Overview
The GICHD Innovation Conference 2023, scheduled to take place from 14 to 16 of November 2023, in Geneva, will showcase new technologies and provide a unique platform to discuss current demand-driven Explosive Ordnance Risk Reduction challenges relating to mine action and ammunition management activities.
When: 14th - 16th November 2023
Where: Geneva International Conference Centre (CICG), Geneva, Switzerland
Format: In-person
Information note for participants
Conference Countdown
Innovation Conference Themes
Learn more about the Innovation Conference 2023 upcoming themes. This section will be updated frequently, so stay tuned for more information about the programme.
Theme 1: Innovative Finance
Over the last decade funding to mine action has remained broadly static between $500 to $600 million per annum, with peaks around new conflicts that are short-lived. 70% of international funding comes from five donors and 50% of it goes to just five affected states. While national contributions have increased in the last five years they still account for less than 10% of the total funding to the sector. In this context of funding shortfalls and substantial remaining work to complete various convention-related obligations, the session Innovative Finance in Mine Action seeks to dive deeper into existing innovative finance models and how these may be applied to the mine action sector.
Through innovative finance mechanisms, affected states can have the opportunity to mobilise blended finance mechanisms to help fund their national strategies and their own national capacity sustainably, for example using inward and domestic investment strategies. Donors can support these efforts by facilitating the development of blended finance mechanisms, leveraging more than they could through bilateral funding and providing stable and more predictable funding streams.
Accordingly, this session will seek to showcase existing innovative finance models as well as how they have successfully been applied in other sectors, convey the limitations of the models put forward and facilitate a discussion on how stakeholders can concretely explore innovative financing options for mine action.
Financial figures source: 2022 Landmine Monitor Report
Theme 2: Harnessing Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC)
Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) refers to the strategic use of communication approaches to promote changes in knowledge, attitudes, norms, beliefs, and behaviours. It is a systematic and interactive process grounded in theory and based on evidence. This approach has been widely used in the public health and communications sectors for years, but only recently has the adoption of SBCC in EORE programming gained traction. Today, it is widely acknowledged that, if correctly implemented, SBCC can result in more evidence-based, effective, and efficient EORE. As such, sharing experiences and developing knowledge on SBCC has been widely requested within the EORE sector.
Accordingly, this session will build on the existing momentum for SBCC. Bringing together a panel of SBCC experts, the session will, through change stories and facilitated discussions, showcase how SBCC is transforming EORE as well as explore how SBCC can be applied to other areas of Explosive Ordnance Risk Reduction (EORR). By the end of the session, it is hoped that participants will be convinced of the value and potential SBCC can bring to EORR and invest in SBCC in the future.
Theme 3: Technology Prioritisation: A needs-based approach
Equipment manufacturers, research organizations and mine action organizations, all of them essential for any technological advance don’t always individually pursue the same objectives. Equipment manufacturers pursue revenues. Research organizations pursue the advance of science and knowledge. Mine action organizations pursue efficient operational results. All these three individual objectives need to be balanced in order to sustain the effective implementation of new tools and technologies, but often, we find imbalances.
We have seen in the recent past many technology-driven approaches to new tools/technologies, which often miss to deliver according to expectations, which generates new technologies fatigue among many stakeholders in the Explosive Ordnance Risk Reduction (EORR) sectors. Associated to this, we find often inefficient use of the limited funding available for technological research within the sector, as well as growing difficulties to establish collaborative partnerships among research organizations, equipment manufacturers, and mine action organisations, which are essential for the effective development and implementation of new tools/technologies.
This session will seek to discuss how new technologies could impact the EORR sectors and which building blocks are needed to enable needs-based approaches to technological research within the sector, leading to the effective uptake of new innovative tools/methodologies, according to their potential impact. A diverse panel bringing together the perspectives of varied stakeholders (mine action organisations, equipment manufacturers, research and technology organizations), as well as expertise from other sectors, will facilitate the debate.
Theme 4: Connecting the dots between innovation and standards
Innovation is an iterative process that gains momentum whenever a problem or shortfall is identified, prompting attempts to find solutions. These attempts may take the form of policies, methodologies, processes, technologies, or other strategies. The resulting innovation can come in different ways such as continual improvement, refining the existing rules of the game, or disruptive innovation, completely changing the rules. When appropriately conceptualised and aligned with the needs, both approaches can wield significant power.
This session aims to explore how standards can play a pivotal role to facilitate the uptake of innovative tools and methodologies, unlocking their full potential. A diverse panel will bring together stakeholders from EO risk reduction, including national authorities, operators, manufacturers, as well as research and technology organisations. Additionally, experts from outside mine action and ammunition management will contribute their perspectives, enriching the discussion and shedding light on how EO risk reduction can effectively foster the uptake of emerging technologies and methodologies.
Theme 5: Agricultural Land Release in Ukraine: Outcome-based solutions
Ukraine, considered a breadbasket of the world, is a major producer and exporter of agricultural products. However, the stark increase in potential explosive ordnance contamination in farmlands poses a direct threat to farmers (accidents), and to Ukraine's economy, as well as indirectly impacts global food supply chains. The resulting surge in food prices worldwide has raised concerns about a possible food crisis, particularly in developing and least developed countries.
Recognising the urgency of the situation, the international community, in collaboration with stakeholders engaged in explosive ordnance risk reduction, has acknowledged the need to take swift action. This rapid response has led to a swift increase in capacity and funding but more needed to address the current challenges. A sustainable, results-focused approach requires rethinking processes, procedures, and technologies to improve the quality of the efforts, in addition to the quantity.
Restoring the safe access to Ukraine's agricultural land is vital for not only to protect civilians from the dangers of EO, but also for the country's economic sustainability and for global food security. Join us at the upcoming conference session to explore practical solutions and pave the way for a sustainable future.
THEME 6: ADVANCING AMMUNITION MANAGEMENT THROUGH INNOVATIVE APPROACHES, TOOLS AND TECHNOLOGIES
Understanding innovation in the context of ammunition management is crucial, especially in the evolving landscape at international level. This session aims to facilitate a discussion on the meaning of innovation in the context of ammunition management and to showcase existing and potential innovative approaches, tools, and technological advancements. A diverse panel of experts will share insights on high-tech and low-tech solutions, the limitations of these solutions, and how they can be leveraged to address the challenges posed by inadequately managed conventional ammunition.
The session will look at innovation in a lens of the developments at international level through the work of the UN Open-ended Working Group (OEWG) on Conventional Ammunition. Addressing the risks of inadequate conventional ammunition management – namely diversion to illicit markets and unplanned explosions at munition sites - requires innovative solutions to ensure safe, secure, and sustainable policies and practices. Earlier this year, the OEWG completed its work developing a set of political commitments as a new global framework to address existing gaps in through-life ammunition management.
The final report of the OEWG contains a new international instrument, The Global Framework for Through-life Conventional Ammunition Management, which was negotiated in 2022 and 2023. Endorsement by the UN General Assembly at its 78th session would fill the gap of a dedicated regulatory instrument on conventional ammunition at the international level.
The OEWG report highlights innovation as a key element for advancing adequate through-life management of conventional ammunition, not only limiting it to technological development but recognising that in some contexts low-tech measures would be more useful, and potentially more impactful and sustainable.
Innovation Conference Photos
Tuesday 14 November photos
Wednesday 15 November photos
Thursday 16 November photos
Conference Programme
Tuesday 14/11
09:00 - 10:00
Registration
Room: Entrance
10:00 - 10:45
Room: A
Opening Remarks: Ambassador Stefano Toscano - Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining and Mr. Jonas Pasquier, Deputy Head Multilateral Affairs – Swiss Permanent Mission to the United Nations and International Organisations, Geneva
Setting the Stage / Framing the Issue: Mr. Valon Kumnova - Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining
10:45 - 11:15
Coffee Break / Exhibiton
Room: Exhibition Hall
11:15 - 13:00
Connecting the Dots between Innovation and Standards
Mr. Dominik Müller
Assistant Branch Chief for the Detection of Explosive Ordnance and IEDs - Bundeswehr Technical Center for Protective and Special Technologies
Speakers:
Mr. Samir Poladov
Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action
Mr. Andrew Wilkins
Director of Business Development - Countermine Division, Minelab Americas, Inc
Mr. Jonathon Guthrie
Norwegian People's Aid
Ms. Jovana Carapic
Programme Manager - Ammunition Management Advisory Team - Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining
13:00 - 14:30
Lunch
Room: Restaurant - 1st Floor
14:30 - 15:15
Speed Pitch Session - Short presentations on technologies and innovative ideas/projects
Speed Pitch Session - Short presentations on technologies and innovative ideas/projects
Room: A
Alford Technologies
Project Yellowstone Update
Disarmament Solutions
Sustainable Destruction Technology and Mine Action Capacity Building in Ukraine
Force Ware GmbH
Protection Boot BCB2, the Mine Protection Suit MPS2 Advanced and Demining Suit MPS2
VEA Systems Consortium
Mapping of Field Contamination for Agrarian Mine Action
DXN EOD Tech Co., Ltd.
Laser Application in Landmine/UXO
MiFi Maps
Comprehensive Accuracy for Mine Action
SAFER
SAFER Shoes - Anti Mines/IED PPE
15:15 - 17:00
Harnessing Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC)
Ms. Céline Cheng
Advisor - Explosive Ordnance Risk Education - Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining
Speakers:
Ms. Sonia Whitehead
Head of Research - BBC Media Action
Ms. Clémence Quint
Co-Founder and Chief Operations Officer - MAGENTA
Mr. Tomas Jensen
Director - Rain Barrel Communications
Mr. Michael Mwendwa
Disability Inclusion - International Committee of the Red Cross
17:00 - 17:30
Exhibition
Room: Exhibition Hall
17:30 - 19:00
Ice-Breaker Event / Reception
Room: Ella Maillart Hall
Speakers
Mr. Dominik Müller
Assistant Branch Chief for the Detection of Explosive Ordnance and IEDs, Bundeswehr Technical Center for Protective and Special Technologies
Mr. Dominik Müller
Assistant Branch Chief for the Detection of Explosive Ordnance and IEDs
Bundeswehr Technical Center for Protective and Special Technologies
Since 2020 I have been working for the Bundeswehr Technical Center for Protective and Special Technologies. As assistant branch chief for the detection of explosive ordnance and IEDs, the focus of my work is on two subject areas. The first area is the evaluation and testing of sensor systems. I am therefore responsible for the operation of a specialized test facility for examining explosive ordnance detectors under reproducible environment conditions. My second task is to carry out research projects for the further development of sensor systems. For this purpose, we are working together with research institutes on future detection systems. The development of standards is particularly important in both areas. I am involved in national and international working groups for the development of standardized measurement methods.
Mr. Samir Poladov
Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action
Mr. Samir Poladov
Deputy Chairman of the Board
Mine Action Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ANAMA).
Mr. Samir Poladov serves as the Deputy Chairman of the Board at Mine Action Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ANAMA). Born on April 25, 1977, he completed his bachelor degree in International Relations at Baku State University in 1997.
Initially, he gained professional experience in private organizations from 1997 to 1999. From 1999 to 2019, Mr. Samir Poladov held various positions, including planning and contracts specialist, operations specialist, and Head of the Operations Department at Mine Action Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the position of Head of Operations in several international mine action programs. In recognition of his outstanding contributions, he was awarded the "Taraggi” Medal in 2016, a prestigious honor bestowed by Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
On March 12, 2021, through the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Mr. Samir Poladov was appointed as the Deputy Chairman of the Board at the Mine Action Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Mr. Andrew Wilkins
Director of Business Development - Countermine Division, Minelab Americas, Inc.
Mr. Andrew Wilkins
Director of Business Development - Countermine Division
Minelab Americas, Inc
Andrew Wilkins is the Director of Business Development for Minelab’s Countermine Division and has worked with Minelab for over seven years. Andrew’s responsibilities include supporting Minelab’s international demining efforts and new product development. Andrew has nearly 15 years’ experience working with militaries, non-governmental organizations, commercial demining companies, and the United Nations.
From 2009-2014, Andrew served as the handheld detector subject matter expert at the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (JIEDDO) in the United States (US) Department of Defense. Andrew was responsible for equipping the US military with cutting-edge explosive hazard detection capabilities. Prior to joining JIEDDO, Andrew was Deputy Director of Presidential Support at the White House in President George W. Bush’s administration.
Andrew received a bachelor’s degree in political economy from Tulane University and a master’s in business administration from George Washington University.
Mr. Jonathon Guthrie
Director of Operations, Norwegian People Aid
Mr. Jonathon Guthrie
Director of Operations
Norwegian People`s Aid
Jonathon Guthrie served in the Australian Army for 12 years as Military Engineer. During serving, he gained extensive experience as a trainer, supervisor and manager of EOD operations including multiple operational tours. For the past 19 years, Jonathon has been working in Mine Action, the first four of which being in the commercial sector in South East Asia. Following this Jonathon has been working in Humanitarian Mine Action, employed in numerous roles and locations with Norwegian People’s Aid, from Country Director in Georgia, Vietnam and Iraq, Senior Technical Advisor to the Vietnam Mine Action Centre, to Global Director of Operations, a position he has held for the past two years. He has been involved in the IMAS review board, most recently chairing the Technical Working Group on developing competencies for Deminers, Team Leaders and Supervisors; instrumental in the development of the Cluster Munitions Remnants Survey (CMRS), and has been published in the Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction.
Ms. Jovana Carapic
Programme Manager - Ammunition Management Advisory Team, Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining
Ms. Jovana Carapic
Programme Manager - Ammunition Management Advisory Team
Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining
Jovana Carapic joined the GICHD in June 2019. As Programme Manager within the newly-formed Ammunition Management Advisory Team (AMAT), she implements AMAT's four-year strategy by coordinating activities and developing partnerships with donor governments, national authorities and relevant international and regional organisations. Moreover, she provides programmatic and policy advice and technical support on ammunition management as requested by States.
Prior to joining AMAT, Jovana was a researcher at the Geneva-based Small Arms Survey. She worked on various projects within the field of weapons and ammunition management, with a focus on South-east Europe. She has authored several publications on ammunition life-cycle management, unplanned explosions at munitions sites, as well as training and capacity building in physical security and stockpile management.
Jovana holds a PhD in political science from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva. Her dissertation unpacked the state–armed group relationship with a focus on armed group dynamics in East-Timor, Nepal and Serbia. Fieldwork has taken her to Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America.
Ms. Céline Cheng
Advisor - Explosive Ordnance Risk Education, Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining
Ms. Céline Cheng
Advisor - Explosive Ordnance Risk Education
Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining
Céline Cheng joined the GICHD in February 2023 as an EORE Advisor. In this capacity, she provides technical assistance to partners at global and country level, leads the development and delivery of EORE trainings/workshops, conducts research on key challenges identified, explores innovative approaches, and provides support to standard and strategy developments.
Céline has worked in Humanitarian Mine Action since 2011 in various capacities with NGOs and the UN in Africa, the Middle East and Europe. In her most recent role, she was Humanity & Inclusion (HI)’s global EORE Specialist, developing and leading HI’s global EORE strategy and ensuring overall technical quality of EORE activities at HI. She has also been the NGO co-chair of the EORE Advisory Group.
Céline holds a master’s degree in human Rights and Humanitarian Action from the Paris School of International Affairs (Sciences Po Paris).
Ms. Sonia Whitehead
Head of Research, BBC Media Action
Ms. Sonia Whitehead
Head of Research
BBC Media Action
Sonia Whitehead is BBC Media Action's Head of Research– the BBC’s international development charity. She oversees research conducted by a team of researchers in 15 country offices to inform, refine and evaluate BBC Media Action’s work. With over 20 years research experience conducting fieldwork in the UK, India, and East Africa, she has strong experience understanding people to inform media and communication to support social and behaviour change. This has included overseeing research to inform and evaluate EORE interventions in Afghanistan and Ukraine.
Ms. Clémence Quint
Co-Founder and Chief Operations Officer, MAGENTA
Ms. Clémence Quint
Co-Founder and Chief Operations Officer
MAGENTA
Clemence is co-founder and COO of MAGENTA, a social and behavioural change (SBC) consultancy in the Global South. MAGENTA helps people make better decisions by applying the latest in behavioural sciences. Since 2017, MAGENTA has carried out over 100 projects in 35 countries across the world, with a focus on conflict-affected and fragile settings.
Driven by the belief that recent leaps in behavioural science should not be restricted to policy-making in the West, Clemence co-founded MAGENTA to bring these insights to bear on the major development and humanitarian challenges of our age, including Explosive Ordnance Risk Education.
When not spending time in MAGENTA’s offices in Amman, Erbil, Tunis or Mexico City, Clemence lives in Marseille, where she enjoys sailing. She holds a Master’s in International Relations from Sciences Po Lille. She has previously worked at the French embassy in Beirut, Save the Children, and ACTED. She is a UNHCR-appointed judge at the French asylum appeals court.
Mr. Tomas Jensen
Director, Rain Barrel Communications
Mr. Tomas Jensen
Director
Rain Barrel Communications
Tomas Jensen, a Danish national residing in Cairns, Australia, is a social and behaviour change specialist and project manager. He has extensive experience in designing, managing, and documenting large- and small-scale social impact initiatives in Asia, the Pacific and in Africa. Tomas’ work focuses on child development, social inclusion, community engagement, emergency preparedness, and climate change adaptation. He values achieving results through participatory communication, co-creation, and coaching.
Tomas is a creative workshop facilitator and team leader, and he works across all media types, platforms, and formats. He has an MA in communication and international development, certificates in advocacy, networking and digital marketing, and 17 years’ experience as a UNICEF staff member based in Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Fiji.
Mr. Michael Mwendwa
Advisor - Disability Inclusion, International Committee of the Red Cross
Mr. Michael Mwendwa
Advisor - Disability Inclusion
International Committee of the Red Cross
Michael Mwendwa is the Disability Inclusion Advisor within the Accountability to Affected People (AAP) Unit at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). He is based in Geneva. His role is to coordinate the implementation of the organization’s Strategy on Disability inclusion, Vision 2030 on disability. ICRC’s Vision 2030 on Disability is a ten-year cross-organizational strategy on disability inclusion that aims to transform the way the ICRC addresses disability inclusion across the organization and its operations.
Michael is a disability inclusion expert with a background in inclusive education. He has over 20 years of experience in disability inclusion in both development and humanitarian programs. Before joining the ICRC, he managed social inclusion programs and lectured in Inclusive Education in his home country Kenya. He also contributed his expertise to CBM, serving as their Disability Inclusion Advisor for Africa Central and East.
Ms. Camille Wallen
Co-Founder and Director, Symbio Impact Ltd.
Ms. Camille Wallen
Co-Founder and Director
Symbio Impact Ltd.
Camille is Co-Founder and Director of Symbio Impact Ltd, a sustainable financing and strategy consultancy. Camille is also a Founding Director of the Mine Action Finance Initiative, a non-profit focussing on developing innovative finance solutions for mine action.
Camille’s experience is in senior leadership, developing and delivering complex organisational strategy, impact monitoring and evaluation, development finance and resource mobilisation strategies. She has over 11 years’ experience working worked with the mine action sector, most recently as Director of Strategy for The HALO Trust until 2022. She has pioneered the exploration of large-scale innovative financing solutions for the mine action sector and is a member of the Humanitarian Finance Forum.
She has lived and worked across Europe, South and South East Asia, Africa and Latin America and holds a BA(Hons) and an MSc from the University of Bath in International Development Economics.
Dr. Bettina Boekle
Head of Partnerships for Finance for Peace - Interpeace
Dr. Bettina Boekle
Head of Partnerships for Finance for Peace
Interpeace
Dr. Bettina Boekle is the new Head of Partnerships for Finance for Peace, an initiative incubated by the international peacebuilding organization Interpeace that she joined in October 2023. Bettina has 17 years of professional experience as a social impact, gender or senior social safeguards manager in private sector operations for the Inter-American Development Bank, IDB, the International Finance Corporation, IFC (HQ and Ghana), and the KfW Group in Germany (DEG Invest).
Bettina holds a PhD and a master’s degree in political science from the Free University of Berlin, as well as a second Master's in International Relations and International Economics from JHU/SAIS where she serves as an adjunct lecturer. Her academic work has focused on social cohesion, social movements and women's rights in Latin America, as well as on education policy, politics and federalism in Brazil. She is fluent in six languages, has worked and lived on four continents and loves the outdoors.
Mr. Juan Carlos
Director, Implementation Support Unit –
Anti-Personal Mine Ban Convention
Mr. Juan Carlos
Director
Implementation Support Unit – Anti-Personal Mine Ban Convention
Juan Carlos Ruan has worked in the implementation of the Convention for more than 20 years. He was appointed Director of the Implementation Support Unit in June 2016, after having served as Acting Director (2015). Prior to this he was the ISU Mine Action Implementation Specialist (2007-2015) in charge of providing technical advice and support to States Parties.
Prior to joining the Implementation Support Unit, Juan Carlos worked for the Organization of American States (OAS) where he supported the mine clearance programmes in Central America and South America. While at OAS, he supported logistic preparations for the training of the first humanitarian demining platoon of the Colombian Armed Forces and managed the clearance of the last mined areas in Suriname, allowing Suriname to declare completion of its APMBC Article 5 obligations.
Juan Carlos also worked with the Inter-American Défense Board and Inter-American Defense College in Washington DC as Protocol and Public Relations advisor to the Chairman, Major General Carl Freeman. In addition, he held tenures with humanitarian organizations involved in disaster management, and the (at the time) Mine Action Information Center of James Madison University in the United States.
Juan Carlos Ruan was born in Ottawa, Canada to Colombian parents and has an M.A. in International Relations from the University of Kent’s Brussels School of International Studies in Canterbury, England; and, a B.A. in Sociology from St. Mary’s University in Halifax, Canada.
Mr. Ola Medelberg
Program Officer for Guarantees, Swedish International Development Cooperation
Mr. Ola Medelberg
Program Officer for Guarantees
Swedish International Development Cooperation
Ola Medelberg works as Program Officer for Guarantees at the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). In this position, he is responsible for the development of Sida’s portfolio of guarantees with a global scope. Before joining Sida, Ola worked for 10 years at the Swedish Ministry of Finance and Central Bank, focusing notably on issues related to Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) and International Financial Institutions (IFIs).
Ms. Carol Piot
Special Adviser to the Board of Directors, International Finance Facility for Immunisation, and Founding Member, Humanitarian Finance Forum
Ms. Carol Piot
Special Adviser to the Board of Directors (International Finance Facility for Immunisation) and Founding Member (Humanitarian Finance Forum)
Carol Piot, with 25 years of treasury management and innovative finance experience, is the Special Adviser to the Board of Directors of the International Finance Facility for Immunisation (IFFIm). She is the liaison between the IFFIm Board and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the World Bank, donors, and stakeholders.
IFFIm is a UK-based charity that issues bonds on international capital markets to raise funding for Gavi immunisation programs, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), and the Gavi COVAX AMC. IFFIm has issued over US$8 billion through 40 transactions in 8 currencies since 2006.
In addition to her work at IFFIm, she is a founding member of the Humanitarian Finance Forum (HFF) Working Group, fostering cross-sector collaboration by connecting humanitarian actors with relevant financial entities seeking to contribute, through the financial markets, to humanitarian and social causes.
Mr. Alexander Wiese
Co-Founder & Global Head of Finance & Risk Management - Mine Action Finance Initiative (MAFI)
Mr. Alexander Wiese
Co-Founder & Global Head of Finance & Risk Management - Mine Action Finance Initiative (MAFI)
Alexander Wiese is a Sustainable Finance Expert with close to 20 years of experience in structuring nature and climate related financial solutions and mechanisms across the globe. Alexander is also a Founding Director of the Mine Action Finance Initiative, a non-profit focussing on developing innovative finance solutions for mine action.
He has worked as an advisory to Ministries of Economy, Finance and Environment in Kyrgystan, Pakistan, Mongolia, Ukruguay, Paraguay, Costa Rica and Fiji, as well as with international institutions (UNDP, UNEP-FI, WB and EIB) and municipalities, around Nature,Climate and SDG Finance.
Alexander has extensive expertise in the agri-food sector, working on agricultural fund structuring and project selection in the agricultural sector across multiple continents (Latin America, Southeast Asia and the EU). He’s also experienced in sovereign debt structuring, especially Debt for nature/ Climate Swaps, SDG Bonds, Green and Blue Bonds, and Sustainability linked bonds, and stron expertise in sustainability standards and guidelines.
Mr. Arnold Schoolderman
Senior Project and Program Manager - Electronic Defence, Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research
Mr. Arnold Schoolderman
Senior Project and Program Manager
Electronic Defence - The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research
Dr. Arnold Schoolderman is a senior project and program manager in the group ‘Electronic Defence’, of TNO, the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research. Arnold has been the manager of several 4-year research programs on landmines, mobility and countermobility, and countering improvised explosive devices, that were conducted by order of the Netherlands MoD. Currently he is program manager of the 4-year program ‘Countering the current and future IED threat’, that started in January 2021. As part of these programs he initiated and chaired/co-chaired several Task Groups on C-IED technologies under the NATO Science and Technology Organisation (STO), for which he received a SCI-Panel Excellence Award and a STO Scientific Achievement Award. He is Member-at-Large for the topic C-IED in the Systems, Concepts and Integration (SCI) Panel of STO. Under the NATO MILENG WG he initiated and co-chaired a Team of Experts on Technologies for Military Search. He is involved in the NATO Science for Peace and Security Program as NATO Project Director of projects on demining and explosive hazards clearance with Egypt, Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Ms. Angela De Santis
Deputy Head of Operations, Foundation Suisse de Deminage
Ms. Angela De Santis
Deputy Head of Operations
Foundation Suisse de Deminage
With two decades of extensive professional experience spanning mine action, crisis management and humanitarian aid, Angela De Santis currently holds the position of Deputy Head of Operations at FSD, having previously worked as FSD Country Director for Colombia for four years. Her career also includes roles as Advisor and Regional Focal Point at GICHD, humanitarian demining consultant, and Program Manager for different organizations in the sector. Angela's strong background has cultivated a deep understanding of mine action programs in Africa, Central Asia and Latin America. Her academic credentials include a PhD in remote sensing, GIS and cartography, an international master's degree in NGO management, international cooperation and humanitarian aid, along with a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
Dr. Panagiotis Kikiras
European Defence Agency
Dr. Panagiotis Kikiras
Head of Unit Technology and Innovation
European Defence Agency
Dr. Panagiotis Kikiras is Head of Unit Technology and Innovation at the Research Technology and Innovation Directorate at the European Defence Agency (EDA). He has more than 20 years of experience in computer and network engineering with strong emphasis in IoT, wireless sensors architectures and analytics, embedded systems, wearables, cyber defence, security and privacy and in mission critical C4ISR systems.
Prior to EDA, Panagiotis hold a number of leading positons in industry, governmental agencies and in academia. From his tenure in governmental agencies he gained significant expertise in managing complex European and National projects in the areas of homeland security and defense and in the design, development and management of large scale sensor based mission critical IT Systems. In European Defence Agency he was responsible for the development of the Agency’s innovation network which recently led to the creation of the European Defence Innovation Hub (HEDI). In Academia he is Adj. Assoc. Professor at the department of Computer Science of the Univ. of Thessaly in Greece, where he created, and was the Technical Director, of the Wireless Sensor Sensing Laboratory. In industry he hold a leading management position at a research center of a leading innovative multinational company with track record of creating value both to customers, by delivering turnkey innovative solutions, and to research excellence by managing a research team which created new intellectual property and scientific knowledge in terms of patents and scientific publications.
Panagiotis has published more than 70 papers in scientific peer-reviewed journals and conferences in the areas of IoT architectures and analytics, cyber defence, security and privacy and is a Senior Member of the IEEE.
He is a graduate of the Hellenic Army Military Academy and holds an MSc in Management and Economics of Communication Networks from the Univ. of Athens and an MSc and PHD in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens.
Ms. Nora Allgaier
Political Affairs Officer - United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs
Ms. Nora Allgaier
Political Affairs Officer (United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs)
Nora Allgaier is a Political Affairs Officer in the Conventional Arms Branch of UN Office for Disarmament Affairs. Nora previously served in the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) Section in the Department of Peace Operations (DPO), as well as the UN Women Multi-Country Office for India, Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka in New Delhi, where she supported the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Programme. Prior to joining the United Nations, she worked on mine action issues with the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining and DanChurchAid. Nora holds a Master of Science in Comparative Politics (Conflict Studies) from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from the University of Geneva.
Ms. Danielle Payne
Mine Action Programmes Officer, Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining
Ms. Danielle Payne
Mine Action Programmes Officer
Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining
Danielle Payne joined the GICHD in February 2022, currently working as Mine Action Programmes Officer. In this role, she works closely with the Chief of Mine Action Programmes (CMAP) to support the overall functioning and continued development of the Mine Action Programmes Directorate, which includes the Divisions of Standards and Operations, Information Management, Inclusive Risk Reduction and Strategies, Performance and Impact. She furthermore provides diverse support on matters related to institutional development, donor relations and partnerships with diverse stakeholders.
Prior to joining the GICHD, Danielle Payne had been working for the International Organization for Migration in Côte d'Ivoire with a focus on cross-cutting programme support as well as on the specific topics of border management and counter-trafficking. She also previously worked on emergency preparedness for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
Danielle Payne holds an MA in International Relations from the Université Jean Moulin in Lyon, France. She also holds a BA in International Studies from the State University of New York at Cortland.
Mr. Rory Logan
Head of Strategies, Performance and Impact, Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining
Mr. Rory Logan
Head of Strategies, Performance and Impact
Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining
Rory Logan joined the GICHD in September 2015, he currently works as Head of the Strategies, Performance and Impact Division. The division focuses on cross-cutting issues such as strategic planning, results based management, monitoring and evaluation, training and reporting on results. It is also responsible for designing, coordinating and managing comprehensive country programmes for a selection of GICHD partner countries.
In his time at the Centre he has provided advisory services on a number of key thematic and has previously served Secretary of the International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) Review Board. Prior to joining the GICHD, Rory managed mine action and weapons and ammunition management operations in South Sudan and Lebanon for NPA (2013-2015), and Somalia (Somaliland), Mozambique, Cambodia, Georgia and Angola for HALO Trust (2008-2013). Rory has a MA in Peacebuilding from Coventry University and a BA (hons) in Geography from The University of Manchester.
Mr. Charlie Valentine
Co-Founder, EODynamics
Mr. Charlie Valentine
Co-Founder
EODynamics
Charlie Valentine started working in the EOD community with the United States Marine Corps and United States Special Operations Command. He then worked as a consultant advising the US Army in Europe on explosive threats, emerging technologies, and organizational counter explosive threat training in Europe and Africa. Charlie left the military realm where he trained and led a humanitarian IED Defeat team with Danish Refugee Council in Iraq and more recently co-founded EODynamics, a technology company that provides Augmented Reality and software solutions for the EOD and humanitarian demining community.
His experiences working in remote areas from South East Asia to Africa and the Middle East has galvanized his passion for both the welfare of communities scarred by explosive ordnance and practical usage of technologies to alleviate suffering and restore contaminated land.
Ms. Erin Atkinson
Project Manager & Geophysicist, Tetra Tech, Inc.
Ms. Erin Atkinson
Project Manager & Geophysicist
Tetra Tech, Inc.
Erin Atkinson is a Tetra Tech project manager and geophysicist with 15 years of experience in munitions response and environmental remediation. She spent her postgraduate years as a field archaeologist in the southwestern United States. Her early professional career included ten years as a field geophysicist supporting the U.S. Department of Defense's Military Munitions Response Program (MMRP) projects across the United States. Since 2019, she has managed the U.S. Department of State's Worldwide Weapons Destruction Support Services Task Order in Iraq, providing humanitarian mine action services across the country. She has degrees in archaeology, geography, and environmental science from the University of Texas at Austin and sits on the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) Review Board.
Mr. Jasper Baur
Co-Founder & President - Demining Research Community and Lead Scientist - Safe Pro AI
Mr. Jasper Baur
Co-Founder & President
Demining Research Community & Lead Scientist - Safe Pro AI
Jasper Baur is the Co-founder and President of the non-profit organization Demining Research Community and the Lead Scientist of Safe Pro AI. He is also a PhD candidate at Columbia University studying remote sensing applied to explosive hazard mitigation ranging from detecting small anti-personnel landmines to monitoring Alaskan volcanoes. He graduated from Binghamton University in 2020 with a BS in Geological Sciences, and a Masters from Columbia University in 2022 in physical volcanology. He has received numerous awards for his work in landmine detection and is always striving to innovate in the humanitarian mine action space. He is an FAA 107 certified UAS remote pilot and has months of fieldwork experience in remote environments.
Mr. Abdul Hamid Ibrahimi
Explosive Ordnance Risk Education, Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining
Mr. Abdul Hamid Ibrahimi
Explosive Ordnance Risk Education
Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining
Abdul Hamid Ibrahimi joined the GICHD in January 2023 and holds the position of Advisor, Explosive Ordnance Risk Education.
In this role, he provides technical assistance and advice on EORE to external partners, conducts research, drafts publications and guidance on risk education, reviews documents and standards (including IMAS, TNMAs and NMAS) and represents the EORE programme on inter-divisional or project/country-based working groups.
Prior to joining GICHD, he was Head of Explosive Ordnance Risk Education Department for the UN - Humanitarian Mine Action Coordination Centre for Afghanistan. Hamid has more than eighteen years of professional experience in working for humanitarian mine action, emergency response and education sectors. He holds a master’s in business administration from Kardan University, Afghanistan and he’s an ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System Lead Auditor.
Ms. Veronika Chechotkina
Project Manager, East Europe Foundation
Ms. Veronika Chechotkina
Project Manager
East Europe Foundation
Veronika Chechotkina is a Project Manager at East Europe Foundation (EEF). Since joining EEF in 2015, Veronika has played a key role in delivering numerous high-impact projects related to online services and electronic democracy instruments. With the full-scale invasion of Russia into Ukraine, she successfully coordinated programs aimed at raising awareness among citizens about mine dangers as well as chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats (CBRN hazards). Before joining EEF, Veronika worked as a Senior Expert in the Department of International Cooperation and European Integration at the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.
Mr. Alfonso Otoya Mejia
General Director, Fundación Barco
Mr. Alfonso Otoya Mejia
General Director
Fundación Barco
Alfonso Otoya Mejía is an economist from Universidad Javeriana with a Master's in Business Administration (MBA) from Babson College. He has over 15 years of professional experience in social and financial sector companies. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated leadership in processes aimed at strengthening social development and creating opportunities for growth. Among other positions, he has served as the Director of the Vallecaucano Business Group, the Manager of the Green Corridor at the Foundation for Integral Development of the Pacific, and the Director of Administrative Development at the Cali City Hall (2012-2014).
Since joining the Barco Foundation, first as a member of the Board of Directors and later as the General Director, he has led the transformation and modernization of the organization, focusing efforts on seeking innovative and effective solutions to improve access to quality education for girls, boys, adolescents, and young people, as well as enhancing school attendance. Convinced of the need to unite talents, experiences, and knowledge, he has promoted alliances with businesses, public entities, and non-profit organizations to transform the way education and social development challenges are overcome in Colombia.
Ms. Wendi Pedersen
Advisor - GIS Solutions, Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining
Ms. Wendi Pedersen
Advisor - GIS Solutions
Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining
Wendi Pedersen joined the GICHD in 2015 as a GIS and Remote Sensing specialist. She provides IM advisory support, develops and conducts trainings, and provides GIS and Remote Sensing services, as well as cartographic support, for GICHD.
Prior to joining the GICHD, Wendi worked for UNITAR-UNOSAT. Based at CERN, she was a Remote Sensing and Geospatial analyst for six years, providing analysis on disaster events and human security. She also developed custom GIS systems for humanitarian organizations. In addition, Wendi developed and delivered Remote Sensing training courses offered by UNOSAT. Prior to UNITAR-UNOSAT, Wendi worked for The UN High Commission for Refugees in its Field Information and Coordination Support Section.
Wendi has a degree in Environmental Studies and Resource Management as well as a degree in Geoinformatics and a certificate in Restoration Ecology from the University of Washington.
Ms. Lina Castillo Mendez
Advisor, Operations Management - Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining
Ms. Lina Castillo Méndez
Advisor, Operational Management
Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining
Lina Castillo Méndez joined GICHD as an Advisor for the Standards and Operations Division in May 2023. She provides advice and support to the capacity development of national authorities and other mine action partners in developing efficient and effective operational methodologies. She also supports training and research to promote operational efficiency in mine action programmes.
Lina Castillo Méndez started working in mine action when she joined the Colombian NMAA in 2010 as an Operations Planning Advisor. In 2011 she joined GICHD as a Mine Action Programme Officer in the Standards Section for a year. Afterwards, Lina returned to Colombia to work with the Organization of American States in its MA Mission as Chief of the Monitoring Body. In 2017 she joined UNMAS Colombia as an Operations and Training Officer, then became Quality Management Coordinator and finally, she oversaw all project’s implementation as Head of Projects Unit.
Lina Castillo Méndez is an Industrial Engineer from Universidad de La Sabana, a Certified Business from James Madison University, and is IMAS EOD Level 3 qualified.
Ambassador Stefano Toscano
Director - Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining
Ambassador Stefano Toscano
Director
Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining
Ambassador Stefano Toscano has been the Director of the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) since January 2014. He brings to the Centre extensive experience in multilateral diplomacy and human security affairs following a rich career with the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Under his leadership, the GICHD is well positioned to address a broad range of topics.
From 1998 to 2002, as diplomatic collaborator in Berne, Stefano Toscano was responsible for the dossier small arms and light weapons during which time he grew familiar with the importance and potential of the humanitarian disarmament agenda. This experience was an opportunity to establish close contacts with actors working on the small arms issue and to participate in the discussions and work that led to the creation of the Small Arms Survey in 1999.
From 2002 to 2006, Stefano Toscano worked as a Counsellor at the Swiss Mission to the UN in New York, where he was in charge of humanitarian, environmental and migration affairs. He also served as Vice Chairman of the 2nd Committee of the UN General Assembly. After returning to Switzerland in 2006, Stefano Toscano was Head of Section, Humanitarian Policy and Migration, at the Human Security Division of the Political Directorate, then Deputy Head of Division. In the three and a half years before joining the GICHD, Stefano Toscano was the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Swiss Embassy in Cairo.
Stefano Toscano holds a PhD in Natural Science from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETHZ) and a Master in International Relations from the University of San Diego.
Mr. Emile LeBrun
Director of Programmes - Tech 4 Tracing
Emile LeBrun
Director of Programmes
Tech 4 Tracing
Emile LeBrun is Director of Programmes for Tech 4 Tracing (T4T), a NGO partnership between arms control experts and new technology professionals that incubates, tests and helps deploy new technology-based solutions for arms and ammunition detection, identification, and mapping. He has more than twenty years' experience as an arms control policy expert, and is a senior consultant for the Small Arms Survey, where he coordinates the Survey's multi-year project on arms proliferation in and around Afghanistan. He has previously coordinated projects on arms management in peace operations and on armed violence in South Sudan, and has authored or co-authored dozens of peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. He has a master’s degree in Philosophy from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland.
Mr. Lee Moroney
Global PSSM (Physical Security & Stockpile Management) Director and Coordinator European Programs - Golden West Humanitarian Foundation
Mr. Lee Moroney
Global PSSM (Physical Security & Stockpile Management) Director and Coordinator European Programs
Golden West Humanitarian Foundation
Lee is the Global PSSM (Physical Security & Stockpile Management) Director for Golden West Humanitarian Foundation (HF) and also the European Coordinator for programs. He is currently based out of Bratislava, Slovakia. Golden West is a US founded, US based INGO specializing in capacity building, training, innovation, and SME advisory support in the areas of PSSM and EOD.
He served as a Senior Ammunition Technician (ATO) in the British Army specializing in Ammunition Management, C-IED and EOD, serving in operations in Northern Ireland, Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Afghanistan and Iraq before joining the civilian world of HMA (Humanitarian Mine Action) in 2005.
Over the past 18 years he has managed HMA Programs in South Sudan, Lao PDR, Vietnam, Thailand, North Macedonia, Moldova and Cambodia. He is currently managing the Golden West PSSM support to EUCOM HMA in Albania, Georgia, Moldova, and (pre-conflict) Ukraine, and AFRICOM in Zambia. He is also coordinating Golden West SME support to EUCOM HMA EOD Training in Albania, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine and Croatia.
He is a member of the Institute of Explosive Engineers and holds a master’s degree in diplomacy and international policy focusing on civil societies impact on Arms Control and Disarmament.
Mr. Alexey Dobrovolskiy
Chief Technical Officer, Member of The Board, and Co-Founder - SPH Engineering
Mr. Alexey Dobrovolskiy
Chief Technical Officer, Member of The Board, and Co-Founder
SPH Engineering
Alexey Dobrovolskiy is Chief Technical Officer, Member of The Board, and Co-Founder at SPH Engineering, a multiproduct drone software company and UAV integration services provider. Since founding SPH Engineering in 2013, he has introduced several globally recognized solutions, like software to manage drone shows and drone-based industrial product lines. Alexey is responsible for strategy management and development and liaises with a few main customers. He also spends much time in the field, testing SPH's solutions in real-life scenarios.
Before founding SPH Engineering, Alexey had gained 20+ years of experience in the software industry. He graduated from one of the leading tech universities in Eastern Europe and started his career as a software developer. Later, he acted as a senior project manager and team lead.
The primary focus revolved around crafting software solutions for various industries, with project sizes spanning from just a few users to tens of thousands.
Mr. Xavier Depreytere
Innovation Project Manager - Humanity and Inclusion
Mr. Xavier Depreytere
Innovation Project Manager
Humanity and Inclusion
Xavier Depreytere joined Handicap International/Humanity & Inclusion in 2018 as an Innovation Project Manager. He has led the design and strategic development of the Odyssey2025 project, which aims to deploy small drones to facilitate and accelerate land release operations. Within this initiative, he supervised the implementation of trials in real-world scenarios in over 250 hazardous areas, spanning regions such as Chad, Lebanon, Iraq, North-East Syria, and most recently, Ukraine. These trials have resulted in numerous breakthroughs for the Humanitarian Mine Action sector, resulting in the finding of more than 10,000 landmines and other explosive remnants of war. Xavier holds a master's degree in biosystems engineering from the University of Mons, Belgium.
Mr. Michael Nevard
Head of Research and Development - The HALO Trust
Mr. Michael Nevard
Head of Research and Development
The HALO Trust
Michael joined The HALO Trust in 2007 and has worked in a variety of roles around the world. He leads HALO’s global team of specialists who develop and test equipment and methodologies for the clearance of landmines and other explosive ordnance. He has been closely involved with projects in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America with a particular focus on detection technology including the widescale adoption of ground penetrating radar. He and his team also conduct research into drones and remote sensing, remote control machinery, mechanical solutions, ordnance disposal tools and more. Michael has also represented HALO on IMAS technical working groups. HALO works with a variety of partners to develop ways of clearing explosive hazards, safely, efficiently, and effectively.
Mr. John Shanahan
CEO - MRead Limited
Mr. John Shanahan
CEO
MRead Limited
John has an extensive military career in the British and Australian Armies and is highly experienced in operating in high threat environments. Throughout his military career he has served in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. He has deep knowledge of mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and set up the Joint EOD Group in Iraq in 2003 that was awarded the Wilkinson Sword of Peace Special Award for its humanitarian de-mining work in which the Group had safely disposed of over half a million munitions. He has been involved in clearing mines and IEDs for many years, either in the field or procuring equipment for these operations. Having seen the traumatic effects of them at first hand, something needs to change and he is delighted to be able to partner with this team and its innovative technology to make real and lasting change.
Mr. Alejandro Pérez
Director of Operations - Colombian Campaign to Ban Landmines
Alejando Pérez Álvarez is Director of Operations at the Colombian Campaign to ban Landmines (CCBL). He oversees all operations of the CCBL, currently present in 11 Municipalities in Colombia. He joined the CCBL in 2018 after a military career in the Chilean Army which he commenced in 1994.
His expertise is primarily concentrated in the field of explosives and minefields, where he acquired specialized designations such as Programmer and Calculator of controlled blasting, Expert in Explosives and Minefields, and EOD Instructor (Hoyo de Manzanares, Spain). Alejandro also undertook an internship at CROMAC in Carlovac, Croatia.
He further demonstrated his commitment to demining efforts by serving as an International Demining Monitor for the Inter-American Defense Board, actively participating in demining operations along the Ecuador-Peru border. His dedication to this cause led to his appointment as Deputy Director of the National Demining Commission of Chile. In 2018, Alejandro concluded his military service at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Ms. Linsey Cottrell
Environmental Policy Officer - The Conflict and Environment Observatory
Ms. Linsey Cottrell
Environmental Policy Officer
The Conflict and Environment Observatory
Linsey is a Chartered Environmentalist and worked in the environmental consultancy sector for 25 years, before joining the Conflict and Environment Observatory in 2019. She is an experienced environmental practitioner and at CEOBS, focuses on humanitarian disarmament and military greenhouse gas emissions.
Ms. Carmen Garcia Duro
Sustainable Supply Chain Alliance Project Manager - International Committee of the Red Cross
Ms. Carmen Garcia Duro
Sustainable Supply Chain Alliance Project Manager
International Committee of the Red Cross
Carmen has been working for more than 16 years in logistics in the humanitarian world, 8 of them in the field with different organizations and 5 years in HQ as a head of sector for logistics. Five years ago, she undertook a MBA on sustainable business, as sustainability was something she had always been attracted to. In September 2020, she took the position of Sustainable Supply Chain Alliance Project Manager, where different initiatives are being developed in the different logistics segments. One significant project has been the common development of the Humanitarian carbon calculator where more than 100 organizations have participated to validate a common methodology and tool that is free and easy to use to measure carbon accounting. A couple of years ago Carmen was invited to take part of the FleetForum Executive Committee Board member, to support the organization to define and review their strategy as well as to support other humanitarian organizations to reduce the sustainable impact of their own fleets.
Mr. Amro El-Zoubi
Environmental Consultant and the World Food Programme's liaison for the Joint Initiative on Sustainable Humanitarian Assistance Packaging Waste Management
Mr. Amro El-Zoubi
Environmental Consultant and the World Food Programme's liaison for the Joint Initiative on Sustainable Humanitarian Assistance Packaging Waste Management
Amro is an environmental engineer with a strong commitment to integrating environmental sustainability and climate change concerns into humanitarian aid efforts. In recent years, Amro has provided valuable support to USAID, the World Food Programme, and the United Nations Development Programme in areas such as climate change adaptation, eco-friendly procurement, and effective waste management.
Mr. Doug Hrvoic
President and Founder - Marine Magnetics Corporation
Mr. Doug Hrvoic
President and Founder
Marine Magnetics Corporation
Doug Hrvoic is an engineer and geophysicist, and is President and founder of Marine Magnetics Corporation, located in the Toronto area. He has been designing quantum magnetometers for geophysical survey for more than 20 years, and researching methods for applying them to fields such as maritime archaeology and detection and remediation of hazards such as mines and unexploded ordnance.
Mr. James Bevan
Executive Director - Conflict Armament Research
James Bevan
Executive Director - Conflict Armament Research
James Bevan is Executive Director of Conflict Armament Research, an organisation that generates evidence on the diversion of conventional weapons and related material through its on-the-ground operations in areas affected by armed conflict and terrorism. He formerly served as Head of the UN Sanctions Monitoring Group on Côte d'Ivoire and, prior to that worked for the Small Arms Survey
Mr. Hardy Giezendanner
Senior Researcher – Conventional Arms and Ammunition Programme - United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research)
Mr. Hardy Giezendanner
Senior Researcher – Conventional Arms and Ammunition Programme
United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research
Mr. Hardy Giezendanner is a Senior Researcher for UNIDIR’s Conventional Arms and Ammunition Programme (CAAP). He coordinates the research pillar on weapons and ammunition management, and contributes to the advice, support, and capacity building facility of UNIDIR’s CAAP. His other areas of expertise and research interests include peace operations, UN arms embargoes, prevention of diversion, illicit arms and ammunition flows, counter-terrorism, and conflict prevention. Prior to re-joining UNIDIR in early 2020, Hardy worked for the Arms Embargo Cell and the Joint Mission Analysis Centre of the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the DR Congo (MONUSCO), the UN Mine Action Service in the DRC, MONUSCO (DDR/RR), Geneva Call and the Swiss Federal Department for Foreign Affairs. He holds a master’s degree in International Relations, Peace and Security Studies from the Institute for International Studies in Barcelona, as well as a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of Geneva. Hardy has authored, co-authored, and contributed to numerous publications on conventional arms control. He speaks English, French, Spanish and (Swiss) German.
Mr. Pierrick Poulenas
CEO and Co-Founder - Picterra SA
Mr. Pierrick Poulenas
CEO & Co-Founder
Picterra SA
Pierrick Poulenas is the CEO & Co-Founder of Picterra, the leading provider of geospatial machine software. In 2010, he launched his career at Altran Benelux. Working as a project manager across departments (IT, telecom, transportation, and aeronautics), he went on to earn a certificate in Entrepreneurship from EPFL. Before founding Picterra in 2016, he managed business development for several engineering consultancies. He also holds a Master's Degree in Business Administration from the Institute of Political Studies in Toulouse.
Mr. Gabriel Steinberg
Lead Software and AI Engineer - Safe Pro AI and Co-founder and Vice-President - Demining Research Community
Mr. Gabriel Steinberg
Lead Software and AI Engineer (Safe Pro AI) and Co-founder and Vice-President (Demining Research Community)
Gabriel Steinberg is the lead software and AI engineer at Safe Pro AI and co-founder and vice-president of the nonprofit organization, the Demining Research Community. He completed his Computer Science B.S. at Binghamton University and studied towards his Computer Science M.Sc. at Karlsruhe Institute for Technology with a concentration in artificial intelligence. During his undergraduate and graduate years, he worked in research teams in premier universities focusing on state-of-the-art data science and machine learning applications in computer vision, bioinformatics, passive bioacoustic monitoring, and large-scale software agent simulations.
In 2019, Gabriel began immersing himself in computer vision and remote sensing research in the mine action sector. His published work, together with the Demining Research Community, has amassed over 50 citations in prestigious remote sensing and mine action journals and has been presented at conferences around the world. In 2022, with Safe Pro AI, he began building software for deminers based on his research, which has since been demonstrated in Ukraine for several demining organizations and exhibited on American national TV.
Ms. Christelle Mestre
Advisor, Strategic Planning - Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining
Ms. Christelle Mestre
Advisor – Strategic Planning
Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining
Christelle Mestre currently works as an Advisor and provides support to explosive ordnance-affected and donor countries with developing, implementing and reviewing their mine action strategies. Christelle initially joined the GICHD in October 2018 as Programme Officer with a focus on project management and donor relations. She also provided thematic support on residual risk management and mine action standards.
Prior to joining the GICHD, Christelle Mestre worked for six years with Interpeace, an international peacebuilding organization, where she coordinated country programmes in Guinea-Bissau and Sweden as well as programme development efforts in South Sudan and Myanmar.
Christelle Mestre holds a Master’s degree in Socioeconomics with a focus on Development Studies and a Bachelor’s degree in Arabic Studies and History from the University of Geneva, Switzerland.
Mr. Htut Kyaw Lin
Senior Advisor - Norwegian People`s Aid
Mr. Htut Kyaw Lin
Senior Advisor
Norwegian People`s Aid
Htut is a mine action management professional with 15 years of experience in the humanitarian sector. He has conducted, managed and advised on mine action operations in Cambodia, the South Caucasus, Myanmar, the Balkans, Thailand and Ukraine. He has also been extensively involved in research and development to improve operational efficiency and safety. Htut currently leads NPA’s Innovation Norway projects and also advises on NPA’s mine action response in Ukraine.
Mr. Charlie Wilson
Consultant - EODEX UK Subsea Ltd
Mr. Charlie Wilson
Consultant
EODEX UK Subsea Ltd
Charlie Wilson’s first career was in the British Navy, during which he specialised in underwater demining. He has experience as a mine clearance diver, as a mine detection system operator and supervisor, as captain of a specialist ship and of controlling large demining operations. He has operational experience in the Baltic, North Sea, Mediterranean and Gulf. He also worked with the UK’s diplomatic service and Defence Academy.
Since leaving the Navy, Charlie has worked as a consultant and trainer in operational planning and emergency management. He is also an executive coach, specialising in organisational leadership and working extensively with groups, teams and individuals to develop teamworking and leadership skills.
Mr. Hervé Rozec
Manager - SEMTEC/Deminetec Group
Mr. Hervé Rozec
Manager
SEMTEC/Deminetec Group
Born on 11 September 1970 in Brest, FRANCE, Hervé ROZEC spent 18 years in the French Navy. He joined the Maistrance school as a non-commissioned officer, specialising in anti-submarine detection. Posted to the FAA Jean Bart, he took part in operations BALBUZARD and SHARP GUARD (Yugoslavia). After 3 years, he changed specialty to join the mine clearance diver units. From 1995 to 2010, he was assigned to the GPD Atlantique, to SAGITTAIRE mine hunter and GRECEL for the DGA (Direction General de l'Armement). During his posting to the GPD, he took part in Operation HERACLES (Afghanistan) in 2001.
Following this military experience, he retrained as a commercial diver in the offshore industry.
Between 2010 and 2020, he worked for TOTAL, SONANGOL, PERENCO and BRITISH PETROLEUM on oil platform construction and inspection sites.
As soon as he obtained his IMCA (International Marine Contractors Association) diving supervisor certificate, he was able to progress to superintendent and client representative.
In 2020, DEMINETEC will create an underwater branch called SEMTEC, which Hervé Rozec will develop to meet the recent demand for offshore pyrotechnic decontamination sites that comply with IMCA regulations.
Ms. Kathrine James
Global Remote Sensing Officer - The HALO Trust
Ms. Kathrine James
Global Remote Sensing Officer
The HALO Trust
Katherine is the Global Remote Sensing Officer at The HALO Trust. She is leading the research at HALO into how off the shelf UAVs and sensors can be used for the detection of landmines and other UXO. In addition, she is exploring the potential of lidar to identify features such as trenches, crater and bunkers in vegetated areas that may aid in the identification of contaminated areas. Katherine is overseeing the global use of drones to support HALOs operational teams with non-technical survey and clearance planning.
Mr. Philip Jowett
IMAS Outreach and Training - Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining
Mr. Philip Jowett
IMAS Outreach and Training
Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining
Philip Jowett MBE joined the GICHD in November 2022 and holds the position of Advisor for IMAS Outreach & Training. In this role, he acts as advisor to national authorities and international organisations on the purpose and implementation of IMAS providing planning, guidance, and management of mine action programmes. Through Outreach and training Philip disseminates knowledge and best practice to stakeholders for the development of national standards to facilitate mine action activities in a safe, qualitative and effective manner which are aligned to IMAS.
Prior to joining the GICHD, Philip has worked within mine action since 2007 as a consultant and with commercial companies. His work has taken him to numerous countries in Africa, Ukraine, Syria, the Middle East, South East Asia and South Eastern Europe.
Philip is a qualified teacher and a highly experienced EOD, CIED and Search operative, course designer and instructor in the Humanitarian Mine Action Arena.
Mr. Michael Heiman
Head of Mine Action Programs - APOPO
Mr. Michael Heiman
Head of Mine Action Programs
APOPO
Michael serves as APOPO’s Head of MA Programs since September 2022, after previously serving as a Regional Manager, leading the Cambodia Program and expanding APOPO’s activities into five additional countries. One of Michael’s main roles was to develop the Technical Survey Dog capacity and implement it within APOPO programs and partners in various countries, a process that contributed to APOPO’s significant growth in the last 5 years. Michael represents APOPO on the IMAS Review Board, contributing to the development of IMAS Animal Detection chapters and Technical Notes. Prior to joining APOPO, Michael spent 10+ years designing and leading survey and clearance projects, writing national standards and SOP’s, building training and accreditation areas, testing equipment, machines and animals, this after serving 10 years in the Engineering Corps of the IDF.
Ms. Emily Chrystie
Global Environment Manager - The HALO Trust
Emily Chrystie
Global Environment Manager
The HALO Trust
Emily Chrystie is the Global Environment Manager at the HALO Trust. Her work focuses on integrating environmental protection and restoration with mine action activities, addressing the long-term environmental consequences of conflict and minelaying. Her background in mine action is in operations management and research and development, and she has held operations roles with HALO in mine affected countries across the Middle East, South East Asia, Latin America, Africa and Europe. She holds an MSc from Durham University in Defence, Development and Diplomacy, an MSc in Management of Conservation Areas from Carinthia University of Applied Sciences, and is qualified to IMAS EOD level 3.
Ms. Olena Kryvova
Ukraine Country Programme Coordinator - Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining
Ms. Olena Kryvova
Ukraine Country Programme Coordinator
Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining
Olena Kryvova joined the GICHD in August 2022 and holds the position of Ukraine Country Programme Coordinator. In this role, she is responsible for designing, coordinating and managing comprehensive country programme interventions GICHDs Country Programme in Ukraine. She acts as advisor to national authorities and international organisations on constant improvement of operations. She provides training courses and operational support to national authorities, non-governmental organisations and other mine action stakeholders.
Prior to joining the GICHD, Olena was a Deputy Country Director for Swiss Foundation for Mine Action in Ukraine. She worked in mine action with INGOs in Ukraine and Iraq at various managerial positions since 2015.
In her pre-mine action life, Olena worked in Education sector in Ukraine as a language teacher, a quality assessor and a counterpart for the US Peace Corps project.
Olena has MA in Education, English language and Psychology from Donbass State University, Ukraine.
Ms. Asa Massleberg
Programme Manager and Senior Advisor - Strategic Planning - Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining
Ms. Asa Massleberg
Programme Manager and Senior Advisor – Strategic Planning
Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining
Åsa Massleberg joined GICHD as an Advisor in March 2011, with an initial focus on linking mine action and development, and transition processes to national ownership. Since 2014, Åsa has focused increasingly on supporting explosive ordnance (EO)-affected and donor countries with developing, implementing and reviewing their mine action strategies. As a Programme Manager and Senior Advisor for the Strategic Planning Programme, Åsa’s main responsibilities include leading and planning GICHD’s strategic planning involvement in the global mine action sector and support to donor and EO-affected countries.
Åsa started working in the mine action sector in 2007 when she joined Mines Advisory Group’s South Sudan programme as its Community Liaison Manager. In this role, she was responsible for designing and implementing mine risk education, community liaison and survey activities. After MAG she worked with Swiss Campaign to Ban Landmines’ Gender and Mine Action Programme, with a focus on advocacy activities and training operators and EO-affected countries. In her pre-mine action life, Åsa worked with ICRC and UNHCR in Sierra Leone, and with development and human rights organisations in Nepal and South Africa.
Åsa's academic background includes a MA in Humanitarian Assistance from Uppsala University, Sweden and a BA in International Relations and Development Studies from Sussex University, England.
Mr. Damir Stimac
Sales Manager - Global Clearance Solutions AG
Mr. Damir Stimac
Sales Manager - Global Clearance Solutions AG
Damir Stimac is the Sales Manager in the GCS Sales Department and has worked with GCS for over ten years. Damir’s responsibilities include supporting GCS sales and project management efforts in the humanitarian mine action environment with a strong focus on analysing and understanding requirements and finding and implementing solutions. Damir has over twenty years’ experience working with the governmental and non-governmental organizations, militaries, commercial demining companies and the United Nations.
For the past twenty-two years Damir has been working in Humanitarian Mine Action and started his career at the Croatian Mine Action Centre (CROMAC) where he held various positions in the International Relations Department including the position of CROMAC’s Chief of Staff. Before joining GCS, Damir was holding positions of Sales Manager, and Head of Sales and Marketing at two other manufacturers of mechanical mine clearance equipment.
Damir received a degree in Criminology from the Police Academy/Police College, The Police School of Professional Higher Education – Police Academy of Ministry of Interior of Croatia, Zagreb.
Mr. Ruslan Berehulia
Head - Ukraine National Mine Action Authority Secretariat
Mr. Ruslan Berehulia
Head (Ukraine National Mine Action Authority Secretariat)
Head of the Main Department for Mine Action, Civil Protection and Environmental Safety Affairs at the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine. Concurrently, he serves as the Head of the Ukraine National Mine Action Authority Secretariat. His educational background includes graduating from the Military Engineering Faculty at Podilskyi State Agricultural Engineering Academy, and he furthered his studies at the National Defence University of Ukraine. Colonel Berehulia has an international service background, having previously served in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon. With a distinguished career spanning over 25 years, Colonel Ruslan Berehulia possesses extensive expertise in the field of mine action.
Mr. Serhii Reva
Head of the Humanitarian Demining Organization Division - State Emergency Service of Ukraine
Mr. Serhii Reva
Head of the Humanitarian Demining Organization Division
State Emergency Service of Ukraine
Head of the division in the Department of Organization of Humanitarian Demining of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. Since 2013, he served on various positions in the division that organizes and coordinates State Emergency Service demining teams’ activities throughout the country. In addition, he has been engaged in setting up mine action Information Management in the field. From 2022 until now, he heads the division, and coordinates State Emergency Service’s Humanitarian Demining Center work.
Mr. Chris Loughran
Co-Founder and Director - Symbio Impact Ltd
Mr. Chris Loughran
Co-Founder and Director
Symbio Impact Ltd
Chris is Co-Founder and Director of Symbio Impact Ltd, a sustainable financing and strategy consultancy. Chris has worked with the mine action sector for 17 year. His background is in senior leadership, governance, operations and devising and delivering strategies to influence political policy and donor decision-making at the highest levels. He has lived and worked in the Middle East, Africa and Europe.
Chris is Chair of Beamish, an open-air museum in the North East of England, and is a Director on the Boards of Platfform, Wales’s leading mental health charity, and the Association of British Orchestras. He holds a First Class BA from Oxford and a MSc in Conflict and Development Studies from the University of London. He is an Honorary Fellow at Manchester University.
Mr. Charlie Richter
US Director - APOPO
Mr. Charlie Richter
US Director
APOPO
Charlie joined the APOPO team in December 2014 as US Director, based in Washington DC. At APOPO Charlie is responsible for building new partnerships and projects with philanthropists, social impact investors, foundations and government funders that can help APOPO build its Research and Mine Action programs.
As part of this work, Charlie leads innovative financing efforts at APOPO. He played an instrumental role in the development, design, and private sector fundraising for the Minefields to Ricefields Development Impact Bond Project, launched in coordination with Cordaid, FCDO, and Social Finance in April 2023. Before joining APOPO, Charlie worked in Business Development and Project Management for Gallup, a global leader in survey research, and for One Economy, an NGO dedicated to bringing information technology to underserved communities. Prior to that, Charlie served in the Peace Corps in Niger, West Africa working with rural schools in the remote eastern parts of the country.
Charlie has a Bachelors from the University of Michigan Ann Arbor and a Masters of Business Administration from Thunderbird School of Global Management.
Mr. Paul Heslop
Programme Manager - United Nations Development Programme- Mine Action Programme - Ukraine
Mr. Paul Heslop
Programme Manager
United Nations Development Programme- Mine Action Programme - Ukraine
Paul Heslop has 30 years of experience in mine action. He is currently seconded to UNDP Ukraine to head up their mine action programme. He is a graduate of Cranfield University. In 2004 he earned an MBA from the London Business school. He began his demining career in 1994 working for the British non-governmental organization “The HALO Trust” working in 7 mine affected countries at all levels in mine action from deminer to the programme manager. Mr. Heslop joined the UN in 2004 in Sudan as the Chief of Staff/Deputy Director of the UNMAS/UNMIS programme before moving to UN HQ in NY in 2006. He was the chair of the International Mine Action Standards Review Board 2011 - 2018. In 2017 he received a Secretary General award for innovation in Mail for an innovative project design that significantly reduced peacekeeper casualties from IED's. In 2020 he was seconded to the UNMAS Afghanistan programme as the chief of mine action programmes, the Afghan programmes Gender empowerment project was shortlisted for a SG award in May 2023. In April 2021 he was interviewed by USG Melisa Fleming for her "Awake at night " podcasts talking about his experiences in mine action around the world. https://www.un.org/en/awake-at-night/S3-E25-clearing-mines-for-30-years He once met a princess and took her through a minefield! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-princess-and-the-minefield/id1652667316?i=1000608734039 He deployed to Ukraine in May 2022.
Mr. Davor Laura
Head of Operations (Croatian Mine Action Centre)
Mr. Davor Laura
Head of Operations - Croatian Mine Action Centre
Mr. Davor Laura
Head of Operations - Croatian Mine Action Centre
Mr. Henry Leach
Head of Somalia Operations - Conflict Armament Research
Mr. Henry Leach
Head of Somalia Operations - Conflict Armament Research
Henry Leach is Head of Somalia Operations for Conflict Armament Research (CAR), overseeing the implementation of UN mandated end user transparency measures for weapons and ammunition imported into Somalia, training and capacity building for Somali security forces on the documentation and exploitation of seized and recovered weapons, as well as the collection and analysis of primary data concerning the illicit arms market in the country. Originating from CAR’s involvement in end user monitoring, and in response to clearly identified needs, Henry has led the design and development of ARMaSTM – a digital inventory management system for weapon and ammunition management - designed specifically to meet the challenges encountered in austere environments that are typical of fragile and conflict-affected states. Prior to CAR, Henry spent six years working in reporting, operational and programme management roles in the mine action sector with The HALO Trust and Danish Demining Group in Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe.
Mr. Anton Bets
Digitalization Advisor - Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, Chief Expert in Project and Program Management - Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine
Mr. Anton Bets
Digitalization Advisor (Ministry of Economy of Ukraine) Chief Expert in Project and Program Management (Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine)
Anton Bets started advising and assisting the demining team at the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine in the area of analytics in May 2023. His key task are to analyse and formulate a strategic vision for digitalisation in Demining. In July, Anton joined the team as Head of the Digital Department and Digitalisation Advisor. Since 2021, Anton has been a Chief Expert in Project and Programme Management at the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine. His key areas of expertise are eDemocracy projects, web3/metaverse, data analysis, innovative and digital products. Anton Bets has a Master's Degree in Computer Science.
Mr. Andrew Kesterton
Information Management Technical Development Coordinator - Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining
Mr. Andrew Kesterton
Information Management Technical Development Coordinator
Andrew Kesterton joined the GICHD in June 2018 as the Information Management Technical Development Coordinator. He is responsible for coordinating the information management (IM) division’s technical development activities. This include providing IM and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) solutions to the GICHD and external partners using the IMSMA Core framework. In addition he coordinates the GIS for Peace project.
Prior to joining GICHD, Andrew Kesterton worked in GIS Development, developing GIS software using and managing the provision of GIS within local government and other public bodies in Scotland. Additionally as a volunteer with the NGO MapAction since 2014 he has gained experience in the humanitarian sector providing IM/GIS support in sudden onset disasters, and working to build GIS capacity in the humanitarian community.
Andrew holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology at the University of Edinburgh.
Mr. Abdullatif Abujarida
Head of Information Management Dept. (Libyan Mine Action Centre (LibMAC))
Mr. Rami Alouta
Senior Solutions Engineer (ESRI)
Rami Alouta is a Senior Solutions Engineer at Esri, stationed in the Rotterdam office. Specializing in providing support to Global Non-Profit Organizations under the United Nations umbrella and the humanitarian sector, Rami possesses extensive knowledge in the design, configuration, and deployment of both ArcGIS Online and enterprise solutions, with a particular emphasis on GeoAI and Automation utilizing Python. With over 7 years of experience in the field of geospatial solutions, Rami's expertise has allowed him to consistently deliver innovative and efficient solutions. He earned his degree in Landscape Architecture from the American University of Beirut, which has provided him with an exceptional viewpoint on the intersection of technology and the environment.
Mr.Yoshiyuki Shiomi
Associate Humanitarian Affairs Officer (UNMAS)
Adam Blayney
Global Technical Advisor for Mechanical Demining
Mr. Adam Blayney
Global Technical Advisor for Mechanical Demining
HALO
Adam joined HALO in 2014 in the Ivory Coast. He has managed operations in Somaliland, Sri Lanka and Iraq. He managed the mobilization of mechanical IED clearance capacity in Iraq before taking on the role of Global Technical Advisor for Mechanical Demining in 2019. Adam is currently focused on developing HALO’s mechanical demining capacity in Ukraine. Prior to working for HALO, Adam worked in manufacturing and construction and holds a Master’s in Civil Engineering.
Exhibitors
Learn more about technologies and innovative ideas/projects presented at the conference by clicking on the logos below.
Alford Technologies
Alford Technologies: Project Yellowstone
Alford Technologies is an award-winning UK-based company that specialises in developing innovative explosive tools to support Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), Breaching/ Explosive Method of Entry (EMoE) and Explosive Engineering communities.
Project Yellowstone was designed with the Humanitarian Mine Action Community (HMA) in mind and offers proven solutions for remote environments. The collaboration between our experienced tech team and key members in the HMA community identified a gap between military and HMA capabilities. The products developed have now been used around the world to bridge that gap and to great effect, these include:
Draken: A traditional barrelled water disruptor utilising electrically initiated, self-loaded, 12 gauge cartridges, allowing locally sourced energetic materials to be used.
W-Etna: A user-filled explosive C-IED tool which uses Alford Liquid Explosive to drive a water projectile through an IED outer case, before it expands rapidly, causing disruption of the electric circuit.
J-Etna: A user-filled explosive EOD tool which uses Alford Liquid Explosive to drive a projectile through steel-cased ordnance, with a penetration of up to 27mm.
ALC: A general purpose demolition cartridge for bulk demolitions, using Alford Liquid Explosive. It has similar dimensions to a traditional dynamite stick to allow it to be inserted into drill holes.
Chemring Energetics UK
Chemring Energetics UK, Counter Improvised Explosive Device Cutter
Introducing CEUK’s new Counter Improvised Explosive Device Cutter. Our unique design ensures a precise and superior cutting performance on a range of wires, with varying diameters.
The operation of the cutter is achieved using the stroke from the piston of the DR2005/C1 Metron Actuator, which acts on a swing arm and drives the cutting blade towards a sheer face, severing any wires which are positioned between the edge of the blade and this face.
Osprey Counter Improvised Explosive Device Cutter (C-IED) Cutter specifications:
- Outside of Class 1, can be shipped through normal parcel post.
- Able to function in multiple orientations, on variable terrains.
- Capable of withstanding multiple firings.
- Rapid and single-handed operation (at point of deployment).
- Inbuilt screw thread to allow attachment to a C-IED robot.
- Operating temperature range of -40°C to +70°C.
- Kit contains: 5 x cutters and 10 x ceramic blades.
Aerobotics7
Aerobotics7 EAGLE A7 Drone-tech Platform for Mines & ERW
Aerobotics7 builds an autonomous AI-enabled drone-tech platform (EAGLE A7) that can remotely detect and identify landmines and other similar buried explosives, such as UXOs & Explosives Remnants of War (ERW). The system has been tested and evaluated in the US, containing a complex mix of relevant ERWs.
EAGLE A7 Features and Capabilities:
- Detection capability of buried non-metal and metal anti-personnel mines (APM), anti-vehicle mines (AVM/ATM), UXOs and other ERW
- AI-enabled real-time accurate processing and identification of ordnances
- 50x-100x Faster than traditional demining approaches
- Proprietary patented custom-designed antenna, sensors, and signal processing technology.
- Intuitive user interface, seamless deployment and base station configuration.
- Visual real-time feedback with 360° sensors
- Tested with greater accuracy in multiple field trials of the system
Innovative Operations Systems. Inc.
Innovative Operations Systems. Inc.
IOS. Inc. was established in 2016, to robotize dangerous and burden work.
November 2022, after 5 years development period, DMR Version-5 started demining at Cambodian minefield cooperated with Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC).
Demining Robot “DMR” minefield excavator
- Demining robot DMR can excavate minefields instead of human
- More than three times faster than minefield excavation by human hand
- Remote control function ensures deminers safety
- DMR excavates minefield by blowing compressed air
- As the compressed air can blow off the soil hiding landmines selectively, the excavation never be interrupted by obstacles under the ground such as grassroot or stones.
- It has been shown that even if the compressed air from DMR strikes the detonation switch of landmines, the switch not be turned on.
ETH Zürich
ETH Zürich
Autonomous Metal Detector Drone
The Autonomous Systems Lab at ETH Zürich is developing novel flying robots that allow omnidirectional flight and close-up, non-destructive inspection. If required, the drone could also interact with the environment - for example to take swipe samples. In a recent research project we developed an autonomous flying system for the detection of explosive remnants of war (ERW) based on an omnidirectional drone and a metal detector. Our experiments successfully demonstrated mapping of buried, metallic objects in undulated natural terrain.
Voliro-T Metal Detector Drone Research Prototype
- Omnidirectional platform keeps metal detector aligned to the terrain at a fixed ground distance (~15cm)
- Obstacle avoidance
- 3D Mapping of the environment using 3D LiDAR
- Resilient Navigation using LiDAR, IMU and GNSS
- Autonomous surveying performance of about 4.5m2 per minute
- Real-time metal-detector response visualization in 3D terrain map
- Maximum flight time: 10 minutes (can be increased)
Robotic Systems Lab
ANYmal with an Arm
The Robotic Systems Lab at the ETH Zurich designs machines, creates actuation principles, and builds control technologies for semi- and fully autonomous operation in challenging terrain and hazardous environments.
ANYmal with an Arm (ALMA)
- Legged mobile platform ANYmal featuring a robotic manipulator
- Synchronous articulated locomotion combined with dynamic manipulation
- Wide range of possible applications: search and rescue, remote operation in hazardous environments, industrial inspection, chemical and explosives analysis thanks to an optional Raman sensor
- The system can take on an additional dynamic payload of 7kg
- 90-120 minute run time or 4 km range on a full charge
- The variety of integrated sensors include RGB-D and LIDAR cameras
- Multi-sensor fusion localization and state estimation
- Teleoperation features a joystick with force feedback and a 3D screen for enhanced awareness
- The platform can also be equipped with wheels in order to improve speed and energy efficiency
Force Ware GmbH
Force Ware GmbH
Force Ware GmbH provides highly sophisticated security equipment for demining applications. At the conference, we will be presenting the following products:
Protection Boot BCB2
The BCB2 protection boot is especially developed for use in mine clearance operations, due to its metal free design, offering protection against mines containing up to 50g of explosives.
Specifications:
- NATO STANAG 2920 v50 fragmentation protection: sole 650 m/s, heel 1,000 m/s.
- Proprietary blast mitigation technology around the foot area.
- Comfortable to wear in all climates for daily operations, while durable in harsh conditions.
- Combined full-grain leather and military-grade nylon fabric, webbing and threads.
- An Injected Phylon® sole provides the highest comfort to weight ratio.
Demining Suit MPS2
The MPS2 has been designed to meet the requirements of armies and demining organisations. The inside Aramid® layer is especially designed for protection against fragments of exploding mines, bombs and artillery shells.
Specifications:
- Modular design is usable as a complete suit or as an apron only.
- Fragmentation protection in accordance to NATO STANAG 2920: v50 = 450 m/s, fulfils IMAS 10.30
- Lightweight and comfortable to wear.
- Hygienic washable outer cover.
- Detachable pouch for tools and accessories.
- All durable military grade nylon components.
GARANT
GARANT - Competence in protection
GARANT is a world-wide active and independent family-owned business based in Switzerland and Germany. For more than 60 years we have been developing, manufacturing and distributing security products and ballistic protection for humans and machinery. Our many years of experience drive our further developments in demining products.
Our portfolio includes, among other products:
1.Personal Protective Equipment
- Bomb suits and helmets with accessories
- Search and demining suits and helmets
- Demining aprons, demining helmets and visors, hand protectors, etc.
2. Passive Protection Products
- UXO and IED containment
- Bomb blankets and rings
- Fragmentation shields, etc.
3. EOD/IEDD and Demining Tools
- Tool kits, mine prodder
- Defusing devices, etc.
EODynamics
EODynamics EHART System: Explosive Hazard Augmented Reality Trainer
EODynamics’ mission is to provide cutting-edge spatial computing solutions that leverages AI to help save lives, reduce risks, and increase efficiency in the field of explosive ordnance disposal and mine action.
EOD Augmented Reality Library
Platform: Mobile (Android, iOS)
- Ordnance library in your pocket
- Ability to collect field pictures for future growth
- Ability for EOD and MA actors to have access to ordnance at very low cost to the client
Deminer
Platform: AR Glasses
- Uses biometric data to measure demining search tasks
- Provides quantitative data to measure performance
Ordnance Call
Platform: AR Glasses
- Uses biometric data to measure an operator’s ability to conduct a Render Safe Procedure
- Adaptable, Cost Effective, and Repeatable
MESAN
MESAN
Mesan Electronics provides metal mine detectors, IED detectors, detector training systems and protective equipment specially designed for humanitarian and military demining activities, including:
- MEPAK Compact Metal Detector: Fully foldable compact design metal detector with high sensitivity, normal and mineralized soil modes, pinpointing targets, audio, visual and vibration alerts.
- MEMAR Long Operation Metal Detector: Especially designed for humanitarian demining, detection of anti-personnel, anti-tank and IEDs with high sensitivity, allows different search coils to be used for deeper&detailed search.
- MEKA Cable & IED Detector: Advanced GPR technology, detection of non-metal content targets, AI support.
- MeDro Drone IED Detector: Aerial detection of targets, advanced GPR system, AI support, allows contaminated areas to be discovered rapidly.
- Mergen SOLO Individual Detector Training System: Position tracking device compatible with any detector brand. Uses ultrasonic sensors to continually track four major movements fundamental to detector usage: sweeping height, speed, wrist, and arc measures.
- Mergen TIM Collective Detector Training System: Team detector training system for each troop, allows 5 operators to be trained at the same time, real-time monitoring by the instructor with rugged tablet, objective and quantitive reporting after training.
- Mergen PARKUR VR Based DetectorTraining System: Virtual Reality based detector training system, advance level detector training for Mine/IED detection, no need for designated area, allows operator to be trained in how to use detector effectively in different scenarios.
VEA Systems Consortium
VEA Systems Consortium
VEA Systems Consortium members provide digital solutions for the classification, detection, analysis, marking, management of UXO – Unexploded Ordnances
At the Conference we will be presenting:
EOSDA Satellite Data Acquisition: high resolution satellite data from open and private sources. Utilizing predictive analysis, we identify the areas of likely impact and contamination enabling our partners to prioritize NTS/TS teams terrestrial, mapping, marking, and clearance activities far more efficiently.
blackned Tactical Core - provides a full suite of essential command, control, communications, and integration services in the field. Planning and management software provide full situational awareness in the field and back at HQ allowing the deployment of UXO and EOD response teams across a wide area in support of survey and clearance operations.
C-ASTRAL SQA eVTOL - multirole system is an evolutionary and compact small unmanned system supporting the complete spectrum of ISR operations over medium distances of up to 40 km from the ground control station.
AWS: We leverage the significant and growing set of capabilities and experience from our partner AWS geospatial ML the most advanced, comprehensive and available geospatially focused machine learning tools to continuously classify and improve the accuracy of our predictive analysis.
Mine Kafon Airborne Demining system
The Mine Kafon Airborne Demining System
The Mine Kafon Airborne Demining System offers an innovative solution for landmine removal. It provides a reliable and safe detection system that delivers accurate updates and information on mine-clearing operations, describing contaminated and cleared areas through an intuitive online platform.
Through the combination of Modular Airborne Detection Systems and a supporting cloud-based platform, the MKD can detect, map, and safely detonate landmines, displaying safe and dangerous areas through a user-friendly online platform.
It is a modular platform designed to support several sensors such as:
• Metal detectors
• Magnetometer
• Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)
• Wire detector
• Lidar
• Camera system
• AI
CEIA SpA
CEIA SpA
CEIA SpA specializes in high-quality ground search systems for a wide range of applications, from systematic mine clearance to emergency response, detection of IEDs, UXO search, and more.
Our focus at the Innovation Conference is to highlight the innovation within our models, emphasizing improved operational features and detection performance.
We offer innovative Training Kits, Field Assistance, and Joint Performance Evaluation methods to enhance our services. These include:
- CMD v1.34: A high-performance compact metal detector with effective detection, pinpointing, high discrimination, automatic compensation and long battery life.
- CMD v2: A compact metal and carbon rod detector that effectively identifies various targets while offering unique alarm signaling, high reliability, and an extended battery life.
- CMD3: Compact triple-sensor detector that excels in diverse target detection with separate alarms and strong interference immunity.
- ALIS-RT: Integrated detector unit excels in precise detection of both metal and non-metallic mines and IEDs, offering GPR localisation, detection stability, high precision, and reliability.
- DSMD: Efficient digital metal detector for deep search of UXO and cluster munitions with a modular design and advanced features including automatic positioning, static and dynamic detection, auto diagnostic system and fast integrated battery charger.
- DGNSS: A differential global satellite navigation system designed for use in combination with the CEIA DSMD metal detector.
- PD240CBM: handheld detector for urban clearance and body screening, effectively detecting IED components, compensating for building materials, and screening for metallic weapons.
Improtex Industries LLC
Improtex Industries LLC
Improtex Industries LLC within the frame of “Revival” project produces remotely controlled demining machines for clearance of AP and AT landmines.
Revival P:
- Revival P designed for effective cleaning surface of Anti-Personnel (AP) mines on different kind terrains
- Proven resistance to Anti-Tank (AT) mine explosion up to 7 kg TNT.
- Mine clearance capacity of up to 2500 m²/h
- The width of the cleaning area – 1970 mm, optional extension up to 2270 mm. Cleaning depth - up to 300 mm
Revival T:
- Revival T designed for effective cleaning surface of Anti-Tank (AT) mines on different kind terrains
- Proven resistance to Anti-Tank (AT) mine explosion up to 11 kg TNT.
- Mine clearance capacity of up to 4500 m²/h
- The width of the cleaning area – 2500 mm. Cleaning depth - up to 400 mm
DXN EOD Technology Co., Ltd.
DXN EOD Technology Co., Ltd.
DXN EOD produces portable high energy laser equipment for the remote disposal of Unexploded Ordnance (UXO), explosive remnants of war (ERW), improvised explosive devices (IED).
Type-D DXN Laser Disposal Equipment
• The Laser EOD process does not require personnel approach target to ensure personnel safety
• Effective working distance (Equipment to Target): up to 300m.
• Personnel remote control distance: up to 1000m
• It can destroy ammunition within 16mm of iron wall thickness, and has destroyed 125 diameter ammunition and 250 diameter ammunition
• The EOD process does not require explosive materials, which is very convenient
• The equipment is easy to operate, only electricity is consumed during operation
• The equipment is small in size, light in weight, convenient in transportation, portable luggage type design, can be carried by one person
Tetra Tech
Tetra Tech
At the Innovation Conference, Tetra Tech will be presenting the following tools:
- 3D Modelling to Support Urban HMA: Tetra Tech addresses complex post-conflict urban clearance challenges in Mosul, Iraq, using 3D photogrammetry-based modeling. By creating a realistic 3D model of the Old City with UAV-based photogrammetry, Tetra Tech enables data-driven decision-making for explosive hazard clearance. The model facilitates accurate estimation of rubble volumes, staging area planning, monitoring clearance progress, and the preservation of historically significant buildings. It also aids in monitoring reoccupied homes, supporting community liaison and EORE efforts.
- Remote Underwater UXO Detection: Many military training areas and marine disposal sites necessitate
- Cost-effective environmental remediation. To minimize deployments and false positives, a reliable, single-pass dynamic classification system is required. The latest towed Electromagnetic Array (UltraTEMA-4) has proven its ability to detect and classify medium-sized ordnance with high accuracy and efficiency, even at short standoff distances in shallow water. This will be presented as a poster, without the TEMA equipment physically present at the booth.
- Remote Aerial Minefield Survey: RPS Drone Services conducts the Remote Aerial Minefield Survey (RAMS) to support the management of large-scale ERW areas in various regions. RAMS reduces hazardous area sizes and provides valuable data for clearance and redevelopment planning. RPS has developed custom Artificial Intelligence (AI) software in collaboration with the UAV technical community to expedite data processing. This AI system quickly analyzes extensive datasets, offering findings with a certainty percentile. It continually enhances productivity and accuracy through self-learning capabilities.
MiFi Maps – Minefield Mapping System
MiFi Maps
Current minefield mapping methods are subject to operator error and technological limitations. Precision technology to reliably document cleared areas is significantly lacking in our sector.
MiFi Maps provides an innovative and powerful tool for mine clearance through increased precision and accountability for mine action organizations and national authorities.
Our Minefield Mapping System will provide:
- Automated and Accurate Mapping: Real-Time Kinematics technology is integrated into a compact design that attaches directly to a detector to plot its position on a map as it occurs with centimeter accuracy at a rate of 10 times per second.
- Quality Control: The map can be immediately uploaded and shared to provide a definitive record of the cleared area which can be viewed by management staff and interested stakeholders.
- Quality Assurance: Every detector sweep can be monitored in real-time by supervising staff to increase confidence that procedures are followed and requirements are met.
- Scalability: The system will be scalable with multiple rovers per base station.
- Compatibility: The system will be compatible with all metal detectors and GIS systems.
Ebinger Prüf- und Ortungstechnik GmbH
Ebinger Prüf- und Ortungstechnik GmbH
LOCATION AND DETECTION DEVICES MADE IN GERMANY
EBINGER develops and produces a comprehensive range of metal location and detection devices for humanitarian Mine Action and munitions clearance, for law enforcement, security and industry applications, civil engineering, for the timber and forestry industries, for the locating of pipes and cables and for scientific use. One focal point for the company lies in the researching of innovative methods and the development of efficient and reliable detection techniques for professional large-scale and long-term use.
Magnetic or Electromagnetic?
Today, both procedures, passive and active, work together symbiotically in the fi eld of explosive ordnance clearance. In locations where gradiometer probes become bogged down in magnetic noise, active technology, mandatory!
EBINGER has meanwhile proven throughout the world that it works!
Institut Dr. Foerster
Institut Dr. Foerster
We make the hidden visible - For more than 70 years FOERSTER has been developing, manufacturing and distributing a wide range of products for explosive ordnance detection all over the world. Our innovative and technologically advanced instruments meet the exacting quality standards of our customers in the business of detection. They include:
- FEREX 4.034 - a highly sensitive digital fluxgate magnetometer with a 4-channel data logger, ideal for detecting geomagnetic anomalies caused by ferromagnetic objects, featuring high sensitivity, various filters, user-friendly operation, expandable data logging, and adaptable software for project definition and data evaluation.
- FEREX 4.035 - a high-sensitivity digital magnetometer with an LED display, designed for precise detection of ferromagnetic objects, featuring various filters and a lightweight, one-piece design.
- MINEX 4.610 - a highly sensitive digital mine detector equipped with dual frequency technology, two integrated search heads for precise and close detection, audible and visual signals, and ease of operation with sensitivity ranges, all in a robust and reliable design.
Disarmadillo+
Disarmadillo+
Disarmadillo+ is the new hydraulic version of Disarmadillo: the first open source robotic platfor for Mine Action.
It is designed in a participatory way together with end-users, researchers, students and mechanical workshop experts and all its drawings are available for free online. Its development never ends..
It is a versatile platform able to host different tools to collect and verify data about mine presence: soil-processing tools, sensors, cameras, rollers, vegetation cutting tools,..
It is simple and cheap, yet a valuable asset to be added to the mine action technology toolbox.
After demining, it can stay in the country to serve long term economic development being easily re-convertible to its origina agricultural purpose.
Anna Mansueti - Editor, Bomb Techs Without Borders - Platinum East
Anna Mansueti - Editor, Bomb Techs Without Borders - Platinum East
Anna Mansueti is an interdisciplinary artist and designer. Upon completing her undergraduate studies, she commissioned in the US Navy as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) officer. For the following ten years, she served as a bomb technician, conducting humanitarian mine action missions and multinational training operations with foreign partner forces in Europe and Southeast Asia. Anna’s work focuses on the aftermath of war, unexploded ordnance and environmental degradation, and post-conflict reconciliation. In Demining Reimagined, she explores new ways to supplement and improve humanitarian demining practices, reporting procedures, and mine action campaigning. The booklet (example images below) contains stories about landmines and cluster munitions, and her exhibition includes a video performance, drawings, and maps. She is passionate about conducting healing work populations afflicted by war.
SEFOR Solutions, s.r.o.
SEFOR Solutions, s.r.o.
Comprehensive solution for effective command, control, evidence, information support and tracking of persons/vehicles operating above the 3D digital map for the key support of Mine Action and EOD Tasks.
● Precise coordination and history evidence for Land Release process
● Real-Time tracking for MA Teams and Vehicles GPS/GALILEO/GLONASS/SBAS (L1&L2)
● Independent two-way communication and warnings (MASH/RADIO/GSM)
● Own GIS software run on PC or Android smart-device (Bluetooth connection)
● Marking & Definition of localized ERW, incl. 3D hazardous area calculation
● Ready for integration, data sharing to higher-level systems ArcGIS, IMSMA Core
● Self-dedicated secured communication and data storage on local pTRACK server
● Real-Time GNSS Tracking – two (2) seconds refresh rate
● Battery operation – 12 hours
● Remote diagnostics for operated modules
● MASH network range between modules – 150 meters
● Independent of GSM network option – using operator’s IP radios
● Ready for INTEGRATION into the existing Mine Action software solutions
White River Technologies
White River Technologies
At the Innovation Conference, White River Technologies will be presenting the following tools:
WRT APEX 3DEM Mine Detector/Classifier:
White River Technologies' APEX system offers 3D electromagnetic induction for one-pass detection and classification of mines and explosive remnants of war (ERW). This innovative technology accelerates demining, reduces costs, and enhances safety compared to traditional methods.
- It provides high-confidence clutter rejection
- It reduces overall project cost by avoiding unnecessary digs
- It provides operators precise target locations, information on size, shape and composition, and supports real-time decision-making in the field
- It is approved and utilized under the US DoD Advanced Geophysical Classification Accreditation Program (DAGCAP) via ISO/IEC 17025:2017
- It effectively eliminates almost all unnecessary digs by delivering accurate and reliable digital UXO/No-UXO decisions
UXO XYZ Robotics
UXO XYZ Robotics
UXO XYZ Robotics and White River Technologies collaborate to develop an autonomous ground robot (AGV) able detect, classify, and geolocate explosive remnants of war (ERW) in real-time using advanced geophysical methods.
UXO XYZ Robotics provides autonomous ground robot systems with high-level autonomy, capable of planning, replanning, and executing paths in a complex and hazardous environment.
- The advanced sense-and-avoid technology is based on the White River Technologies APEX electromagnetic sensor enabling the robot to move in unknown and hazardous areas.
- It can be operated in autonomous or manual modes. The autonomous navigation function maximize efficiency and reduce operator fatigue.
- It achieves an impressive detection and classification performance, covering up to 9,000 square meters per hour with a 2500mm width and clearing depths of up to 160mm.
Danish Refugee Council
Danish Refugee Council, Ukraine
DRC has been in Ukraine since 2014 and has expanded operations significantly since 24 February 2022 to deliver lifesaving assistance and emergency responses to people affected by the war. At the conference we will be showcasing the following projects:
Online Self-Paced EORE Courses
The EORE online courses have been created to transcend physical limitations in a cost- efficient way, to provide hard-to-reach people with life-saving information on the hazards of and safe behaviour around Explosive Ordnance (EO) in Ukraine.
EORE Colouring Book with Augmented Reality
The EORE Colouring Book with Augmented Reality features comic-like ‘heroes and heroines’ to improve interactivity and encourage children to engage with materials, thereby enhancing their knowledge retention from EORE school-based sessions.
EORE Chatbot
A chatbot based in Viber and Telegram messaging apps that responds to users through questions and answers in order to transmit EORE safety messages and encourage reporting of suspiscious items.
MINE ACTION CENTER SERBIA &
ACADEMY OF APPLIED TECHNICAL STUDIES INS
MAC&INS autonomous mine detection platform
MAC&INS Autonomous Mine Detection platform presents combination of UAVs and mobile robot platforms and as such integrated into various strategies for detection unexploded ordnance UXO enhancing the overall efficiency and safety of the operations.
MAC&INS has been based on combination robotics, UAV, sensors integrated system.
• Aerial Reconnaissance
• Data Collection and Transmission
• Real-Time Monitoring
• Improved Coverage and Efficiency
• Coordinated Missions
• Remote and Inaccessible Areas
• Safety and Risk Reduction
• Humanitarian and Emergency Response
• Resource Management
MAC&INS platform offers solutions for sensor limitations, data interpretation, terrain complexity, limited payload capacity,
communication, and connectivity.
Disarmament Solutions
Disarmament Solutions
Disarmament Solutions is a Swedish company that works in close cooperation with the Ukrainian government to support scaling up the national mine action capacity.
Ukraine – mine action capacity building
At the conference we present a unique package of combined activities put together to support Ukraine in addressing the greatest ERW challenge of modern times.
Examples of activities to support the Ukrainian mine action program:
- Comprehensive equipment kits adapted to Ukraine. Each kit contains all tools needed to equip one new deminer/EOD operator in accordance with IMAS and NMAS of Ukraine.
- Underwater EOD capacity. A special program to generate new capacity for underwater clearance, an urgent requirement to repair and rebuild destroyed infrastructure.
- Donation program. Together with the Ukrainian Embassy in Sweden we run a donation program to supply the most urgently needed demining/EOD equipment.
- Combined train and equip program for new deminers. A special cooperation with the NGO Friends of Ukraine EOD to combine standardized training and comprehensive equipment kits to support rapid capacity building.
- EORE for civilians in liberated areas. A capacity building program for the Ukrainian NGO Folk High School Vovchok to generate national instructor capacity for EORE, so far the organization has trained more than 20.000 civilians (April 2023).
- Land release of suspected hazardous areas. Supported the implementation and he adaptation of the drone based system Aerobotics 7 to detects all kinds of ERW in Ukraine for release of land needed for food, agriculture and reconstruction.
Mobile technology for sustainable disposal
At the conference, several different concepts will be presented, e.g.:
DS Mobile ammunition disposal facility
- A complete container-based facility for disposal of both ammunition and weapons.
- The whole facility is integrated in four standard containers and contains all necessary equipment for safe, secure and environmentally friendly disposal.
- An alternative to open burning and open detonation in field programs. The facility can be rented with trained staff as a complete service to avoid costly investments.
DS Mobile sea dumped ammunition disposal facility
- A complete concept for localization, recovery and disposal of sea dumped ammunition.
- The facility is placed on a modular pontoon barge that can be deployed at all types of dumping sites at sea, in lakes and rivers.
- A unique combination of integrated ROV:s, sensors, robotics and sustainable destruction technology gives a complete solution for sea dumped ammunition.
DS Mobile laboratory for lifetime assessment
- The biggest challenge in ammunition stockpile management (ASM) is how to determine the stability and the remaining lifetime of the ammunition in the stockpiles.
- This is full scale laboratory for both stability testing and lifetime assessment of all types of explosives. It is combined with a remotely operated preprocessing unit for extracting samples from ammunition by dismantling, defusing and cutting.
- For the first time, advanced lifetime assessment can take place in field programs. The facility can be rented with trained staff as a complete service to avoid costly investments.
AMAK - (AL-MAYADEEN AL-KHADHRAA)
AMAK (AL-MAYADEEN AL-KHADHRAA)
AMAK is a newly established Iraqi NGO concerned with awareness and victim’s assistance, with individual efforts we try to aid as many people as possible.
WatchfulEye (WE):
WE: is an advanced application designed to warn users of the presence of mins’ danger in their surroundings. This application allows individuals to obtain live and updated information about potential mine areas and potential hazards. It contains the following features:
- Location identification: The application uses location identification technologies to determine the user’s precise location, allowing them to receive accurate warnings about mines in their proximity.
- Real-time updated data: The user is provided with real-time information about recently discovered mines in specific areas, according to authorities' approvals it can include reports on demining and area with active clearance operations.
- Custom warnings: The user can configure custom alerts based on their location and preferences, such as the required safety distance from mines areas.
- Guide: The application provides instructions on how to avoid potential mine areas and how to act in the event of an actual danger.
- Social networking: The application in later stages can allow users to exchange among themselves to share their experiences and information about mines areas.
- Report new mines: The application encourages users to report any new mines they discover to update the database via special reporting form.
The Mine Alert app is a valuable tool to ensure users' safety and provide vital information to avoid the danger of mines in their surroundings.
Radiodetection, Schonstedt and Sensors & Software
Radiodetection, Schonstedt and Sensors & Software
Radiodetection is a global leader in critical infrastructure and utility management, providing world-class equipment and solutions for loss prevention, asset management and life protection. Radiodetection
offers a wide range of solutions through its core group of brands including: Radiodetection, Schonstedt and Sensors & Software.
Schonstedt: is a world leader in the design and manufacture of Magnetic Locators which can detect ferrous metal (iron) objects up to 6 meters below the surface of the ground. Schonstedt Magnetic Locators play a crucial role in global humanitarian demining efforts, enabling the detection of mines, UXO, and ERW - especially in hard-to-reach places and on rough terrain.
Sensors & Software Inc.: is recognized worldwide as an innovative designer and manufacturer of ground penetrating radar (GPR) instrumentation and software for the detection and imaging of subsurface
objects and structures. Applications include the search for unexploded ordnance (UXO) and buried munitions, search and rescue operations to detect and locate buried people trapped beneath the ground or debris, and forensic investigations to search for buried crime victims in various contexts,including war zones.
Esri Inc, Esri CH
ESRI
“We make the world's most powerful GIS software. Esri is the global market leader in geographic information system (GIS) software, location intelligence, and mapping. Our ArcGIS technology is what the Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA Core) is built on.
Since 1969, we have supported customers with geographic science and geospatial analytics, what we call The Science of Where. We take a geographic approach to problem-solving, brought to life by modern GIS technology.
We are committed to using science and technology to build a sustainable world. Our priority has always been to support our users’ important global work with a commitment to science, sustainability, and positive change. We are engaged in long-term initiatives that aim to continually enhance the impact of GIS on humanitarian work and lead to better outcomes across our communities.”
AVOIDANCE SAFETY EQUIPMENTS
SAFER shoes - Anti mines/IED PPE
SAFER designs and provides innovative “Personal Protective Equipment by avoidance”, to help the user to cross mined or trapped areas.
- For any military or civilian personal, facing mines/IED risks
- When the user approach the foot of any metallic part, electric impulses are sent to the muscle to stop or divert immediately the foot motion.
MISSIONS
- Medical assistance
- Infiltration / exfiltration
- Route opening / C-IED Operations
- Post conflicts operations / Reconstruction
- Technical survey of suspected areas
- Quality Control / Assurance works
- Casualties evacuations
- Alternative to existing PPE
BCB International UK
BCB INTERNATIONAL, UK
BCB International UK provide personal protective equipment for hostile terrain.
At the conference we will be presenting the following equipment:
Personal Mine Extraction Kit (PMEK)
The compact and lightweight PMEK contains components to safely avoid, and map out hostile zones. For extraction of
non-engineers in an emergency situation from an area where mines or IUD’s may be present. Contents: Mine Prodder,
daylight Route Markers, night lightsticks, trip wire feeler 1200mm long, waterproof aide memoire, compact MOLLE
Pouch with secure pockets. Replacement/spares of the contents can be ordered separately.
Blast Boxers - Best for ballistic protection, hygiene and comfort
Features: Comfortable, breathable, fire Retardant, wicking Fabric. Central Ballistic Double-Layer Kevlar™, lightweight (180
gm), anti-odour and fast drying, external seams for comfort, unisex.
Helps reduce blast and fragmentation injuries to the groin and inner thigh.
These include blast injuries which can result in femoral artery lacerations, a ruptured colon or loss in genitalia.
The special comfortable Kevlar™ fabric is positioned around the crucial zones : groin, inner leg to protect femoral artery
and perineal area below.
AIM – Advanced Illuminated Marker
This tactical dispenser is easily loaded with 20 illumination devices, fits comfortably into your hand and is deployed with
one hand. The AIM tablets come in a variety of colours, plus Infra-Red, giving a clear and consistent reference point,
highly visible at night and clearly seen with the naked eye at 250 Meters.
Global Clearance Solutions AG
Global Clearance Solutions AG
DEMINING & EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE DISPOSAL
We create safe environments – across the globe, GCS eliminates explosive threats and restores habitats. Integrating our own innovative, proven technology with on-the-ground operational expertise, we remove landmines and other
explosive remnants of war safely and sustainably.
We are an owner-managed, independent company headquartered in Switzerland with engineering and production facilities in Germany and regional offices world-wide.
Remoquip Remote Control Machines and Systems
Remoquip Remote Control Machines and Systems
The Remoquip systems enable conventional equipment such as excavators, wheel loaders, skid steers, dumpers, etc to operate remotely in high risk environments such as landmine and ordnance removal. By utilizing standard equipment, organisations engaged in this work experience large cost saving benefits over the use of dedicated de-mining equipment. Furthermore as a result of operating conventional equipment these operators have access to worldwide parts and service networks established by the major manufacturers. We ship our machines and systems worldwide to the locations where our customers operate.
www.remoquip.com
Conference Location
Centre International de Conférences Genève
Rue de Varembé 17,
1202 Genève, Switzerland
Donors
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) Switzerland
German Humanitarian Assistance
Conference team contacts
For any queries, please contact the GICHD: innovation@gichd.org
For media queries, please contact: l.collier(at)gichd.org