Cranfield Uni and Pool Re partner to appoint Professor Andrew Silke
This is a new position which will be co-funded by Pool Re and Cranfield University for an initial five-year period.
Silke has been appointed after a rigorous selection process and will be responsible for the establishment of the Centre for Excellence in Counterterrorism, providing thought leadership in catastrophic and unconventional terrorism loss assessment and mitigation, with the aim of improving the resilience to the UK economy. He will be tasked with fostering a greater understanding of terrorism threat risk mitigation, thereby enhancing national resilience. He will be assuming his appointment on the 31st January 2018.
Professor Andrew Silke (BSc Hons, AFBPsS, CSci, CPsych, PhD) currently holds a Chair in Criminology at the University of East London where he was the Head of Criminology, and the Programme Director for Terrorism Studies. He has a background in forensic psychology and criminology and has worked both in academia and for government. His primary research interests include terrorism, conflict, crime and policing and he is internationally recognised as a leading expert on terrorism and low intensity conflict.
He has over 100 publications, including several books, with his most recent including Prisons, Terrorism & Extremism: Critical Issues in Management, Radicalisation and Reform (2013) and Terrorism: All That Matters (2014). His latest book, The Routledge Handbook on Terrorism and Counterterrorism , will be published in March 2018.
Julian Enoizi, Chief Executive of Pool Re said: “The appointment of Professor Andrew Silke represents the important first step towards building a world-leading resource into the study and analysis of terrorism, risk mitigation and resilience. The horrific events in London and Manchester this year have emphasised the scale and complexity of the threat. Andrew will lead the development of a Centre for Excellence which will serve as a focal point for counter terrorism thought leadership and risk mitigation.
"Pool Re recognises the importance of engaging business, academia and government in tackling all forms of extremism and this appointment will help leverage the growing relationship between the public and private sectors. Historically, terrorists principally targeted property; Islamist extremists’ primary aim is to cause mass casualties. Pool Re was established to mitigate the former threat. If we and our Members are to be more proactive and remain at the cutting edge of the risk, then we must continually evolve in line with current and emergent threats. Enhancing our knowledge and understanding are key to ensuring we can provide cover which reflects the evolving nature of the risk. The appointment of Professor Silke is a significant step in achieving this aim.”
Sir Peter Gregson, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Cranfield University, said: “Cranfield University is delighted to be working with Pool Re on this important topic. Cranfield’s strengths in defence and security are widely recognised. This new chair that Pool Re is supporting augments our existing expertise and ensures UK government and industry has enhanced access to world-class expertise.
By jointly establishing a Centre for Excellence in Counterterrorism, Pool Re and Cranfield University will undertake academic research and study, collate and share data and work with government and other institutions to create, disseminate and publicise the nature of, and threat from, terrorism as well as ways in which the threat could be mitigated.”
