Our talented team is driven by an unwavering passion for achieving success for our clients, ensuring that every project is approached with dedication and enthusiasm.
We thrive on pioneering new ideas and solutions, consistently pushing the boundaries of what’s possible to deliver innovative approaches that exceed expectations.
With our deep Middle East expertise, and over 20 years’ experience, we are relied upon to provide tailored solutions that address the unique challenges of each situation. Clients trust us to deliver with precision and effectiveness
We recognise the power of internal and external collaboration and believe that by working together, we can achieve better outcomes. We foster a culture of inclusive teamwork, where diverse perspectives come together to drive excellence.
Established over two decades, we have built a legacy of trust and reliability. Our commitment to investing locally ensures that we will continue to serve our communities for years to come, solidifying our position as a cornerstone of excellence in our industry.
Chris is the Chairman of ESSURA which traces its origins back to Olive Group which he co-founded in 2001, and more recently Restrata, where Chris is also the Chairman and Co-founder. He is an investor, entrepreneur and operator with a 20+ year track record of building businesses and creating shareholder value. He has extensive experience and knowledge of the safety and security sector in the UK and Middle East and has operated in some of the world’s most challenging environments and complex sectors. Prior to his business career, Chris served as an officer in the British Army.
Tim is the CFO of ESSURA and is an experienced finance professional with a track record of working with growth companies to create value. Formerly a partner at KPMG, he has worked extensively in emerging and developing economies and has experience of managing multiple stakeholders in complex environments. He is also the CFO of Restrata and was the Group CFO of Olive Group.
Gordon is Executive Director of ESSURA and brings a wealth of experience in managing large city infrastructure, transport, sports and energy developments worldwide. He was Major Projects Director with Mott MacDonald working with them for twenty seven years with particular emphasis in the Middle East and Post Conflict arenas. Gordon serves, and has served, on a number of Boards and Advisory Committees including Infrastructure Exports: UK where he Co-Chaired the Saudi initiative, Co-Chairman of the Egyptian/British Chamber of Commerce, UK/Ukrainian Government Task Force for Reconstruction and Technical Advisory Committee Member on Trade negotiations for the UK.
Simon is the Operations Director of ESSURA and has over 30 years consultancy experience. He has worked as a consultant in the safety and security sector for over 20 of those years, holding senior positions with Symonds Group and more latterly Capita and WSP. He has worked on many high profile prestigious projects including the City of London Ring of Steel, the London Congestion Charging Scheme and Police Reform in Guyana. As a Chartered engineering and managerial professional he has a passion for attention to detail and the drive to ensure client satisfaction that has left a legacy of better outcomes across numerous sectors and locations worldwide.
Darren is a Senior Adviser to ESSURA’s Board and a highly experienced commercial operator and digital transformation specialist. He has spent the last 25 years in medium and large-scale organisations running successful businesses in the UK and the Middle East focused across the Security, Safety, Engineering and Education sectors. Darren was a senior executive of Olive Group and is a former MD at Capita Group plc where he managed the £220m revenue Learning and Education Division which included the World’s largest Emergency Services and National Resilience training facility located in the UK.
Christopher leads our Security Consultancy services team, bringing two decades of multi-discipline experience, primarily in property and buildings, development master planning, and infrastructure. He specialises in risk management, urban security planning, crowded places protection, policy development, and systems implementation. His numerous security qualifications include a Master of International Security Studies, and CPP®, Certified Protection Professional, Board Certified in Security Management by ASIS International.
As Technical Director of ESSURA’s IT Consultancy, Rob leads a dedicated team delivering bespoke IT solutions that exceed client expectations. He brings over 25 years of experience in IT infrastructure design, programme leadership, and consultancy. As a BICSI Registered Communications Distribution Designer (RCDD) and a proven leader, Rob has successfully delivered iconic projects, from state-of-the-art data centres and stadiums to complex airport infrastructure and world-class events like the London 2012 Olympics. Renowned for his hands-on, practical approach, Rob excels at coordinating multidisciplinary teams, fostering collaboration, and ensuring seamless project execution.
Meg leads ESSURA’s Geostrategic Intelligence capability, supporting senior leaders in the energy, maritime, and aviation sectors as they make their most consequential decisions. Since 2001, Meg has developed ESSURA’s ability to provide decision-ready judgement in complex environments across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Latin America drawing on long-standing professional relationships across public and private sectors, and the insight of senior subject-matter experts.
Richard is a Principal Security Consultant and provides technical oversight to ESSURA’s Security Consultancy projects and activities. He also provides support to the team and assists in the development of personnel. Richard has over 20 years global experience in security engineering and consultancy services. He specialises in risk management, strategic planning and design services across multiple sectors. His experience spans projects of all sizes from smaller specialist facilities to large scale mega, and giga-projects where he advises on planning, design and operational requirements.
Anna is responsible for all of ESSURA’s people functions, overseeing the company’s HR and recruiting operations. Anna has over 15 years of HR and recruitment leadership experience, holding positions including Head of Resourcing, and Group HR Manager for Olive Group and more recently similar roles for Restrata. She started her career working as a head-hunter focused on emerging markets.
Alexandra leads our CAD Production and BIM team, bringing over 15 years of multi-discipline experience primarily in the construction, architecture, and security industries. She specialises in the production of high quality, focused technical packages, creative graphics and 3D modelling. Alexandra has a degree in Architectural Interior Design, and has also undertaken intensive training on BIM Level 2 BS1192/2 Project Information Management.