Neil Stansfield

Neil Stansfield Neil Stansfield is Head of the Science and Technology Unit for CONTEST, the UK Government’s strategy for countering international terrorism. The primary responsibilities of the Unit are:

  • set the governance and delivery structure for CT science and technology;
  • co-ordinate CT science and technology across those departments involved in security and CT S&T;
  • be the source of science and technical advice for OSCT (either directly or by knowing who to talk to);
  • lead on engagement with industry and academia on issues of CT S&T;
  • commission CT research where it is not occurring elsewhere in UK Government.

Neil read for his first degree in Chemistry with Mathematics at the University of Birmingham. The early part of Neil’s career was spent in scientific research in countering the use of weapons of mass destruction. This included supporting the United Nations Special Commission inspections in Iraq following the Gulf War, and developing IT methodologies to support these inspections.

During the early 1990’s Neil was involved in ballistic missile defence programmes, in collaboration with the US, as well as supporting the negotiation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, ratified in The Hague. Following this Neil led the UK efforts in demilitarisation of old and abandoned chemical weapons. This involved leading the UK work supporting the assistance of other nations, principally Russia, US, and Japan/China in their programmes on demilitarisation of stockpile and non-stockpile chemical munitions. From 1999 to 2006 Neil led operating departments providing advice to MoD, firstly in chemical and biological (CB) defence and then across the maritime domain.

In 2007 Neil was a member of the Royal College of Defence Studies, MoD’s flagship development opportunity for senior leaders. Working at the strategic level, Neil broadened his expertise in wider security matters, and developed a worldwide network of contacts, as well as receiving an MA in International Relations.

In January 2008, Neil became Head of the Delivery Unit for CONTEST, the UK Government’s Counter Terrorism Strategy, within the Office for Security and Counter Terrorism, and is now Head of the Science and Technology Unit which was formed in Autumn 2009.