Matt Minshall - Matt is the owner of Translucidus and the founder of Beyond Language. He has 25 years of government defence and security experience during which time he spent considerable time in the Gulf region. He has been a private consultant since 1999 and his chosen role is to match GCC requirements with innovative capabilities from UK and the wider EU. In normal circumstances he travels to the GCC several times every year. Deeply conscious from experience of the barriers caused by a lack of awareness between cultures, he is the Founder of Beyond Language which teaches people and businesses how to interact better, particularly for the Arab World.
Beyond Languages Team and Associates
Beyond Language Management Team
Mark Roberts - During a 20 year UK Government career, he travelled extensively and worked in several different countries, learning a great deal about how working with different cultures can cause friction without proper preparation. Employed by the UAE Government, living in Abu Dhabi for 6 years, he was embedded in a UAE team as a senior advisor. In the Corporate world he was based in Dubai, managing projects across the UAE, Jordan and Egypt. His Masters Degree is in Defence with a focus on leadership and Gulf Security issues.
Since 2013, as the owner of a Consultancy Company - www.robertsglobal.co.uk -
he provides support to companies entering the GCC region and has local partners in KSA, Jordan and the UAE to help deliver business success. As a Founder of Beyond Language, he has conducted training and workshops for various commercial companies and UK Government Departments.
Beyond Language Associates
Iman Al-Ahmed - Iman is a Saudi national who has now relocated to the UK following the completion of her MBA at the University of East Anglia in Norwich. She has ten years banking experience covering both the retail and corporate sides, where she most recently supported international companies in respect of their banking and other requirements in Saudi Arabia and the GCC. As a trusted first of point of contact for her clients, she provided a broad range of advice and support to them in respect of their regional business activities. Iman is currently working as a consultant providing banking, training and advisory services. She is the specialist GCC banking adviser to Translucidus and Beyond Language. linkedin.com/in/iman-alahmed
David Hatcher - A senior Defence and Security professional with extensive direct face to face experience advising current, former and future UK and overseas Ministers, other politicians, very senior civilian and military officials, CEOs and Board Members of companies from multinational conglomerates to SMEs, especially in defence and aerospace. Expertise includes defence, diplomacy, security and intelligence, especially in the commercial sector. Former Regional Director at the Department of International Trade (Defence Sales) for Asia, Pacific and the Americas. Former Director of Resources for the Saudi Armed Forces Projects and former Honorary Secretary of the Saudi-British Society. In addition to his native language of English David also learned Arabic at the Middle East Centre for Arab Studies (MECAS), has a degree in French and has qualifications in several other languages, including Spanish. https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-hatcher-228912a/
Dr Roger Warren - Roger is a principal adviser to Translucidus for Beyond Language Training. He is an Assistant Professor on the Terrorism, Risk & Security Studies Program at Simon Fraser University (Vancouver), with a particular focus on Arab and Western foreign fighters. He is former British Army officer (lieutenant colonel) with a PhD in International Relations. He has considerable Arab and Muslim States experience. Drawing on his ability to speak and read Arabic, much of his academic research has been leveraging Arabic social media. Roger’s experience and academic training ensure that he is well placed to offer his considerable experience of Arab culture.
Hosam Mostafa - A Director of Programmes/Projects/Transformation and Chief Engineer with extensive experience across change, transformation, consultancy, operations, manufacturing, safety and airworthiness, civil nuclear defueling and operations, infrastructure, information technology, Defence and NATO, international management and engagements and the London 2012 Olympic Games. Holding one of only 300 UK Government Programme/Project Director licences, having managed multi £Bn Defence, infrastructure and International Programmes. Extensive experience as the Chief Engineer and Programme Director for the UK-Saudi Arabian Government to Government agreement with responsibility for delivering new aircraft and weapons capability/capacity and refreshing existing inventory. Hosam maintains an active professional network, presenting on Risk and Programmes to international committees and universities (Oxford and Dubai), independent support to various charities in the development of strategies aligned to Government policies, the United Nations on migration and reduction of displaced people movement, theft of antiquities and training of museums and authorities, support to UNESCO on African museums.
