on aspects of Jihadist ideology impacting on western democracies and the course of the war on terrorism. In June 2007 he gave testimony to the US Senate on the depth and implications of jihadist ideology spreading on the Internet.
Mr Ulph's recent publications include an analysis on the course of Jihadism in Syria for West Point, an ideological analysis of online extremism and the rle of Salafism for the University of Bath 'Borders of Civilisation' project, and he is currently working on a book laying out the radicalisation 'Curriculum' presented by Jihadist ideological literature distributed on the Web.
He is also engaged on a longer term project: Defeating an ideological movement: Analyzing the source of Islamist radical resilience and targeting the vulnerabilities, investigating ways to defeat the ideology of militant Islamist radicalism, aiming at precisely targeted deconstruction, referencing internal weaknesses in performance, doctrine and rationality and their claims to Islamic authenticity. Mr Ulph has contributed commentary frequently on audio-visual media, including for CBS "60 Minutes" ('Jihad on the Web'), BBC Radio 4's "Analysis" ('Countering Islamist radicalism'), BBC World Service's "Heart and Soul" ('Cyber Jih?d'), Al-Hurra TV ('Jih?d on the Web') and Al-Arabiya TV ('Saudi Arabia's Insurgency').
JEREMY BINNIE
Senior Terrorism Analyst
Jeremy Binnie is the senior terrorism & insurgency analyst at Jane's. He is the editor of Terrorism & Security Monitor and an associate editor of Intelligence Review. He has worked for Jane's for over eight years, during which time he was the Middle East editor for Sentinel Security Assessments.
TERRY PATTAR
Islamic Ideologies Specialist, Jane's Strategic Advisory Services
Terry Pattar is an Associate with Jane's Strategic Advisory Services (JSAS), covering homeland security and counter-terrorism issues. Terry currently serves as the Programme Manager for JSAS' monitoring of Internet-based Islamist extremist activity. An Arabic speaker, Terry has experience researching both English and Arabic language Islamist extremist websites, webblogs and discussion forums as well as the groups and individuals behind them.
In his role within JSAS, Terry has responsibility for undertaking research on current counter-terrorism issues, such as radicalisation and counter-radicalisation strategies. Prior to arriving at Jane's, Terry spent six years working as a UK government Research Analyst. He has experience of dealing with different varieties of Islamist extremist terrorism, including Al Qa'ida in the Middle East, South Asia and Europe, North African extremists, as well as more political groups such as Hamas and Hizballah.
Terry's academic experience has predominantly covered the politics and history of the Middle East and Central Asia, in which he has particular expertise on Lebanon, the Palestinian Territories, Egypt and Israel. Terry received his BA in Arabic Studies from the University of Exeter, as part of which he spent a year studying Arabic at the University of Alexandria, Egypt. Terry attained his MA in Near and Middle Eastern Studies from the University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies. For his MA, he majored in the politics, history and religion of Central Asia and also studied Middle Eastern politics, focussing specifically on Islamist political movements. Terry has also travelled extensively in Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon.
URMILA VENUGOPALAN
South Asia Analyst
Urmila Venugopalan is Asia Editor at Jane's Country Risk. She focuses on political, security and intelligence developments in South and Southeast Asia. In particular, she commissions and edits articles for Jane's Foreign Report, Jane's Islamic Affairs Analyst, Jane's Intelligence Digest, Jane's Intelligence Review and Jane's Sentinel.
She has appeared on CNBC Europe and BBC Radio and has been quoted by the International Herald Tribune and LA Times.
Prior to Jane's, Urmila worked at a Mumbai-based think tank. She obtained a Joint Honours degree in English Literature & History from McGill University and a Masters degree in International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Prior to joining Black Watch, Alia worked at the Hoover Institution, a leading academic institution in the United States where her duties included convening a conference of leading counterterrorism experts addressing the question "Why Do Terrorists Stop?" As part of this conference, Alia conducted extensive research into terrorist groups from North Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. In 2007, Alia directed the documentary "The Other Side of the Tora Bora," which was nominated for a Scottish BAFTA and which she filmed in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).
Among other posts, Alia has worked as a research associate at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) and a political risk analyst at a leading security group in London, focusing on Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Alia has traveled extensively throughout South Asia and the Middle East, and her language skills include Urdu/Hindi, French, and basic Arabic and Pushto. She is a graduate of the University of St Andrews and BPP Law School. In 2005, Alia was called to the English Bar at Lincoln's Inn as a non-practicing English barrister.
DR DAVE SLOGGETT
Research Associate, Centre for Defence Studies, Department of War Studies, King's College, London
Dr Dave Sloggett is an independent consultant and academic with over 30 years of experience in the application of intelligence in the military and civil sectors in the United Kingdom and overseas in areas such as Counter Terrorism and Counter Insurgency.
His current research focuses upon the ways in which communities can be influenced to change their behaviour both in the United Kingdom and overseas and he has published a range of articles highlighting key aspects of the role of influence in Counter Insurgency [COIN] operations.
The presentation today looks back at key moments and developments in the nature of the Iraqi insurgency and charts some initial lessons from the way the societal landscape changed in Iraq over the period 2003-2008. The aim is to try and draw out lessons that may help future doctrinal development and to point up areas that may overlap between Iraq and Afghanistan.
JAMES GREEN
Jane's Security Publisher
James Green is responsible for Jane's Security and Armed Forces services. In this role, he manages those editorial teams that publish on country risk issues such as terrorism, organised crime, political and social stability and armed forces capabilities.
James started his career at Jane's after graduating in War Studies from Kings College, London. Before rejoining the company in 2004, James was responsible for editorial content at the UK-based think-tank, the International Institute for Strategic Studies and previously was a journalist for The Daily Telegraph.
PAUL RAYSON
Global Product Sales Director
Paul Rayson joined Jane's in 2006 initially heading up the Global Consultancy division and having Market Development Responsibility for North America for Jane's Products and services. In September Paul was promoted to Global Product sales Director taking on a wider responsibility for all Jane's product sales activity through a combination of Direct sales resources, Sales Agents and other channels.
Before joining Jane's Paul has held a number of senior commercial roles over 20 year career which has including a number of management board positions. Paul joined Jane's from Airclaims, a commercial aviation information and consultancy company, where he was the Managing Director of Information and Consultancy.