Travel risk management company World Travel Protection (WTP) has expanded its security and intelligence division with the appointment of Paul Trotter in its Brisbane-based Command Centre.
Mr Trotter recently returned from Iraq after spending almost four years working in business risk management and as a political adviser. Prior to this, he spent almost a decade with the Australian Defence Force supporting the fight against ISIS and other terrorism threats.
WTP’s General Manager of Global Security Services, Rodger Cook, said the personal experience Mr Trotter had of working in complex political environments created a level of understanding and detail that was hard to replicate.
“In the newly created role of Security and Intelligence Lead, Paul will provide valuable insights for our clients looking to minimise the risk to their employees travelling for work.
“Paul has also experienced what it’s like to be an Australian travelling internationally during the pandemic and the related challenges this can present,” Mr Cook said.
Mr Trotter said COVID-19 was the perfect example of why WTP’s work was so important.
“The pandemic demonstrated that when things go wrong, they can go very wrong quickly. Being left without support – whether from a health perspective or getting caught up in political unrest – can be very dangerous and distressing. Having that safety net and expert advice is essential in ensuring safe travel and making sure personnel get home,” Mr Trotter advised.
In 2020 and 2021, Mr Trotter spent a total of 65 days in quarantine flying between Australia – where his family resides – and his work in Iraq.
“COVID saw so many changes such as the process of flying into a country, which airlines to use, when you had to have a PCR test, so that became part of my role.”
While working in Iraq and being responsible for Australian Embassy staff – from secretaries through to the Prime Minister – the Iraqi Government went through a series of major changes where protesting and riots were common.
“Driving short distances could be hazardous, so even that involved a lot of planning, considering alternatives and thoroughly briefing embassy staff on who they would be meeting, their biographies, and the current political environment.”
At WTP, Mr Trotter’s diverse role will include supporting new business, designing new risk-management tools, producing reports on various places and countries, and conducting due diligence checks. He says he’s most excited about working with organisations and companies at WTP.
“I feel like if an organisation is contacting us, they’ve already identified that travel risk management is an essential part of sending their people overseas, particularly now with COVID and political unrest happening around the world. I really want to work with those particular organisations that take the ethically-sound route and view the safety of their travellers as a number one priority,” Mr Trotter said.
www.worldtravelprotection.com
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