Lecture
Working at the heart of international Counter Terrorism: A senior detective’s journey
- Chris McGivern
- Date
- Thursday 21 November 2024
- Time
- Address
-
Lipsius
Cleveringaplaats 1
2311 BD Leiden - Room
- 0.03
What does it feel like to enter a room and be told a terrorist attack has just taken place in your home city, and you are in charge of finding those responsible before they can strike again? What’s it like to spend time with, engage, and develop relationships with convicted terrorists? Imagine telling the family members of those killed in attacks that you will bring those responsible to justice, knowing that it may not be possible.
Join us for a compelling lecture by Chris McGivern, a senior Scotland Yard Counter Terrorism Detective and UK Counter Terrorism Liaison Officer to the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Ukraine.
Chris will offer insights into the heart of national and international operational counter terrorism investigations. Having led operational counter terrorism teams within the UK, Chris will bring to life what a fast-paced terrorist investigation entails, the requirements of the team, skill sets, attitudes, and other considerations. Internationally, Chris will discuss his time working across five countries, the risks and opportunities, the impact of cultural and historical differences, and his attempts to bring often disparate processes together to achieve shared goals.
Uniquely placed to illustrate international cooperation through real-life case studies, Chris will share his experience as the UK representative to the international investigation into the downing of flight MH17 over Ukraine, numerous terrorist attacks across Europe, and the risk management processes employed during UK/EU Brexit negotiations.
The lecture will then pivot to the future, exploring what terrorism might look like for the next generation and the contributing factors. What are the major threats and risks faced by western democracies, and how should they be tackled? And a final thought: is freedom really free, and if not, what price are we prepared to pay for it?
About the speaker
Chris McGivern joined UK policing in 1996, a 22-year-old Political Science graduate of whom some colleagues joked, 'If only his intellect matched his enthusiasm.' He spent the following twenty-eight years attempting to improve the first, whilst tempering the second!
Developing his intelligence and investigative skills, Chris became a detective, leading teams on numerous high-profile operations, including the hunt for a serial killer.
His interest in the creative and problem-solving aspects of intelligence led him to Counter Terrorism. Initially, he led a team within the UK’s Olympic Intelligence Centre, where he identified and mitigated terrorist threats to the London 2012 Olympics. He then moved on to lead significant UK and international terrorist investigations.
In 2016, Chris was appointed as Scotland Yard’s liaison officer to the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Ukraine. He notably led the UK support for the multilateral investigation into the downing of flight MH17 over Ukraine, assisted European countries with numerous terrorist attack investigations, and received an award for his work on the Salisbury Novichok poisonings in 2018.
A strong advocate for international cooperation, Chris actively lobbied for close data sharing during the UK/EU Brexit negotiations. In 2022, he returned to education and completed his Masters in International Security, aiming to bridge the gap between operational and theoretical perspectives.
After retiring from policing in 2024, Chris became a Strategic Security Adviser, guiding organisations on threat and risk management, navigating global crises, and interpreting global events. His enthusiasm now focuses on mentoring future diplomats, security professionals, and leaders. He co-led the “Future Leaders” program at a UK university, emphasising leadership and diversity, and supports postgraduate students aspiring to senior UK Government roles.
Chris recently relocated to the Netherlands with his wife and two cats.