GAVIN MCNICOLL, DIRECTOR AND FOUNDER
Gavin MacKay McNicoll is a founder, strategic adviser, and capital-raising specialist with over 25 years’ experience working at the intersection of national security, finance, and entrepreneurship. He has led Eden Intelligence since 2001, a firm renowned for its innovation in capital raising, business consulting, and the production of high-level thought-leadership events.
Following 9/11, Gavin spent a decade founding and coordinating some of the most significant transatlantic gatherings in the intelligence, defence, and law enforcement communities, focusing on asymmetric threats including terrorism, cyber security, post-conflict reconstruction, and influence operations. This work—supported by all branches of the UK’s national security and counterterrorism forces—was recognised for its real-world impact and helped establish enduring networks across government and business. In 2005, Gavin was tasked by HM Treasury to run a G8 meeting on financial intelligence during the UK presidency.
In 2009, he co-founded CyByL Technologies, one of the first firms to commercialise live cyber threat intelligence via a patented dashboard technology. Clients included PayPal, Sky, Virgin, and Novartis.
In 2013, Gavin joined a multi-family office where he focused on value investing and real assets, while continuing to lead Eden’s specialist consulting and events. From 2017 to 2023 he played a key business development role at Arlington Capital, originating and raising capital for major investments including a pan-European film studio fund and the acquisition of a major port facility in Veneto, Italy.
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Since 2023, Gavin has led capital raising services and business development for Eden, leveraging his extensive network of contacts across family offices, institutional investors, venture capital, private equity, and sovereign wealth funds.
He is a graduate of the University of St Andrews with an MA (Hons) in International Relations and Philosophy, specialising in Comparative Intelligence Systems and U.S. Foreign Policy. Gavin is co-host of Wilderness of Mirrors, a forthcoming podcast series with leading intelligence historian Nigel West, and has led or contributed to charitable campaigns including Play Your Part for Ukraine and long-standing UK fundraising events such as the Gull’s Egg and Grouse & Grape Lunches in aid of Cure Parkinsons.
Mike Turnbull
Mike is a seasoned investment banking professional and a highly experienced leader and producer, known for his strong management capabilities and strategic insight. He previously led the Infrastructure Financing business at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, taking it from inception to scale within the Corporate and Investment Banking division, managing a loan portfolio of $4 billion.
Mike has deep expertise in revenue enhancement through solution-based, cross-product origination, and a proven ability to deliver access to senior management at target clients. Earlier in his career, he served on the EMEA Executive and Operating Committees for BAML and led the EMEA Capital Markets business, playing a key role in navigating the merger between Bank of America and Merrill Lynch.
He has led both FIG and corporate teams at Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley, and brings to Eden over 30 years of exceptional deal-making experience. His extensive network spans family offices, venture capital and private equity funds, institutional fund managers, and sovereign wealth funds.
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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 particularly with 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, 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 the Research Director of the Center for Asymmetric Threat Studies at Swedish National Defence College. He has directed two major research projects in last 5 years, funded by Civil Contingency Agency, one on radicalisation processes and counter-radicalisation policies within Europe and one on CBRNE terrorism.  Prior to CATS, he was the Deputy and later Director of the world-renowned Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence at the University of St Andrews. Since 1994 and was largely responsible with other colleagues for the unparalleled reputation CSTPV gained worldwide before and after 9/11. In 2003, he was invited to testify before the 9-11 Commission in its first hearing. Since 2009 he has been a Senior Fellow at the Homeland Security Policy Institute at the George Washington University.  Dr Ranstorp is on the Steering Committee of the EU Radicalisation Awareness Network (RAN) and is Working Group Leader of EU RAN INT/EXT (on foreign fighters). He is also Chairman of the Expert Group on Prevention of Violent Extremism at Copenhagen Municipality. He was also a member of the World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council on Terrorism during 2011-2014 and is currently on the Global Agenda Council on Conflict, Fragility and Violence. He is an elected Fellow of The Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences.Â
Dr Ranstorp’s recent focus has been related to ISIS’ micro-finance techniques within the European Union and Foreign Fighters flows in Europe and radicalisation processes.
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.
