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PROJECT UPDATES

What we’ve been doing, where we’ve been travelling, and what’s next.

Crisis Management Strategic Review

This month, I’ve been working on a strategic review of crisis and incident management for a global consulting firm.

Our review framework takes a deep dive into all the essentials—policy, governance, structure, plans and procedures, training and exercises, and how organisations keep improving over time.

With 25 years of crisis management experience behind us, the goal is always the same: to deliver recommendations that are not only sound on paper but also practical, meaningful, and ready to put into action.

Syria Initiatives

With US and EU sanctions now being lifted, more companies will be looking at opportunities in Syria. We’ve built up years of experience in the country and a strong local support network to match. To help senior decision makers evaluate risks around market entry, we’ve put together a dedicated workspace. You can explore our updated suite of products and services here.

Crisis Simulation Exercises

Designing and delivering crisis simulation exercises is something we’re genuinely passionate about—and it’s an area where we bring world-class expertise. If your organisation is considering running an exercise in 2025, please reach out. For a deeper look at how we approach this work, you might enjoy The Crisis Simulation Handbook.

TRAINING

Training workshops and customised training solutions.

New Workshop: Designing and Delivering Effective Crisis Simulation Exercises

Well-designed crisis simulation exercises are one of the most powerful tools for preparing teams to face real-world crises. Yet many exercises fall short and fail to achieve effective learning outcomes.

This 2-hour workshop gives you a practical framework for creating and running exercises that truly build competence and deliver actionable insights to leadership. Drawing on experience from more than 120 simulations across multiple regions, we’ll focus on what works in practice—not just in theory.

What you’ll learn:

• How to select scenarios that engage participants and promote learning.
• Practical ways to calibrate difficulty and manage complexity.
• Techniques for designing interactions that drive engagement and test decision-making.
• Approaches to debriefing that translate lessons into action.
• Tools to measure performance and report outcomes effectively.

If your organisation would be interested in me running Designing and Delivering Effective Crisis Simulation Exercises for your crisis management team, please get in touch.

View our other training workshops here.

PUBLICATIONS

We’ve published a number of books on crisis management, travel security and security evacuations.

I've made significant progress with upcoming books this month.

The Physical Intrusion Testing Handbook

After months of writing and revision, I’ve completed the final draft of The Physical Intrusion Testing Handbook—a comprehensive guide for security professionals who conduct or commission physical intrusion tests.

This is the resource I wish had existed when I began my commercial security career 25 years ago. It covers the full arc of an intrusion test: from client engagement and threat modelling, through surveillance, reconnaissance, and execution, to post-intrusion analysis. Just as importantly, it digs into the project management aspects that often make the difference between a test that delivers real value and one that doesn’t.

Whether you’re a consultant conducting tests, a CSO evaluating your organisation’s security, or a professional curious about how determined adversaries actually operate, this handbook gives you a methodical, practical framework. It draws on experience from military special operations, intelligence work, and decades of commercial consulting—and it’s written with practitioners in mind, not academics.

The content is complete, with formatting and cover design still to come. If you’d like an advance copy and are willing to share feedback, I’d love to hear from you.

Photography in Higher-Risk Environments

My superpower is procrastination: when I’m supposed to be focused on one project, I start another. This month, that meant writing an entire new book—Photography in Higher-Risk Environments.

I’ve spent more than twenty years photographing in places where pulling out a camera can change everything: Syria, Pakistan, Somalia, Afghanistan, Myanmar, southern Thailand, and elsewhere. Sometimes that attention leads to unforgettable access and genuine human connection. Other times, it means armed men demanding to know what you’re really doing there.

This book collects the lessons I’ve learned the hard way—like the time photographing an elderly watch seller in Daraa led to accusations that I was an Israeli spy. It explores how to work safely when authorities assume you’re suspicious, how to protect the people you photograph from unintended consequences, and how to manage gear and images when confiscation isn’t just possible but likely.

It’s the operational guide I wish I’d had when I started—back when I thought good intentions and a decent camera were enough. Turns out, there’s a lot more to it.

View all our publications and download samples here.

Buy copies for your team

Several highly regarded organisations (and one prestigious university) have purchased copies of our books for their teams. If your team would benefit from the knowledge and experience contained in our books, please reach out. We'd be happy to provide a discount for bulk orders.

STATION XV

Updates on our in-house gear.

This month, Singapore (along with many other countries) stopped providing standard postal options to the US.

As a result, Station XV will no longer able to ship orders to the U.S. at this time. This change is driven by US tariffs and customs requirements, not by our choice.

For people outside the US, check out the full range of Station XV bags and accessories here.

APPLICATIONS

Updates on our applications.

Whistler

A simple, secure whistleblowing app for organisations to receive and manage confidential reports. First launched 10 years ago, Whistler 2.0 now features stronger encryption and case management tools.

Pricing starts at $19 a month.

Learn more here.

Incident Manager

Incident Manager help teams to effectively manage crisis events. It brings everything into one place—tasks, logs, comms, support cases—so teams can focus on what really matters. After 25 years in this field, I wanted something that actually helps in the moment, not just looks good in a demo. If you’re curious, I’m happy to show you how it works—free demo and trial available.

Now with incredibly useful AI features.

Please reach out if you'd like a demo.

Exercise Manager

A streamlined tool for planning and delivering crisis exercises while tracking team performance. Originally for internal use, now available to clients.

Please reach out if you'd like a demo.

Tenacio

A project management app for individuals handling diverse workloads. It prioritises tasks based on deadlines and personal work preferences, ensuring you stay on track.

If you'd like to try Tenacio, get in touch.

READING LIST

Links to interesting articles worth your time.

Russian hackers seized control of Norwegian dam, spy chief says. Beate Gangås says attack in April by Norway’s ‘dangerous neighbour’ aimed to cause fear and chaos (The Guardian). Read here

Inside the Underground Trade of ‘Flipper Zero’ Tech to Break into Cars. (404 Media). Read here

The Third Algorithm. ChatGPT and other generative AI isn't about to create superintelligence, but even if what we see now is it, the impact is on the scale of Google search and algorithmic social media, except maybe worse (Arc Digital). Read here

The Continuing Tragedy of Ghouta’s Chemical Attacks. Survivors of the 2013 assault on the fringes of Syria’s capital still bear its scars and are demanding accountability (New Lines Magazine). Read here

Report: Russian Sabotage Operations In Europe Have Quadrupled Since 2023. (Radio Free Europe Radio Libery). Read here

The Art of Decision Making. Your life choices aren’t just about what you want to do; they’re about who you want to be (The New Yorker). Read here

That’s it for this month, folks.

Thanks for reading and stay safe out there.

Grant Rayner

Spartan9