Our Governance

INSSA is guided by a global team of experts committed to transparency, accountability, and the safe delivery of humanitarian aid.

INSSA’s governance framework ensures robust oversight and strategic direction. It is comprised of our Board of Directors and the Advisory Council.

Javeria Malik

Chair, Board of Directors

Bio

Javeria Malik brings over 15 years of leadership in NGO security and crisis management, with a career spanning the non-profit, humanitarian, development, and human rights sectors, as well as journalism and strategic communications. She is currently the Head of Global Security at ActionAid, a human rights-based international federation operating in more than 70 countries.

Her work has focused on developing inclusive safety and security strategies that centre community protection, enable high-risk programming, and strengthen crisis preparedness in politically sensitive and conflict-affected contexts. She has led global teams, supported organisational change, and contributed to building stronger, more resilient systems across diverse environments.

Javeria is a certified safety and security trainer and has developed and delivered learning programmes for a wide range of actors—including senior leadership, board members, human rights defenders, and frontline staff.

She serves as Chair of the International NGO Safety and Security Association (INSSA), the largest global network of safety and security professionals working across the non-profit and humanitarian sectors.

Her academic background includes postgraduate degrees in International Journalism, Mass Communication, and Business Administration (specialising in Finance and Law), as well as advanced training in security risk management, humanitarian negotiation, crisis leadership, and protection of human rights defenders.

Jim LeBlanc

Vice Chair

Bio

James (“Jim”) LeBlanc is the founder of J. LeBlanc International and ‘Consigliere’ acting as a strategic advisor and trusted counsellor to senior executives throughout the world.

With almost 40 years of international experience, he has served in numerous leadership and executive positions within both the public and private sectors. Jim has provided a wide array of global leadership, executive and senior management professional services. Jim previously served as executive director for the American-Kuwaiti Alliance, providing all elements of the leadership and management of the organization. He was also the senior resident Country Director in Iraq for a large international NGO responsible for providing organizational leadership and the implementation of democratic development programs during the highly volatile period from 2004 to 2006.

Jim served as chief of staff to the Secretary of State for External Affairs and International Trade of Canada and the Minister of Science and Technology, as well as, executive assistant to the Canadian Ambassador for International Security and Arms Control, giving him extensive public and political experience at senior levels in the Canadian Government. These positions, along with the others, gave him critical varied and multi-faceted experience.

Jim is active in a number of organizations including those focused on international security and stability operations. He is also a past senior associate at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies and continues to sit on numerous boards and advisory councils including as Vice-Chair of the International NGO Safety and Security Association (INSSA), Hostage US and the Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC). Locally, he is active in the Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce and also a member of the Southern Shores Volunteer Fire Department.

Jim has a Master in Public Administration from the Harvard University Kennedy School (U.S.); a Master in Arts (International Security and Conflict) and a Bachelor of Arts (Law and Political Science) from Canada.

Armstrong Maina

Board Secretary

Bio

Armstrong Maina, CPP®, PCI®, PSP®, CSMP®, F.ISMI is a seasoned security risk management professional from Kenya with over 20 years of experience, including 17 years in the humanitarian sector with international NGOs. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of INSSA as Secretary. Armstrong holds multiple international certifications in security management and has a well-established track record of working in complex and post-conflict environments. His expertise includes security risk analysis, crisis management, risk mitigation, training, conducting security audits and surveys, and mentoring security focal points. In his current role as Global Security Manager at Project HOPE, Armstrong leads the organization’s global security strategy and program. He is responsible for ensuring operational security, compliance, and risk management across all country offices and field operations.

Rick Morris

Acting Treasurer & Chair Advisory Council

Bio

Rick Morris enjoyed a forty-four-year career as a communications consultant. He joined Smith & Harroff in 1977 and was involved in all aspects of corporate communications, public affairs consulting, crisis communications training and advocacy advertising. He had primary responsibility for developing and implementing advertising and public affairs strategies for national image campaigns for clients such as the National Christmas Tree Association, Nuclear Energy Institute, Westinghouse Electric Corporation and Alcan Aluminum Corporation. He also developed successful political advertising campaigns for industry coalitions such as the Coalition for Community Pharmacy Action, Keep USF Fair Coalition and the Alliance for Sound Nuclear Policy.

Having served as account supervisor for many of Smith & Harroff’s clients, Mr. Morris was promoted to vice president and chief of staff in 1985. In this newly created position, he provided account management to a select group of clients and overall management supervision of agency personnel and client accounts. In 1991, he became one of the firm’s partners and in 2007 he was promoted to the position of president and CEO. He led the firm for twelve years and now provides senior level counsel to the next generation of leadership.

Vivian Aoga Odero

Bio

Vivian Aoga Odero is a seasoned Safety and Security professional with over 15 years of experience. She worked at the Kenya Defense Forces’ Directorate of Military Intelligence, where she focused on counterterrorism and regional security threats. After transitioning from the military in 2015, she led safety and security efforts at World Vision Kenya and later served as Deputy Regional Security Manager for CARE International, overseeing operations in 13 African countries.

She has also held global security leadership roles with Population Services International and currently serves as Global Manager for Safety, Security & Safeguarding at Innovations for Poverty Action, covering Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

Vivian holds a BA in Military Science, is pursuing an MA in International Relations and Diplomacy, and has multiple professional certifications, including Security Risk Management at both country and regional levels (SRMP-C and SRMP-R).

She sits on the Board of Directors of the International NGO Safety & Security Association (INSSA) and is Deputy Chairperson of the Regional Safety & Security Group for East and Central Africa. Passionate about mentoring women in humanitarian security, Vivian is known for her strategic, collaborative, and results-driven approach.

Tammie Emuron

Bio

Tammie Emuron is a senior leader with over 20 years of experience in the non-profit and international development sectors. She currently serves as Senior Advisor for Strategy and Change Management at Catholic Relief Services (CRS). In this role, she supports strategic planning and execution, and works with agency leaders to address challenges and explore desired strategic shifts. Prior to this, Tammie helped to lead CRS’ resource mobilization efforts with institutional donor agencies as Director for Business Development. She previously worked and volunteered with several other mission-driven nonprofit organizations, based both in the U.S. and overseas. Tammie is skilled in strategic planning, business development, team leadership, and training design and delivery. She holds a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Sustainable Development from Brandeis University, and a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership and Learning from Vanderbilt University. She has cross-cultural professional experience in over 40 countries, and professional level ability in French and Spanish. Tammie has been part of either the INSSA Advisory Council or Board since 2020. She is passionate about causes that promote human dignity and help people to reach their full potential. She lives in Cincinnati, OH in the U.S. with her husband and three daughters.

Michael Guarracino

Bio

Michael (Mike) Guarracino is the Founder of his company Grey Wolf Associates, LLC. In 2020 and is well known for his management of complex programs for law enforcement, homeland defense, emergency preparedness, and security clients with a national reputation for his ability in security, law enforcement, force protection, Anti-terrorism, intelligence, COOP, COG, and ECG.

Mike served at the Supreme Court of the United States as the Deputy Marshal for Security. In this capacity, he was the principal assistant to the Marshal in the development coordination and execution of the Court’s security, law enforcement, executive protection, intelligence, emergency preparedness programs, continuity
of government, and crisis management for the protection of the Court’s Justices and employees on a global basis.

Prior to the Court, Mike served as a charter member and the Deputy Director, Force Protection Directorate at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) where he played a lead role in the planning and execution of over 500 Joint Staff Integrated Vulnerability Assessments and other select Special Assessments for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of Defense. In 1998, his involvement with the program was instrumental in DTRA winning the Award of “Most Outstanding Antiterrorism Innovation/Action – DoD Component.”

Mike enlisted in the Navy in 1977 achieving the rank of Chief Petty Officer and later commissioned in 1987. He served on active 16 year active duty and 8 years in the Naval Reserve as a nuclear weapons supervisor, deputy chief of police, security officer, special security engagement tactical team commander, accident/incident response commander, senior intelligence analyst, and counterintelligence officer. As a multidisciplinary expert, Mike participated in many national-level committees tasked to influence security policies and technology developments both within and outside the Department of Defense. For the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology, Mike independently provided program management for 6.2 exploratory research and development projects of multimillion-dollar state-of the-art technologies related to combating terrorism and protection of the U.S. military. Mike retired from Naval
Service as a LCDR in October 2001 as the Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technical Division Executive Officer.

After leaving the Navy, Mike went to Bankers Trust Company where he managed the Bank’s worldwide emergency operations center, and domestic security programs. He managed investigations into white-collar crime, conducted assessments of security and corporate intelligence programs, and served as member of the New York Financial Crimes Task Force. Additionally, Mike directed security assessments and executed the installation and integration of interior and exterior electronic security equipment for multimillion dollar design and construction projects. Leaving Bankers Trust Company Mike went to work for the Department of Defense, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Department of Energy in countering the threat of proliferation, acquisition, and smuggling
of weapons of mass destruction by terrorist, paramilitary, and criminal organizations internationally. He conducted national-level terrorist related exercises and served as a senior technical advisor for Department of
Defense and Department of Energy Combating Terrorism Programs.

Mike is married to Theresa Rogers Guarracino has a daughter Kailtyn, son Matthew and granddaughter Nakaylah.

Amaury T. Cooper

Bio

Amaury Cooper is an accomplished security, crisis, and business continuity management expert with over two decades of experience working to ensure the duty of care and resiliency of individuals and organizations across diverse sectors facing complex challenges.

In his current role as Vice President of Global Safety & Security at HIAS, Amaury leads efforts to protect and support personnel, assets, and vulnerable populations worldwide. His previous experience includes leadership positions in security management, crisis response, and threat analysis at various private sector, academic, and international development/humanitarian aid organizations.

A dedicated advocate of international development/humanitarian aid safety and security, Amaury co-founded the International NGO Safety & Security Association (INSSA) and serves on its Board of Directors. He is also actively involved in several prominent global and regional security fora, including the Global Interagency Security Forum (GISF) and the U.S. Department of State’s Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC).

Amaury holds an MA in International Policy Studies from the Monterey Institute of International Studies and a BA in International Relations with minors in Global Peace & Security and East Asian Cultural Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He has additional certificates in Project Management from Georgetown University and Advanced Mandarin Chinese from Tsinghua University and Beijing Normal University. Amaury is fluent in French, proficient in Mandarin Chinese, as well as a working knowledge of Spanish and has extensive international work and travel experience throughout Africa, Asia, Central & South America, and the Middle East.

Ryan Kelley

Chair, Board of Directors

Bio

Ryan Kelley is a dedicated attorney and humanitarian with a passion for making a global impact through both his legal expertise and philanthropic endeavors. As a Shareholder at Greenberg Traurig, LLP, Ryan advises companies ranging from startups to multinational funds and corporations, particularly in the technology, aerospace, defense, biotech, and cybersecurity sectors. His legal expertise encompasses cross-border mergers and acquisitions, venture capital transactions, and strategic investments.

Beyond his legal practice, Kelley has contributed to humanitarian efforts through his work with AmeriCares, a global health and disaster relief organization. In this role, he provided critical medical supplies and resources to communities in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean affected by crises and poverty. Ryan continues to serve underprivileged communities through his pro bono work at Greenberg Traurig.

Ryan earned his Juris Doctor from The University of Minnesota Law School, his Master’s degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, and his bachelor’s degree from Carleton College. He resides in the Washington D.C. region with his family, his skis, and his many books.

Rick Morris

Chair, Advisory Council

Bio

Chris Mayer

Vice Chair, Advisory Council

Bio

Chris Mayer is an independent consultant on National Security issues, with expertise on armed contractors in contingency operations and the growing prevalence of mercenary-like organizations. Chris served in the U.S. Army for 30 years and then another 10 years as a Defense Department civilian named as the U.S. Government’s technical expert on Private Military and Security Companies. Although trained in combat reconnaissance, the last decade of Chris’s service focused on the post-conflict environment. This included directing civil-military operations in the Balkans, Chief of Staff for the reconstruction of Iraq, and chief of civil-military operations and senior U.S. military observer for the UN in Liberia. His Defense Department duties included representing the U.S. Government in negotiation the Montreux Document of recommended good practices for States in regulating PMSCs and the follow-on efforts of establishing the Montreux Document Forum of states, the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers and its implementing association. Chris has lectured on PMSCs and law of war at the International Institute of Humanitarian Law and other institutes of higher learning. Outside of military related functions, Chris is active in domestic emergency response, including service as incident commander, dog handler, and aircraft plot.

Ryan Kelley

Legal Advisor

Bio

Ebe Brons

Bio

In 2003, I read about an international aid worker who had been kidnapped abroad.

It got me thinking and I decided to investigate the safety of aid workers.

NGO’s are increasingly working in unstable and fragile countries. Crime, violence and accidents are never far away.

This makes it difficult for NGO’s to carry out their work safely. This results in less aid and support for beneficiaries in need.

At that time I worked as a lawyer at a bank. I decided to improve the safety and security of aid workers (and quit my job in the process).

In early 2004, the Centre for Safety and Development Foundation (CSD) was established. Our mission is:

We believe that professionals who are working for a better world deserve the very best safety and security preparation. It enables them to help others and to return home safely.

Since then, the CSD has developed into a leading institute that trains 1,300 people every year and helps dozens of organisations with advice and policy.

Our work assists more than 200 organisations across the world, NGOs, universities, and international organisations. We enable their employees to travel and work safely and securely.

Amaro Martins

Bio

Amaro Martins, is a PhD student and researcher in security risk management for INGOs since 2020. He currently serves on the INSSA Advisory Council, Communications and RRD departments. His research focus on Risk Perception and Assessment procedures of NGOs in Security. Professionally, he enjoys organization/departmental management of initiatives and finances, as well as fundraising activities.

Mila Shutova

Bio

Mila is an international Safety and Security Management advisor with over 15 years of diverse experience within iNGO, UN, public and private sectors in Canada, Eastern and Western Europe, Middle East, and Africa. She has enabled strategic priorities, enhanced safety & security risk management, and improved physical and mental wellbeing of staff and stakeholders across global organizations, including Christian Aid, Plan International, Mastercard Foundation, Right To Play International, UNHCR, and Global Affairs Canada.

Mila is a Certified Security Management Professional (CSMP M.ISMI, UK). She holds a Master’s degree in International Development from the Institute of Development Studies / University of Sussex (UK) and a Bachelor’s (Honours) degree in History from Queen’s University (Canada). Committed to improving trust, understanding, and dialogue in peacebuilding efforts, Mila continues to focus on international security, as part of postgraduate programme at the Geneva Graduate Institute (Switzerland). As a strong advocate for healthy holistic lifestyle, for several years Mila ran her consulting practice, as a certified personal trainer and coach.

Michael O'Neill

Bio

Michael O’Neill is a recognized leader in international safety and security risk management having begun his professional career in 1995. He is a highly respected global thought leader and strategist in the development and professionalization of international NGO safety and security risk management.

Michael has served as the Chair of the International NGO Safety and Security Association (INSSA). He has served as the Director of Global Safety and Security and as a Senior Adviser at Save the Children from 2002 – 2017. Prior to taking up these positions with Save the Children, Michael served as the Coordinator of Volunteer Safety and Overseas Security at the Peace Corps (1995-2002). In these positions, Michael has been a leader in establishing and institutionalizing effective safety and security risk management systems; formulating policies, standards and procedures in risk management, safety and security, and crisis management; conducting field security assessments; developing and delivering a variety of safety and security-related training courses; and coordinating agency support of staff in their efforts to reduce safety and security risks and mitigate crises. Michael served for six years as the chair of the InterAction Security Advisory Group (SAG) and several years as the international NGO representative on the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC). He has presented lectures and conducted seminars at leading US universities and international forums and has contributed to many studies and publications focusing on NGO safety and security risk management. In 2011, Michael led the OFDA-funded Collaborative Learning Approach to NGO Security Management research project exploring the efficacy and application of the Acceptance approach to security risk management. Michael has developed several on-line training modules for NGO staff and international travelers. Michael is the 2009 recipient of the InterAction Security Advisory Group Distinguished Achievement Award. Michael is the President and CEO of O’Neill Paragon Solutions, LLC providing full crisis management, risk management and duty of care support to NGOs and private sector clients.

Shaun Bickley

Bio

Shaun Bickley has more than 30 years’ experience in humanitarian access, security and crisis management, in some of the most challenging conflict and crisis situations. As a leading security risk management consultant and facilitator, he advises on securing access and safeguarding staff and partners in high-risk environments, and supports organisations in strengthening their security risk management. Shaun has worked with a wide variety of humanitarian and development organisations including Mercy Corps, CARE International, British Red Cross, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Save the Children, Oxfam, Plan International, Islamic Relief, and more.

Shaun has also conducted a significant body of research on security within the humanitarian sector and has authored several practical security publications including GISF’s Security Risk Management: a basic guide for smaller NGOs and is the creator of GISF’s NGO Security Toolbox.

As the Global Interagency Security Forum (GISF) Senior Adviser, Shaun provides strategic support to the Secretariat in the delivery of impactful events, products and services for its members.

Norman Sheehan

Bio

30+ years experience in humanitarian disaster management: Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Bolivia, Congo, Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Liberia, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and West Bank Gaza. Specific skills in:

Providing leadership, motivation, training and supervision of large, interdisciplinary, multi-cultural teams in complex settings.

Rapid response, start up, planning and implementation of all aspects of relief and mitigation programs

Assessing security risks and threats, designing security frameworks and implementing procedures, guidelines and training.

Responding to emergency humanitarian situations involving complex security hazards and situations.

Providing crisis management and guidance in critical situations.

Managing and investigating Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) cases and Fraud situations

Representing, briefing, negotiating and co-ordinating with Governments, donors, Civil/Military relations

Assessment, proposal preparation, design and implementation of emergency programs

Office set-up and Government registration

Representation, negotiation and co-ordination with Governments, donors and NGOs

Procurement, administration and finance

Design and implementation of staff safety security and well being procedures

Refugee registration, camp planning, set up and management

Highly Experienced with food and non-food distribution, water/sanitation, shelter, cold chain and expanded program of immunisations, health infrastructure, logistics.

Norman D Sheehan is an international risk management and mitigation specialist and advisor and crisis responder to NGOs, Universities and International Development Organizations. His expertise spans more than thirty years of developing and implementing operational security programs, policies, crisis response, critical situation negotiations and implementing and advising humanitarian assistance initiatives.

His experience has required him to engage with traditional power centers to include the United Nations, NATO, European Union, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), international and national non governmental organizations (NGO) and national governmental military structures. He has also negotiated and coordinated with evolving non-traditional powers such as armed local groups and militias. His experience includes negotiations with diverse elements and warlords in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Somalia and Iraq and local militias throughout central and east Africa such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, the Darfur region, borders areas of Chad, Central African Republic and Uganda.

In his past, he served as an emergency responder, trainer, response preparation and planning with Fire/Rescue and Civil Defense in Ireland. In 1985 he joined the humanitarian and development organization GOAL. With GOAL, he led emergency response deployments for prolonged periods in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Sudan, Bosnia, Rwanda, Burundi, Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, South Sudan, East Timor, Kosovo and Albania working in coordination with the humanitarian community, the United Nations and various civilian and military governmental representatives.

In 2003 after spending over 18 years in the field, he was recruited as the Chief Executive Officer of WarChild. Dedicated to assisting children affected by war whose mission is to support and strengthen the protective environment for children who, as a result of conflict live with a combination of insecurity, poverty and exclusion.

From 2006 he has worked as a private consultant to a number of International NGOs and since 2008 he was recruited by the Academy for Educational Development who was acquisitioned by fhi360 in June 2011 as the Global Security Director with overall responsibly for the safety and security of all international programs, staff and assets. From April 2012 to 2015 he held a similar role with Chemonics International. Since April 2015 he has returned to providing risk management consultant services.

He served on the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC falls under the responsibility of Diplomatic Security at the State Department) as a council member from 2013 to 2015. The OSAC “Council” is comprised of 34 private sector and public sector member organizations that represent specific industries or agencies operating abroad. The member organizations designate representatives to serve on the Overseas Security Advisory Council to provide direction and guidance to develop programs that most benefit the U.S. private sector overseas. Under OSAC he was actively engaged in the start up of the International Development Working Group (IDWG) serving on the board to launch IDWG which serves the NGO community in providing webinars, training events and informational services.

He also serves as the Chairman on the Board of Directors of Self Help USA, a rural development agency that seeks to improve the lives of some of the poorest communities in Africa. Delivering cost effective and sustainable solutions to the challenges facing rural African people.

He also serves on the board of International NGO safety and Security Association. INSSA is a non-profit global membership association of individuals (2000+) and organizations committed to improving the quality and effectiveness of safety and security for humanitarian relief and development assistance workers operating in complex and dangerous environments around the world. INSSA does this through four main avenues of programming: Advocacy, Collaboration, Education & Professional Development, and Standardization.

Also served until recently on the founding board of Hostage U.S.A. an organization that provide support for families going through the horror of a kidnap, Hostage US provides pastoral care and practical support. Because we are independent, families can be confident that we are there for them without any competing interests. We provide impartial yet knowledgeable information and through our network we can help families to solve the problems they will face along the way. Hostage U.S. work with families who have nowhere else to turn.

Founding board member of One4Humanity. At the start of the Ukraine war, we established the Irish registered NGO to provide medical supplies delivered directly to Ukraine. To date O4H have delivered in excess of $120M of mobile trauma units and medical supplies. For the past several months we have started sending supplies to Gaza and have partnered with IMC to deliver a medical Hospitainer and medical supplies. This is a first step to prove the ability to delivery the supplies through difficult access and administrative circumstances. This will be ramped up as access becomes easier.

Our Governance

INSSA is guided by a global team of experts committed to transparency, accountability, and the safe delivery of humanitarian aid.

Javeria Malik

Jim LeBlanc

Armstrong Maina

Rick Morris

Vivian Aoga Odero

Tammie Emuron

Michael Guarracino

Amaury T. Cooper

Ryan Kelley

Rick Morris

Chris Mayer

Ryan Kelley

Ebe Brons

Amaro Martins

Mila Shutova

Michael O'Neill

Shaun Bickley

Norman Sheehan

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