In this episode of Talk’n TRM, host Bex Deadman is joined by Christine Connolley, Senior Global Crisis Manager at BCD Travel and a leading voice in travel risk management.

Based in Denver, Christine plays a critical role in helping organisations fulfil their duty of care. At BCD Travel, she is part of an innovative team that develops robust TRM programmes, monitors global risk exposure, and responds rapidly to incidents as they arise. She also works as a consultant with Advito, delivering programme and policy development, guided security sourcing, and Traveller Security Programme Assessments to evaluate and strengthen organisational resilience.

Christine shares insights from her work supporting a mobile global workforce and helping businesses align their travel programmes with industry standards. With extensive experience in crisis response and policy design, she explains the importance of tailoring TRM strategies to match organisational maturity and evolving global threats.

Contact Bex:

[email protected]

Contact Christine:

Welcome back to Talk'n TRM: The Traveller Files!

This episode is Part 2 of our special 3-part series, Helen's Story. In Part 1, we shared Helen’s experience and that of her colleague, "Emily", who was travelling with her when Helen had a medical emergency.

Today, I’m joined by Jessica Inglis as we dive into the importance of not only having travel insurance but also knowing the key details. 

Bex also reveals the end of Helen's story. Stick around for Part 3, where we’ll unpack the lessons learned from Helen's experience with expert Jennifer Milton.

Don’t miss this engaging discussion that combines real-life stories, decision-making dilemmas, and practical insights for travellers everywhere.

Share your perspective with Bex on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/talk-n-trm-the-podcast/about/

In this episode of Talk’n TRM, host Bex Deadman is joined by Ceri McQueen, Global Travel Security Lead at Dyson.

Ceri shares her inspiring journey into the world of corporate and travel security, having entered the field from a non-security background. With over six years of experience, she discusses how she developed her career and passion for creating inclusive, effective travel risk management strategies.

In this episode, Ceri highlights the importance of having a robust travel risk management programme and how aligning with ISO 31030 helps organisations better understand and mitigate travel-related risks. She also emphasises the value of being considerate of different traveller profiles, ensuring programmes support the diverse needs of employees across the business.

A strong advocate for diversity in the security industry, Ceri also touches on the importance of fostering a positive workplace culture and encouraging greater female representation in the field.

All views/comments by Ceri are independent and do not represent the views of the organisation, and these comments are not on behalf of Dyson.

Contact Bex:

[email protected]

In this first episode of this three-part Traveller Files series, host Bex Deadman shares the anonymised story of "Helen"—a business traveller who experiences a sudden medical emergency while on a work trip in the United States.

This episode recounts Helen’s experience and that of her colleague, "Emily", who was travelling with her. When Helen has a medical episode, Emily is thrust into a high-pressure situation—communicating with paramedics, managing hospital admissions, and trying to navigate the complexities of travel insurance, all while in an unfamiliar environment.

Helen’s Story is a human reminder of why Travel Risk Management matters—and why the experiences of individual travellers should be at the heart of every organisation’s approach.

In this episode of Talk’n TRM, host Bex Deadman is joined by Elizabeth Anderson, Manager of Global Travel Operations at Inmarsat (acquired by Viasat in 2023). With a career that began in leisure travel, Elizabeth has spent nearly a decade at Inmarsat, where she transitioned into corporate travel and led the development of their Travel Risk Management (TRM) protocols.

Elizabeth shares her passion for traveller safety and how she continues to evolve the company’s TRM programme by fostering collaboration across departments and stakeholders. She speaks about the importance of truly knowing your travellers—not just where they’re going, but who they are and what risks may be specific to them.

In this episode, Elizabeth highlights the value of engaging directly with travellers to build profiles that support personalised risk assessments and decision-making. She also discusses how TRM resources and frameworks can help organisations identify gaps and create robust, adaptable programmes.

Contact Bex:

[email protected]

In this special extended episode of Talk’n TRM, host Bex Deadman is joined by three expert guests — Joël Marier, Mike Blakey, and Julian Penney — to explore the newly released ISO 31031: Managing Risks for Youth and School Trips.

All three guests played a key role in the development of this important international standard. As members of ISO Working Group 9 (WG9), Joël, Mike, and Julian were part of a team of more than 30 global experts who contributed comments, suggestions, and expertise to improve and shape the final standard.

In this episode, the group discusses the origins of ISO 31031, why it was needed, and how it supports those involved in planning and managing youth and school travel. 

Drawing on their own experiences in education, travel safety, and standards development, Joël, Mike, and Julian share their insights on what makes ISO 31031 so significant and how it sets a new benchmark for safety in youth and school travel.

Links

Contact Bex:

[email protected]

Contact Joël:

Welcome to the final part of our 3-part series, April’s Story, on Talk’n TRM: The Traveller Files!

In Part 1, we shared April’s real-life travel story and left you with a difficult choice to consider. In Part 2, I was joined by Jessica Inglis as we discussed how we might feel in April’s position, and what decisions we would have made. Now, in Part 3, we bring everything together.

I’m joined by the incredible Carolyn Pearson—CEO and Founder of maiden-voyage.com—a true pioneer in Inclusive Travel Security. Carolyn’s work focuses on empowering individuals, corporations, and travel providers to make travel safer and more inclusive for everyone, no matter their background, identity, or circumstances.

In this episode, Carolyn brings her wealth of experience and insight to offer practical advice on how to handle complex and high-stress travel situations like April’s. We discuss the importance of empathy, preparedness, and inclusive risk management in real-world travel.

If you wish to share your own travel story anonymously,  please contact Bex at [email protected].

8Phase Consulting - https://8phaseconsulting.com/

Bex Deadman Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bex-deadman-aka-travel-risk-bex-70b92419/

Clemark Studios - https://www.clemarkgroup.com/studio/

Assent Risk Management - www.assentriskmanagement.co.uk

#TravelRiskManagement #InclusiveTravel #BusinessTravel #TalknTRM #AprilStory #MaidenVoyage #TravelSecurity #Podcast #WomenInSecurity #DutyOfCare

In this episode of Talk’n TRM, host Bex Deadman is joined by Bryan Conant, a seasoned safety and security professional with over a decade of experience across personal security, GSOC operations, intelligence analytics, building security, and travel risk management.

Now working within the travel industry, Bryan is pioneering a new business model focused on improving safety for leisure travellers. Combining his passion for travel and security, he is adapting ISO 31030 and ISO 31031 standards—typically applied to corporate travel risk management—into frameworks designed to protect non-corporate and leisure travellers.

Bryan shares his fascinating journey from the security industry into travel, highlighting the often-overlooked risks of leisure travel and the lack of contingency planning that many people neglect when organising holidays. He also discusses the knowledge gap surrounding security in leisure travel and the importance of incorporating practical safety measures.

Bryan also provides valuable insights and practical advice, offering his top tips on staying safe while travelling, whether for business or pleasure.

Join Bex and Bryan as they delve into how security practices can enhance the travel experience, empowering travellers to feel more confident and prepared wherever they go.

Podcast Links

Defensive driving video and interview with the driver

USA Smart Traveler Program

Contact Bex:

[email protected]

Contact Bryan:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61568564399936

https://www.foratravel.com/advisor/bryan-conant

In this episode of Talk'n TRM, host Bex Deadman is joined by Stan Ayscue, a seasoned security professional with over 20 years of experience in international risk management and bespoke security consulting. Currently working with Exlog Global, a veteran-owned risk solutions provider, Stan draws on his extensive expertise to help clients mitigate risks and protect their people and assets.

Stan’s impressive career includes serving as an Airborne Team Leader in the 82nd Airborne Division at Ft. Bragg (now Fort Liberty), NC, and working across 25+ countries, including Pakistan, Ukraine, Nigeria, and Mexico. His areas of expertise range from journey management and intelligence to maritime security, covert investigations, and insider threat solutions.

Stan and Bex discuss how the travel risk management industry has evolved over the years, particularly in how people source information. Social media has transformed the way risks are assessed, but Stan emphasises the importance of focusing on the risk, not just the threat. He encourages critical thinking by asking questions such as “Yes, but what else?” and consistently challenging assumptions with “Why?”.

Stan also shares his unique perspective on the evolving security landscape, encouraging businesses and individuals to think critically and proactively about risk.

This episode is packed with expert insights on travel risk management, strategic thinking, and the importance of staying ahead in an ever-changing world.

Contact Bex:

[email protected]

Contact Stan:

Home | Exlog Global

Email:

#TalknTRM #TravelRiskManagement #ISOStandards #SustainableTourism #YouthSafety #RiskManagement #Governance #InternationalStandards 

In this episode of Talk'n TRM, host Bex Deadman is joined by Joël Marier, a passionate advocate for safety, sustainability, and social impact. With extensive experience in social enterprise, strategic planning, risk management, and international standards development, Joël has dedicated his career to creating safer, more inclusive environments for vulnerable groups, including youth.

Joël shares his journey into the world of standards development, which began with a tragic news story about a young boy who lost his life during a canoeing trip. This event inspired him to take action, ensuring such incidents could be prevented in the future. His work then has since focused on international standards like ISO 31010 and ISO 31031, which aim to enhance risk management and travel safety.

With a career rooted in creating positive change, Joël emphasises the importance of proactive risk management, effective governance, and collaboration to drive innovation and safety in travel risk management.

Contact Bex:

[email protected]

Contact Joël:

#TalknTRM #TravelRiskManagement #ISOStandards #SustainableTourism #YouthSafety #RiskManagement #Governance #InternationalStandards