CBERProf. Peter Cook

Prof. Peter Cook has unparalleled experience of private maritime security, he consults for the UN's Global Maritime Crime Programme and a major flag State. As the CEO of the Security Association for the Maritime Industry (SAMI) he worked very closely with international government organisations (IMO, CGPCS, EC), alongside international shipping associations, flag and coastal States, marine insurers, admiralty lawyers and naval coalition forces at the strategic level. He was instrumental in the introduction of the internationally recognised regulatory structure for privately contracted armed security personnel (PCASP) onto commercial ships transiting the High-Risk Area (HRA) of the Indian Ocean. Within a year of the establishment of SAMI and the introduction of PCASP pirates stopped hijacking ships in the HRA. Twice listed on the Lloyd's List Top 100 of most influential people in the shipping industry. A former Royal Marines Officer who spent a significant part of his 24-year career involved in aspects of maritime security from maritime counter terrorism to formulating counter piracy policy and procedures for the UK Ministry of Defence. He is the joint Founder and Director of PCA Maritime Ltd; an independent consultancy company providing strategic level consultancy on maritime security and the utilisation of private maritime security providers. Peter is a Visiting Lecturer at University of Greenwich having also lectured at Oxford, Portsmouth, and the World Maritime University. He writes regularly on maritime security topics, often commenting in the media on maritime security related issues. He has recently moved to Australia and will be focusing on the regional aspects of maritime security the Indo-Pacific area from a public and private perspective.