From Conflict Zones to the Classroom Using a Lifetime of Security & Risk Management Experience to Prepare Others for High-Risk Environments

A Practitioner’s Journey from Operations to Training

After more than three decades working in complex and often hostile environments, Andy Williams MSyl has turned his focus to preparing others for similar challenges — this time from the training room rather than the field. Drawing on a career in global security and risk management, he now helps course attendees translate their experience into meaningful employment within the commercial, humanitarian, and crisis management sectors, providing the insight, context and confidence needed to succeed.

Operational Experience in High-Risk and Humanitarian Contexts

As an Army veteran, Andy went on to establish and manage private military, security, and logistics companies in conflict zones, before leading security and risk operations for major humanitarian organisations. His work has taken him to Ukraine, Iraq, Gaza, Afghanistan, Syria, Rwanda, Jordan and the DRC, where he designed and implemented pragmatic, ethical, and culturally sensitive security strategies in some of the world’s most volatile environments.

Building Real-World Capability through Peritus Global Training

Through his company, Peritus Global Training, Andy and his expert team — 90% of whom are veterans — deliver bespoke, modern and practical training and consultancy, designed specifically for real-world application. Their programs equip individuals and organisations to operate safely, effectively, and ethically in demanding environments, whether planning missions, conducting frontline assessments, or supporting critical humanitarian projects.

Acceptance-Based Security and Professional Judgement

Unlike traditional military environments, humanitarian operations rely heavily on acceptance-based security, community engagement, risk awareness and ethical decision-making — areas where Peritus Global specialises.

What Peritus Global Training Delivers

Training programmes cover a wide range of specialist areas, including:

• Security & Risk Management for NGOs (SRCM)

• Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT)

• Crisis and Disaster Management

• Duty of Care and Organisational Responsibility

• Safeguarding and Ethical Decision-Making

Courses are jargon-free, flexible, and affordable, delivered by instructors with recent, lived experience in NGOs, private security, and commercial risk roles — not just theoretical knowledge. Unlike providers focused on theatrical or “cosplay” training, Peritus avoids unnecessary role-play such as resistance-to-interrogation scenarios, focusing instead on realistic, scenario-based learning and professional judgement.

Supporting Career Transition and Organisational Resilience

Every Peritus course is tailored to challenge, inform and support, giving participants the ability to make sound decisions, communicate confidently, and avoid unnecessary risks. The result is training that is interactive, grounded in operational reality, and directly relevant to employment pathways in humanitarian, development and private-sector security roles.

Explore upcoming HEAT and Security, Risk & Crisis Management courses via our Book Online page, or contact Peritus Global Training to discuss tailored programmes for your organisation.

The Kokcha River, rising in the rugged Hindu Kush mountains and winding through Faizabad in Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan — captured during a humanitarian programme management visit.