Mike Kennedy is a seasoned professional in the field of munitions clearance and search engineering. With an extensive background in the military as a commissioned officer in the Royal Engineers, Kennedy has garnered an impressive skill set in explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), improvised explosive device (IED) clearance, and mine action services. His military service includes deployments to Belize, Afghanistan, and Northern Ireland, where he was instrumental in significant ordinance disposal and IED encounters. After transitioning to civilian sectors, Kennedy leveraged his expertise to benefit humanitarian demining efforts, such as working with Danish Church Aid and leading operations in Iraq for a commercial demining company. Currently, Mike Kennedy holds a leadership position at Artios Global, contributing his vast experience to developing international standards for IED clearance and providing training capacity development projects worldwide.…

Lou McGrath OBE is an esteemed figure in the field of humanitarian mine clearance. With a brief military career and a passion ignited by the aftermath of the Russian withdrawal from Afghanistan, McGrath has been a relentless advocate for the safety and skill enhancement of d-mining and search clearance engineers. Co-founder of the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) and a member of the founding organizations of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), Lou has dedicated much of his life to the eradication of landmines and the safe clearance of unexploded ordnance worldwide. Through his commitment, he has played a significant role in shaping the policies and practices around explosive ordnance disposal and contributing to the global movement against the use of landmines. Lou McGrath's background and the founding of the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) highlighted a significant void in post-conflict mine clearance which the organization aimed to fill through training local populations. The transformation of mine clearance work acceptance, moving from reactive to proactive, ensuring safety, and building local capacities during ongoing conflicts. The influence of Princess Diana in elevating the landmine issue to a global stage, contributing to shifts in policy and perspectives on the destructive legacy of these weapons. The critical nature of coordinated efforts, shared knowledge, and the importance of organizations like the Institute of Munitions Clearance and Search Engineers in promoting effective solutions in explosive ordnance disposal. McGrath's advocacy for inclusivity in demining roles, paving the way for gender equality and opportunities for amputees in the sector. Quotes "The thing with a landmine is it's victim activated...if you leave a landmine there and you do nothing about it, in 30 years' time when the conflict's long forgotten, a young child might be playing in that area and activate that landmine." "We needed to actually train people with the ability to carry out safe clearance and become a local organization." "[Princess Diana] became the person who we were able to persuade to take on board this campaign. And it was through her that governments began moving forward." "It's what you do...isn't this in any sort of profession in life, you have to be able to bring about the best expertise, exchange knowledge and information." "But the benefits and the value of was people with lots of limbs could never get jobs in a lot of countries...Being able to go in as a team...and the whole of the village can see that you're clearing their village changes...and made people think, well, he's just as whole as I am."…

This engaging discussion in the IMCSE podcast features Colin King, a seasoned expert in munitions clearance and weapons intelligence. Colin shares his journey from childhood fascination with explosives to his current role as the Chief Intelligence Officer at Fenix Insight Limited, providing insights into the various conflict zones he has worked in. He stresses mechanisms of gathering open-source intelligence, including artificial intelligence, and the necessity of sharing this information in conflict zones like Ukraine. He discusses how climate changeis impacting their work and advocates for the necessary regulation and structured approach in explosive ordinance disposal. The insightful podcast sheds light on the vital role of the explosive ordinance disposal community in post-conflict recovery and the various technical and operational challenges they face. To become a member of IMCSE you can sign up https://imcse.org/membership/membership-subscriptions/ Quotes: Colin King-(0:07:37) "It can't get more visceral, more personal than that, really." Colin King-(0:08:12) "If we do nothing, people will try and help themselves the best way they can, because they have no choice." Colin King-(0:10:44) "The ability to correctly identify weapons, to understand their effects and to understand the risks involved and how to control and apply controls to those risks is vital." Colin King-(0:11:53) "The realization that people on the ground need to understand, need to have access to technical detail, technical intelligence." Colin King-(0:13:22) "There is information everywhere. Some of it's right, some of it's wrong. Most of it is utterly irrelevant." Colin King-(0:14:18) "The machines still need training by people that know what they're doing, and that takes time." Colin King-(0:16:21) "A lot of detection technology has been really incremental in change. It hasn't made a step change." Colin King-(0:17:19) "The likelihood is that there will be residual contamination, and assessing that risk and controlling that risk becomes more important." Colin King-(0:19:42) "It's all about cooperation. It's all about the ability to marshal those resources and use other people's expertise to cover the gaps in your own knowledge." Colin King-(0:25:30) "The quick answer is an absolute fascination with the subject coupled with a perception of real need in the communities we work with." Learn about Colin's company Fenix insight and the work they do - https://www.fenix-insight.online/ Connect with Colin on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colin-king-053a4b48/…

Roland Alford, CEO of Alford Technologies, discusses the role of his explosive technology company in munitions clearance and disposal. He explains how their tools are used in scenarios such as historical munitions left over from war, training areas, and current threats like bombs and missiles. Alford describes the process of disrupting a bomb using their explosive charges and highlights the importance of reliability in choosing the right tool. He also discusses the challenges of working in conflict zones and the innovative solutions they have developed to transport and use their tools safely. Takeaways Alford Technologies specializes in designing and manufacturing explosive charges for munitions disposal. Their charges have a high success rate in breaking apart bombs and making them safe. Collaboration and information sharing within the industry are crucial for effective munitions clearance. The use of non-conventional explosives and self-loaded ammunition helps overcome logistical challenges in conflict zones. Quotes "We're using explosives against a bomb to break it up and make it safe." "Our charges have a high success rate, making them the ideal choice when dealing with sensitive areas." "Every time a bomb is dealt with, the country becomes safer and better." "The ultimate goal is the end of the need for munitions clearance." "Technology advancements in searching and analyzing data will speed up the clearance process." Alford Technologies Website - www.explosives.net Roland Alford on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/roland-alford-ceng-finstre-fimeche-mimcse-miexpe-22a5a929/ The Institute of Munitions, Clearance and Search Engineers - https://imcse.org/…