Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Marty is a highly driven and experienced manager with a proven track record of delivering successful projects for a diverse portfolio of high-profile clients. Known for his versatility and adaptability, he has led initiatives across various stages, from startups to country-level operations, and has successfully refocused projects that faced challenges such as mission drift or mismanagement. Marty thrives in turning high-risk or seemingly impossible projects into successful outcomes. Over the course of his career, Marty has honed his skills in problem-solving and adapting to change, often in complex environments where he communicates risk, sets project goals, and drives change. His experience spans diverse regions, including post-conflict and traumatized communities, where he navigates language barriers and cultural differences to achieve positive results. As a strong communicator and accomplished public speaker, Marty excels in building and maintaining relationships with stakeholders, funders, and donors. With a blend of academic success and hands-on operational expertise, he ensures that projects are delivered with flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and a focus on best practices in resource management. Drawing from his background as an elite-level athlete, Marty brings a competitive spirit and a commitment to excellence to his project management approach. He sets high standards for leadership, continuously raises expectations, and fosters a culture of mentorship and training. Marty designs agile project processes that encourage collaboration, streamline communication, and support continuous improvement. Marty’s high-energy leadership style creates a strong, motivated team environment where everyone is aligned with their role and empowered to excel. His management approach encourages trust, lateral thinking, and a dynamic team culture, all while driving successful project outcomes and creating an engaging, results-driven work atmosphere.
Provide Safety and Security leadership to emergency relief teams responding to humanitarian crises, ensuring the agility and success of WCK deployments.
Embedded with USAID-Funded Programs | International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) | Nickol Global Solutions | Improving Economies for Stronger Communities (IESC) As a Global Security Advisor, I provide strategic security guidance and risk management solutions to USAID-funded programs, ensuring operational resilience and the safety of personnel, assets, and program implementation in complex and often high-risk environments. Key Responsibilities: • Developing and implementing comprehensive security and risk mitigation strategies tailored to program locations. • Conducting risk and threat assessments across international program offices and field operations. • Establishing and maintaining intelligence-sharing networks to enhance situational awareness. • Providing crisis management support, including incident response planning and decision-making guidance. • Delivering security briefings, training, and capacity-building programs for personnel and stakeholders. • Advising senior leadership on geopolitical risks, regulatory compliance, and evolving security landscapes. • Leading travel risk management for executive and field staff operating in diverse locations., • Coordinating with government agencies, NGOs, and private sector partners to strengthen security measures. Key Achievements: • Successfully implemented security frameworks across multiple USAID-funded initiatives, enabling safe and effective project execution. • Designed and delivered risk mitigation training, improving security awareness and preparedness among field teams. • Built robust partnerships with local law enforcement, diplomatic missions, and international organizations to enhance intelligence-sharing and response coordination. • Optimized security protocols and crisis response strategies, reducing operational disruptions and ensuring continuity of mission objectives. • Led the organizations through multiple crises, including successful evacuation of offices in Haiti, Bangladesh and DRC
As the Program Risk Manager for IFES in Libya, I was responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive risk management strategies to ensure the safety, security, and operational continuity of USAID-funded electoral support programs in a complex and high-risk environment. Key Responsibilities: • Conducting risk and threat assessments for program offices, personnel, and electoral operations. • Developing and implementing security policies, protocols, and contingency plans to mitigate operational risks. • Establishing and maintaining intelligence-sharing networks to enhance situational awareness. • Providing security briefings and travel risk advisory support to program leadership and field teams. • Managing crisis response plans and coordinating emergency actions with stakeholders. • Interfacing with local government, law enforcement, and international partners to ensure program safety. • Overseeing budget management for security-related expenditures, ensuring cost-effective risk mitigation. • Supporting program continuity and strategic decision-making by providing real-time security insights. Key Achievements: • Successfully designed and implemented risk mitigation strategies, ensuring uninterrupted electoral program activities. • Reduced program security incidents through proactive risk assessment and intelligence-led decision-making. • Built and maintained critical partnerships with local authorities, NGOs, and international organizations to enhance security collaboration. • Led crisis response efforts, ensuring rapid and effective management of security threats. • Reduced Security related spending by 15% whilst delivering enhanced security services
As the Lead Instructor & Course Content Consultant at the Balkan Security Academy, I was responsible for designing, developing, and delivering high-quality security training programs. I designed industry-leading course content tailored to international security standards while mentoring and equipping professionals with the necessary skills for operational excellence in the security sector. Key Responsibilities: • Designing and delivering UK SIA-compliant security courses for professionals seeking accreditation. • Developing bespoke training programs tailored to industry needs, including risk management, crisis response, and security operations. • Conducting training needs assessments to identify skill gaps and enhance learning effectiveness. • Ensuring course content aligns with international security standards and best practices. • Leading classroom-based and practical training sessions, ensuring participant engagement and knowledge retention. • Overseeing quality assurance and content evaluation, ensuring all materials meet regulatory and academic standards. • Supporting business development by conducting site surveys, risk assessments, and advising on security training needs. • Organizing and leading national seminars and training events to elevate industry standards in the region. Key Achievements: • Successfully developed and implemented certified training programs, improving professional qualifications for security personnel. • Trained and mentored hundreds of security professionals, enhancing their operational effectiveness. • Designed industry-leading course content adopted by organizations across the Balkan region. • Established strategic partnerships with security firms, law enforcement, and training institutions to expand the Academy’s reach.
NI-CO are a Northern Ireland not for profit, public body dedicated to the pursuit of building efficient, accountable and sustainable public sector institutions capable of managing donor aid effectively and implementing positive change. • Delivery of a European Union funded project in two countries in the Western Balkans • Conducting GAP analysis, identifying areas for reform and designing work plans to reach aims and objectives of the project • Building trust, establishing strong relationships and gaining support for the project from all stakeholders at Government Ministerial Level, Heads of Directorates, National Institutions and practitioners • Identifying decision makers and establishing steering committees and working groups with an aim to implementing work plan goals and improving standards in line with EU Practice. • Inspiring a team of local staff and contracted short term experts to deliver the project, quality assuring work, refocusing work plan when necessary • Successfully conducted legal reviews in each country and identified gaps in legislation, appointed legal experts to draft amended laws which were successfully passed into legislation Albania and Montenegro by 2015. • Initiated Training Needs Analysis, identified shortfalls in current practice, designed bespoke training courses and selected appropriate training consultants to deliver high quality, value for money training which raised the standards of local practitioners. • Financial Management of a large operational budget, keeping records for audit and reporting expenditure • Writing comprehensive progress reports to EU leadership and senior project beneficiaries.