Peter Ashwin is the principal and founder of Event Risk Management Solutions (ERMS), a consulting practice committed to enabling event organizers, host cities and public safety authorities to meet the challenges of delivering safe and secure events in today’s uncertain and complex world. Peter’s professional career has spanned 35 years including 15 years’ military service within the Australian Army /Special Forces and as a major event security professional. He has consulted to and/or led multi-national teams across ten countries including seven Olympic Games (2000 – 2024), 2015 Cricket World Cup (Australia/NZ), the 2015 Baku European Games (Azerbaijan), Lake Placid 2023 World University Winter Games and FIFA World Cup 2026 Boston. More locally, Peter has conducted event security and resilience reviews for festivals and events across the USA and Canada, ranging from grass roots through to some of the most iconic festivals and events.

DAVID BORN, CPP, CSSP David Born is the Senior Director, Business Services for Prevent Advisors. He has over 30 years of experience in security and event management. Expertise includes physical security and safety, crowd management, training, compliance, investigation, risk management and strategic planning. Mr. Born has experience in high-profile events including the NBA Finals, NBA All-Star Games, NHL Stanley Cup Final, NHL All-Star Game, NFL Super Bowl, 2020 NBA Restart in Orlando, Florida; Grammy Awards, NFL Pro Bowl, MLS Finals, NCAA Basketball Regionals, NCAA Frozen Four, MLB All-Star Game, and numerous concerts and other events. Prior to working at Prevent Advisors, Born was the Senior Director of Security for Crypto.com Arena (formerly STAPLES Center). At the arena he oversaw security operations at the home of the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers, the NHL's Los Angeles Kings, the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks, the annual Grammy Awards, concerts, and other events. Prior to STAPLES Center, Born served as the Director of Security for Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. Prior to his time at Dignity Health Sports Park, Born worked as the Senior Director of Guest Services and Security at Enterprise Center and the St. Louis Blues in St. Louis, Missouri. Before that Born also worked in executive facility positions with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres. Born is a Certified Protection Professional (CPP) with ASIS International and a Certified Sports Security Professional (CSSP) through the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4). He is also an active member of the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM), the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4) and current faculty member of the Academy for Venue Safety and Security. He has been a speaker at numerous security and crowd management conferences. Born has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from San Diego State University, a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix and a Post- Graduate Certificate in Security Management from Buckinghamshire New University

Bryan Frieders is the retired Fire Chief of the Pasadena (CA) Fire Department. He has more than 31 years of Fire/EMS experience in a variety of assignments ranging from Operations to Emergency Management. Bryan holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration, a Bachelor’s Degree in Vocational Education, and an Associate’s Degree in Fire Technology.

Andy is co-founder and Managing Director of The Gate 15 Company and founder and Senior Advisor to the Faith-Based Information Sharing & Analysis Organization (FB-ISAO) and the Cannabis Information Sharing & Analysis Organization (Cannabis ISAO). Andy oversees Gate 15 team and projects, providing Gate 15’s threat-informed and risk-based approach to analysis, resilience and operations in support of private sector and government partners across the critical infrastructure and broader homeland security environment, including support to the several information sharing and analysis centers and organizations. Andy is a member of the International Association of Venue Managers Venue Safety & Security Committee and serves as faculty for IAVM’s Academy for Venue Safety & Security. He served six years on the InfraGardNCR Board and remains an Exofficio Board member. Andy is an Army veteran with deployments to Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan, and is married to his college sweetheart and is father to a recent Virginia Tech Hokie graduate and a University of Central Florida Knight.

Alex Keen is Principal at Keen Independent Research, a consulting firm with offices in Phoenix and Denver. He leads the firm's practice areas in management and operational assessment, risk analysis and feasibility planning for the arts, culture, entertainment and venue management sectors.
Before becoming a Consultant, Alex worked as Venue Manager for the MCC Performing Arts Center in Mesa, AZ and across the country in various other management and technical positions the entertainment world. During his time as a Technical Director, Alex became an ETCP Certified Rigger-Theatre and was trained in rope access and rope
rescue.
Alex currently serves as faculty for the IAVM Academy for Venue Safety and Security teaching risk management, is on the IAVM Venue Safety and Security Committee and is Chair of the IAVM University Venue Safety and Security Subcommittee. He is also Adjunct Faculty at the University of Denver, teaching graduate arts and culture management courses.
Alex graduated from the University of Denver with a Master of Science in Security Management and Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies in Theatre and Urban Planning. Alex is a proud graduate of the IAVM Academy for Venue Safety and Security and Venue Management School!

Joe Levy serves as the Assistant General Manager of Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY, and holds key leadership roles as the current Chair for the Academy for Venue Safety & Security and past Chair of the Venue Safety & Security Committee for IAVM. With over three decades in venue management, Joe is a respected industry leader with expertise in managing multi-million-dollar operating budgets, intricate physical plant operations, and complex construction projects, always emphasizing safety and security. Joe's career includes pivotal roles such as Chief Operating Officer at Usdan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts, Executive Vice President and Deputy Director for Operations at The National September 11 Memorial & Museum, General Manager & Managing Director of Operations at Harlem’s Apollo Theater, and Director of Operations at Kaufman Center. His extensive experience across various public assembly venues has given him a deep understanding of the evolving needs and challenges of safety and security mana

Wayne Middleton has over 35 years experience in public venues, major events, professional sports and the entertainment industry. He is the founder of Australian-based risk management consultancy, Reliance Risk in 2007. and was the founder of software, Risk Manager, acquired by Momentus Technologies in 2022. Wayne's areas of expertise include risk management, security, safety, business resilience, risk information management systems, emergency planning, and business continuity. Wayne has consulted on venue and event risk projects in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Papua New Guinea and the Middle East. He held roles including the Global Vice President of Risk for Momentus Technologies, Director of Safety for the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympic Games and the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. Wayne holds a Masters in Risk Management, BA in Administration, Diploma in Security Risk Management, is a certified Management System Auditor and holds a CVE awarded by IAVM.

Joey Sampson is an attorney with 18-plus years of litigation experience, including handling lawsuits involving venue safety and security. He enjoys helping businesses and individuals make tough decisions, resolve difficult problems, and succeed. He prioritizes building trust with others and relishes the lawyer-counselor role, seeking to provide advice to his clients to efficiently resolve issues, achieve their goals, and avoid litigation. But sometimes litigation is necessary, and since joining McCathern in 2007 and later becoming a partner with the firm, Joey has garnered extensive experience and developed a successful practice litigating matters for plaintiffs and defendants. He handles cases in all areas of business and civil litigation and also consults companies regarding risk management and insurance, employment issues, and general business and contract matters. A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Joey attended and graduated magna cum laude from the University of Georgia, where he earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree, majoring in Risk Management and Insurance. Joey’s strong risk management and insurance background allows him to bring a unique perspective to both consulting businesses and his litigation practice. Joey earned his law degree from Baylor University School of Law.

Born and raised in Decatur, GA, Harriet Thomas was attracted to the business of sports and events at an early age. Harriet studied Public Relations at Clark Atlanta University before becoming a Certified Social Emotional Intelligence Coach advancing her career in talent and team development. Harriet has over 20 years of combined experience in leisure and live events leading cultural business initiatives during high profile events for Super Bowl LIII, the 2018 National College Football Championship Game, over 100 Atlanta Falcons Football Game Days, 10 SEC Football Championship Games, 2 NCAA Men’s Final Four Basketball Tournaments, and a host of concerts, conventions, and consumer shows attracting over 3 million spectators annually. Currently serving as the Director of Talent Development and Communications at Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA, Harriet develops strategies to teach venue and event professionals how to work together to achieve common goals. Harriet strategically partners with Georgia high school and college career centers to foster an intergenerational business community to strengthen the culture of performance in live events.