Derek brings over 30 years of experience in emergency and crisis management, leading teams at multiple emergency incidents, working closely with Ireland’s largest local authority crisis management team, and responding internationally as part of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM).

Under the UCPM, he has deployed to the Türkiye–Syria earthquake and contributed to the management of the migration influx/ medical evacuations arising from the conflict in Ukraine. Additionally, he is the joint exercise creator for the UCPM’s Operational Deployment basic and advanced courses.

Derek has prepared exercises, developed plans, and delivered training for many organisations, including the Office of Emergency Planning, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland and Dublin City Council.

Derek’s academic foundation complements his field experience, enabling him to approach crisis situations with both strategic and operational intelligence. As an Associate Lecturer, he delivers teaching on the subjects of Incident Command, Risk Management, and Environmental Health and Safety.

He founded Prosilience Consulting to enable organisations navigate the uncertainty of crisis response, and build stronger, better prepared, crisis management teams.