THE PREPARED MIND

“Fortune favours the prepared mind.”

Louis Pasteur
expertise

“An absolutely brilliant performance by the finest senior strategic mind I have ever encountered.”

Lt Gen K. Dayton, United States Security Coordinator to US Secretaries of State Rice and Clinton

“John is an inspirational communicator whom I found myself quoting twice within an hour of hearing him speak.”

Venetia Hoare, partner and board member, Hoare’s Bank

“I strongly recommend John who worked with senior management to instill a culture of ‘The Prepared Mind’.”

Ulf Henriksson, CEO Dematic Group

“In a short space of time we examined and improved the plan against a well thought through and challenging scenario and managed to embed the thought process for dealing with such incidents within our senior team.”

Bill Moore CBE, CEO The Portman Estate

“I thought your opening talk was absolutely brilliant. People pay good money for after dinner speakers like you and your examples were excellent, really relevant and well-thought through.”

Mary-Jane Elliott, managing partner, Consilium Strategic Communications

“The most comprehensive policy document on risk that I’ve seen.”

Alex Martin, director, Aktis Strategy Ltd

“A super event with the objective of participative learning achieved thanks to your skilled and practical guidance.”

John Gollifer, general manager, The Investor Relations Society

“The good relations John developed with Saudi and US colleagues proved invaluable. John’s warmth and unique style go down well in this part of the world.”

Sir Derek Plumbly, British ambassador to Riyadh

“Leadership is one of the pillars of our organization and John’s interactive talk greatly inspired the four hundred young future leaders present.”

Catherine Donovan, director of international affairs, Round Square International

“An extremely thought-provoking and insightful risk and governance simulation – essential knowledge for future business leaders”

Michael Parker, teaching fellow, University of Surrey

“A superb exploration of the subjects of leadership, good governance, risk and compliance.”

Paul Moxey, professor, London South Bank University

“The Prepared Mind team provided us with a plan and two first-rate scenario workshops that enabled us to enhance our preparedness to deal with potentially damaging situations emanating from a variety of causes.”

Family office CEO, internationally famous industrialist

“Your talk was of great value for our institution and has been very much appreciated by the senior staff team.”

Andreas Meyer, co-president & co-chairman, Swiss Academy of Childhood Disability

“John has earned high praise from the Kuwaitis - he has achieved success by a careful blend of drive, initiative and a real understanding of how to foment change.”

Major General Drewry, Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Policy), MoD London
expertise

Reduced risk, better business.

Transformation

Strategy

Fragile state development

Leadership and governance

Preparedness and crisis management

Media and stakeholder engagement

Risk mitigation

Security sector reform

“An absolutely brilliant performance by the finest senior strategic mind I have ever encountered.”

Lt Gen K. Dayton, United States Security Coordinator to US Secretaries of State Rice and Clinton
CLIENTS
The Prepared Mind is a unique series of interactive workshops and talks, offering advice, mentoring and scenario-based exercises to help organisations, businesses and individuals tackle risk.

Sessions can be delivered as plans and talks, papers and recommendations, with follow-up actions to help you prepare and deal with the unexpected.

“The good relations John developed with Saudi and US colleagues proved invaluable. John’s warmth and unique style go down well in this part of the world.”

Sir Derek Plumbly, British ambassador to Riyadh
CONCEPT
CONCEPT

Leadership, governance and risk solutions

Leadership advisory

Governance, accountability & compliance

Intellectual property

Due diligence

Market orientation & culture

Plans

Audits

Risk assessments

Risk registers

Supply chain assurance

Plans

Audits

Workshops

Travel security & safety

Country expertise

Cyber protection

Physical protection

Business continuity

Crisis advisory and resolution

Read the full Story
ABOUT
ABOUT

Decades of crisis resolution

John Deverell, CBE

Founder and author of The Prepared Mind

I lead The Prepared Mind, advising on risk, crisis and leadership. Our offerings include plans, workshops and talks. We work with clients in the UK and abroad.

My business experience included two years on the executive leadership team of Invensys plc, a FTSE 100 multinational - and then two years with M:Communications in the City of London. There I co-founded Keyhaven, advising on crisis mitigation and media issues.

Before that I was a soldier. After active service overseas I taught at the British Army’s command and staff college. Later I worked as a senior planner at the Permanent Joint Headquarters. Then, after serving as defence attaché in the British embassies in Saudi Arabia and Yemen during 9/11, I was deputy director of the US-led Iraq Survey Group, disproving the intelligence on WMD in the aftermath of the invasion of Iraq. On my return home I commanded at brigade and divisional level and then worked in our Ministry of Defence as the Director of Defence Diplomacy. My final role before commercial activities was as the first British government servant to be based in the Palestinian territories since the British Mandate.

I have a University of Cambridge MPhil in International Relations and a diploma in Advanced Negotiation and Mediation Skills from Kent University. My charitable work includes matters to do with the church, the Middle East and disabled ex-members of the armed forces. I also run Stone Carving Somerset where we broaden horizons and enrichen lives with elemental masonry arts.

“John is an inspirational communicator whom I found myself quoting twice within an hour of hearing him speak.”

Venetia Hoare, partner and board member, Hoare’s Bank
contact

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