Our Values
We pride ourselves on our adaptability and breadth of experience. Our close protection clients have included business executives, foreign government officials, royalty, TV celebrities, sports personalities, and members of the public. We also work with institutions, with a client base ranging from infant schools to government departments.
Our security services have a truly global reach. With an international network of close protection officers, our personnel can be deployed at a moments notice to any part of the world.
As security consultants, our portfolio includes clients in the logistics, aviation, energy, retail and care industries, as well as in Health & Safety. We have extensive expertise as consultants in Security Education.
As security trainers, you might say that ‘We wrote the book’! Our staff were involved in developing the licensing system for close protection – if you hold any sort of SIA licence in this field, then our consultants had a hand in designing the qualifications you have undergone! And we make this expertise available to you in our training sessions.
Our Team
Duncan White – Managing Director
With over 30 years experience in the security industry, Duncan brings an unrivalled breadth of knowledge to his role as IBA-UK director. He is a highly respected close protection officer and instructor who has worked in many countries and with many dignitaries.
As a security consultant, Duncan has met the needs of organisations and individuals around the world. He continues to receive frequent international requests for his security expertise and is able to respond to these through his network of professional contacts in the International Bodyguard Association.
Duncan acts as a consultant to the SIA and is a member of the sector skills consultancy group for close protection, in conjunction with Skills for Security. He has also been in the unique position of consultant to the awarding bodies Edexcel and City & Guilds for Close Protection.
Never one to rest on his laurels, Duncan is a firm believer in continual personal development (CPD). He is always seeking to further expand his considerable skills base, logging hours of CPD every year.
Sandra Williams – Business Development Director
Sandra was awarded a Bronze Medal by the International Bodyguard Association in 2005 for her services to the worldwide bodyguard industry for contributing to the design and development of the new SIA licencing qualification courses being introduced in the UK. She set up a Security Academy at a Further Education College, which was the first College in the UK to deliver this level of specialist security qualifications, and where bodyguards from across the UK were trained.
Previously she worked for Reader’s Digest, a worldwide global name, where she initially honed her teaching and management skills before working with several small security training providers to develop their businesses in the UK.
More recently she spent four very successful years as a Business Manager for learndirect, the UK’s largest provider of Apprenticeships and employment related training who have a major employer base ranging from thousands of SMEs to blue-chip corporates and major government departments.
As an SIA licence holder herself she actively works in the security sector and has over the years worked at many varied and prestigious sports and music events, including the famous Glastonbury music festival, private wedding security, VIP and Hospitality at events and other sporting venues such as Ladies Day at Bath Races, and Religious Events, weddings and funerals.
Owen Smorthit BEM B.Ed. – Head of Quality and Audit
Owen has over 30 years experience as a security consultant. He draws on knowledge and expertise gained in a diverse career, including many years spent with the police force and armed services.
A professionally-qualified educator, Owen delivers effective, high quality training in Security and Health & Safety to institutions throughout the UK. He has been involved in the delivery of the training to the Oil and Gas Industry.
During his 11 years with Wiltshire Constabulary, Owen was tasked with analysing the training needs of the force. Setting up the Self-Defence Training Department was one of the notable successes of his time there.
Owen also served in the Royal Engineers. His services to sports, charities, local community and the Armed Forces during that time was recognised in the award of the British Empire Medal (BEM).
Patrick Ross Plumber – Consultant
Patrick is a true motivator, which is born of a sincere wish to see others succeed. Therefore able to create and sustain a positive working environment, who understands and demonstrates a strong sense of leadership and direction, whilst allowing initiative to thrive within a supportive and democratic working culture. Patrick is an extremely dedicated, self-motivated and ambitious individual, with excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal.
A strong role model, mentor and leader, whose greatest attribute is his integrity, has the skill set to launch new projects from conception and guide them through each level of development via a logical progression process during a projects lifecycle, so therefore promoting sustainable growth and expansion. Due to the ability to quickly identify those personality traits in others which are indicative of an individual’s working styles, Patrick has the ability to both lead and work effectively within a team, whether well established or newly formed.
A forward thinking innovator with a comprehensive working knowledge of industry quality assurance & standard setting, business development concepts & the implementation of lean practice and the effects at all levels of good/poor models.
A significant professional history which has developed specific skills to ensure team members are not given tasks beyond their abilities or professional boundaries, whilst allowing a safe degree of challenge to exist in day to day operations, thereby empowering workers at all levels to push themselves forward. He is a diligent operator with an acute sense of self and surroundings.
Current CPD project is working towards PRINCE2, PMP, AGILE, and ITIL.
The Security Consultants at International Bodyguard Associates ltd introduces its latest consultant, a great addition to the team.
Michael Donnelly QGM RML
Michael is a retired Army Officer who served in both the British and Oman Army (SF). He brings a level of experience to IBA that few in the security industry can match, having served all over the world as an executive protection officer, professional security operative and as a trainer within the security sector.
His consultancy work has included working with the Hong Kong (Chinese) Police, Immigration Officers, Navy and Marines. In this role, he planned and executed sea-borne and port operations against organised Chinese crime syndicates. The syndicates trafficked in human suffering: children for involvement in paedophilia, young women for prostitution, illegal immigrants, drugs and contraband.
Michael has also acted as a consultant to the Lithuania Special Police Anti-Terrorism Group (ARAS) and the Singapore Special Task Force (Executive Protection).
During his career, Michael has completed numerous high level security assignments. These have included members of royal and imperial households, governments, military, religious, corporate and private clients. His assignments have taken him to Europe, South America, the Middle East, Asia, Africa and the USA.
Timothy Stacey – Trainer & Consultant
Tim served in the Royal Air Force for 16 years, including postings in Cyprus, Belize and The Falklands. In 1995, whilst serving in the RAF, he achieved a Catering and Hotel LHCIMA Degree at Norwich University. Another landmark in Tim’s RAF Career was a 12 months tour at the Prime Minister’s residence at Chequers as part of the VIP brigade of chefs. After leaving the Royal Air Force, Tim took up a post as a Logistic Catering Support Food Safety Manager, covering the majority of NATO bases in Kosovo and the Balkans. When Tim returned to the UK, he was employed by Summit Catering and through key personal development achieved the position of Catering Area Support Manager.
During his twelve years in the security industry, Tim has gained vital experience in all aspects of the security industry. He was a Security Supervisor/Manager for a major National UK Security Company and in a six year period won the ‘Supervisor of the Month’ award no less than six times! Tim Qualified as a Close Protection Officer in 2009 and has gained an impressive range of experience. He has provided security for premier sporting events and international conferences, and worked as a plain clothes operative in some of the UKs most prestigious hotels. His VIP duties have included providing security at a wedding for a very high-profile celebrity, and a two year detail as a member of the residential security team for the England FA. He is a Highfield Endorsed CCTV Instructor and also has experience of running his own security company.
Natalie Keegan – Trainer and Consultant
A confident and reliable security practitioner, training consultant and coordinator with experience of creating and implementing policies to align with work conditions, disciplinary procedures and equalities. Natalie has also been a Managing Director and Quality Assurance Manager of an ACS Security Company from inception to completion of the process for a number of companies.
Natalie has excellent experience in writing programmes within the Work Skills, Security Industry and First Aid (paediatric and adult) sectors. As well as being a practitioner, she has good experience of the IQA role within First Aid having completed the Highfield awarding body’s qualifications.
John Lanigan – Scotland and Northern England Territory
John is a fit and hardworking individual with excellent communication and inter-personal skills at all levels. He is self motivated with the ability to work well individually or as part of a team. Being very logical and level headed he is capable of working well under pressure and in extreme conditions.
His experience in general police duties was first gained whilst a member of the Royal Military Police. Further knowledge was gained working closely with local police agencies whilst serving in Germany, Italy and the UK mainland. Since leaving H.M Forces in 1985 he has been successful in working as a Close Protection Officer within the private security sector, working in London, France, Spain, Sardinia, Italy, Nigeria, Benin, and Sudan on behalf of members of foreign royal families, government officials, entrepreneurs, business executives, and TV, film and sport personalities.
Due to John’s professionalism he has received a number of recommendations from clients. His work has ranged from RST, PSD, Asset Protection, Surveillance, Team Leader, Ops Manager and as a Liaison Officer. For the last 12 years John has also worked in partnership with Duncan White, IBA UK providing his services in Close Protection, Asset Protection & Surveillance.
John has attended a number of courses ranging from basic bodyguard skills to advanced firearms skills. He is a qualified instructor in Dynamic Encounters, Use of Force and SWAT Special Weapons and Tactics which he attended solely to improve his skills. He is a former member of Executive OPs, The International Association of Counterterrorism and Security Professionals, American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers and the Law Enforcement Bodyguard Association International.