GAVIN MCNICOLL, DIRECTOR AND FOUNDER
Gavin MacKay McNicoll is a founder, strategic adviser and capital formation specialist with 30 years’ study and experience working at the intersection of national security, frontier technology, finance and entrepreneurship. He is the founder and Managing Director of Eden Intelligence, advising founders, investors and governments on strategic growth, capital formation, international partnerships and business development across AI, space, cyber security, dual-use technologies and critical infrastructure.
Following the attacks of 11 September 2001, Gavin spent more than a decade founding and coordinating some of the most influential transatlantic gatherings in the intelligence, defence and law enforcement communities. Supported by all branches of the UK’s national security and counter-terrorism community, these forums addressed terrorism, cyber security, financial intelligence, post-conflict reconstruction and influence operations, helping to build enduring relationships across government, industry and academia. In 2005, HM Treasury invited him to organise the G8 Financial Intelligence Conference during the UK’s Presidency.
In 2009, Gavin co-founded CyByL Technologies, the first company to commercialise live cyber threat intelligence through a real-time dashboard platform, protected by patented technology. CyByL pioneered an approach that would later become standard across the cyber threat intelligence industry. Its clients included PayPal, Virgin, Sky, Lloyds, Novartis and Roche, among others.
In 2013, Gavin joined a multi-family office focused on value investing and real assets, while continuing to lead Eden Intelligence’s specialist advisory work. Between 2017 and 2023, he played a leading business development and capital formation role at Arlington Capital, originating and supporting strategic investments, including a pan-European film studio platform and the acquisition of a major port facility in Veneto, Italy.
Today, Gavin leads Eden Intelligence’s strategic advisory and capital formation activities, supporting frontier technology companies operating across artificial intelligence, geospatial intelligence, space, national security and critical infrastructure. His work focuses on connecting innovative companies with strategic capital, government stakeholders and long-term commercial partners through an international network spanning government, institutional investors, family offices, venture capital, private equity and sovereign wealth funds.
Gavin graduated from the University of St Andrews with an MA (Hons) in International Relations and Philosophy, specialising in Comparative Intelligence Systems and US Foreign Policy. He is co-host, with leading intelligence historian Nigel West, of the Wilderness of Mirrors podcast, exploring intelligence, geopolitics and national security. He has also led and contributed to a number of public-interest and charitable initiatives, including Play Your Part for Ukraine following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, alongside Ballon d’Or winner Andriy Shevchenko.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE SIR JOHN WHEELER, JP, DL
The Right Honourable Sir John Wheeler, JP, DL, was the Chairman of the UK government review into airport security with particular reference to the role of the police. In 2005 he was Head of the Review into Airport Security and Policing for the Australian Government. Deputy Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Office 1993 – 1997; he was Minister of State for Security and for the Criminal Justice System and Finance Minister. He served as a Member of Parliament 1979 - 1997 and on the Home Affairs Select Committee from 1979 – 1992, acting as Chairman 1987 – 1992. During this time 67 reports were produced including several inquiries into criminal justice and police policy issues, and in 1988 he delivered the recommendation to set up the National Criminal Intelligence Service.
He was Chairman of The Service Authorities for the NCIS and the National Crime Squad from 1997 - 2002. He was appointed a Member of Her Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council in 1993 and a Member and Trustee of the Chapter General of the Order of St John and St John’s Ambulance in 1990 and has served as Chancellor from 2002.
DR. MAGNUS RANSTORP
Dr. Magnus Ranstorp is one of Europe’s leading authorities on terrorism, violent extremism, radicalisation and hybrid threats. He is Research Director and Associate Professor at the Centre for Societal Security at the Swedish Defence University, where his work focuses on counterterrorism, national security, influence operations and societal resilience. Previously, he helped establish and later directed the internationally renowned Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence (CSTPV) at the University of St Andrews, which became one of the world’s leading centres for terrorism research before and after 9/11. He testified before the US 9/11 Commission in 2003 and has advised governments, NATO, the European Commission and other international organisations on terrorism and counter-extremism. In 2025 he was appointed as one of fifteen international experts serving on the European Commission’s EU Knowledge Hub on Prevention of Radicalisation. He is also an elected Fellow of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences and remains one of Europe’s foremost commentators on terrorism, hybrid threats, influence operations and national security.
NEAL A. POLLARD
Neal A. Pollard is a Partner at Control Risks’ leading the Digital Risks Americas Advisory practice, based in New York. Neal works with clients’ senior executives and boards to identify and manage digital threats and risks, implement technology strategy, improve digital resilience and protect the value of digitalisation against the hazards of conducting business online.
Prior to joining Control Risks, Neal was a Partner/Principal at two of the 'Big 4’ global professional services firms. He was also global Chief Information Security Officer of UBS AG. Before entering the private sector in 2011, Neal spent 17 years in the U.S. counterterrorism community as a defence contractor and intelligence officer. In this role, Neal supported multiple strategy, planning and operational activities, and in 1996 co-founded the Terrorism Research Center, Inc. As an intelligence officer, Neal served planning and operational assignments in the National Counterterrorism Center and the Central Intelligence Agency.
Neal holds a B.Sc. in mathematics from Oklahoma University, an M.Litt. in international security from the University of St Andrews, Scotland, and a J.D. from Georgetown University. He is a Life Member of the Council on Foreign Relations and is admitted to the Virginia State Bar.
