Five Questions with Mick Sharp, Crisis24 (a GardaWorld company)

By Cory Harris, Editor
Updated 10:23 AM CST, Thu January 23, 2025

LONDON—Did you know that Mick Sharp, senior vice president, global operations and intelligence at Crisis24 (a GardaWorld company), enjoys travelling, wildlife, motorbikes and rugby, or that he’s originally from the suburb of Emu Plains in Sydney, Australia? We definitely did not know that, until now! Find out how he first started in the security industry, what industry trends he’s seeing right now, what he likes most about the security industry, and more.
What are some of your hobbies?
My hobbies include travelling, wildlife, motorbikes and rugby league – these days watching rather than playing.
Where are you from originally and how does that compare to where you live now?
I'm from Emu Plains, which is in the western part of Sydney, Australia, but for the past eight years I have lived in London. Sydney is warmer, more spacious and generally more relaxed and down to earth.
How did you first get started in the industry?
In my early career I had a long-term assignment with the Australian Government in Pakistan. Then I moved into functional and leadership roles in the corporate sector, including building and leading a company's intelligence function. I have been fortunate to hold global leadership roles, with responsibility for general management/P&L alongside functional leadership of disciplines including intelligence, ops, crisis management, and security and medical services.
What trends are you seeing right now in the industry?
Business decision-making and resilience are increasingly challenged by the volume and nature of misinformation, while A.I. continues to evolve. In the security industry, the expectations of this technology for analysis and decision-making are sometimes ahead of its current functionality, as well as the legislative landscape. So, for now at least, critical decision-making retains a strong human element.
We are also seeing geo-strategic competition and fault lines again increasing the complexity and impact of local and regional conflict. In short, there are many opportunities for us to add value for our clients, by combining technology with human expertise.
Our mission at Crisis24 is to allow prominent organizations, disruptive brands and influential people to operate with confidence in an uncertain world. We deliver this across multiple practices: travel risk management, mass communications, critical event management, crisis security consulting and personal protection solutions, including a global medical concierge practice.
Have you read any good books lately? Or any podcasts, movies or plays of note?
I have just finished “The Future of Geography” by Tim Marshall, which explores the role space plays for life on Earth, and how geopolitics could play out in space. Recently I also read “Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow” by Yuval Noah Harari, which provides thoughtful perspectives on how technology is reshaping life. A movie I recently watched was “The Zone of Interest,” and a podcast I listen to regularly is “The Asia Chessboard,” produced by the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
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