Based in South Africa, Shawn leads Control Risks’ Business Intelligence and Global Risks Analysis practices in southern Africa. Shawn is responsible for leading and delivering on our political risk and intelligence projects, helping our clients to enter new markets and grow their businesses in a secure and resilient manner. Shawn leads on projects for a variety of clients in the financial, extractive and tech industries and regularly presents at conferences about risks and opportunities in Africa.

Prior to joining Control Risks, Shawn was the managing director of a boutique risk consulting firm and was previously a lecturer in the political studies department at the University of Cape Town and a senior analyst for an Africa-focused risk consulting firm. Shawn is originally from Canada, but has lived, worked, studied, and travelled in over 60 countries (including over 20 African countries) in the past 15 years. Shawn is an ACAMS Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) and an ASIS Professional Certified Investigator (PCI). He obtained a Master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Cape Town, a BSc in Political Studies from the University of London and an Honours BA degree in Criminology and Sociology from the University of Toronto.