Jose Sousa-Santos

 Jose has over twenty years’ experience addressing complex challenges in dynamic and high-risk environments. His expertise lies in transnational organised crime, terrorism, cultural and human terrain analysis, and security risk assessments for private and government sectors.

He is a recognised expert in the nexus between transnational crime and terrorism; state and non-state disrupters and spoilers in the Indo Pacific region; and countering foreign interference.

Mr Sousa-Santos was formerly an advisor to HE Dr José Ramos-Horta during his terms as prime minister and president, and a lead analyst with the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) Joint Mission Analysis Centre.

He is a member of the Pacific Reset Advisory Group and the New Zealand Volunteer Service Abroad Council. He is a doctoral scholar at the Joint Centre for Disaster Research at Massey University on the nexus between transnational crime and climate insecurity in the Pacific Islands region, and holds a degree in Master of International Relations from Victoria University of Wellington. Mr Sousa-Santos formerly served with the Australian Defence Force and is the founder and managing director of Strategika Group.

With a background in defence and police intelligence, he has also served with the United Nations and humanitarian agencies.