Kate Fitzpatrick has joined World Travel Protection, a leading global travel risk management company, owned by Zurich Insurance Group, as Regional Security Director, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

She will oversee the development, launch and running of the new Command Centre in Uxbridge, London, which joins the Brisbane and Toronto Command Centres, providing 24-hour emergency assistance to travellers.

Kate has worked in global security for more than two decades. An expert in operations, intelligence, investigations and security risk management, she will work closely with clients, including universities, security firms, travel management agencies, business continuity advisors and human resources consultants, to identify potential travel risks and provide expert security advice and support.

Born and bred in the Wirral in England, Kate started her career in UK customs, and was one of the youngest Commissioned Officers in the UK at the time. Since then, Kate spent ten years as an investigator for the National Crime Agency (NCA) conducting, for instance, criminal investigations into human trafficking operations in Albania and Moldova, as well as Counter Terrorism (CTU), firearms importation, large scale drug importation, corruption and bribery, financial crime and money laundering and fraud. She also has extensive knowledge of anti-kidnap and extortion, hostile environments and crisis management.

Kate has lived and worked in Africa and the Middle East as well as Europe. In Afghanistan, she was Security Risk Analyst for the European Union Delegation in Kabul; in Nigeria, she worked as Security Risk Manager and a Senior Intelligence Analyst for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; in Switzerland as Corporate Security Manager for the TAP Trans Adriatic Pipeline (Europe); and, most recently, in London as Director of Security and Safety for Bvlgari Hotels and Resorts.

Kate Fitzpatrick said: “I’m delighted to have joined World Travel Protection at this time when we’re growing rapidly in EMEA, to support and build on the organisation’s existing expertise and world-class technological solutions to keep travelling teams safe. It’s our job to prepare and support organisations in the changed travelling landscape since the pandemic, particularly as we’re seeing increased risk globally, from health concerns, to a rise in criminal activity and terrorism as well as growing incidences of climatic and natural disasters.

“During my career, I’ve been instrumental in identifying potential threats for women, who can often face different or additional risks, to men travellers. When I was in Afghanistan, I would conduct in-depth risk assessments for women in the EU delegation for travelling in and around Kabul, and in Africa, I would do the same for the Bill Gates Foundation to ensure the safety of the women members of the medical teams, particularly when travelling to remote rural locations,” she continued.

Rodger Cook, General Manager, Global Security Services, World Travel Protection, said; “Kate’s depth of experience and expertise make her an invaluable addition to World Travel Protection’s EMEA team. She knows not only what organisations need to do to protect their staff when working overseas, but also has the knowledge and experience of international security to know how to ensure their safety when things go wrong.”