Jonathan Evans served as head of MI5, the Security Service for six eventful years. During his time in charge he dealt with the rising threat of digital infiltration and the risk it posed to national security, infrastructure and the economy.
Joining the Service after university, Jonathan worked on counter-espionage investigations. He moved to protective security policy and advised other Government departments on the protection of classified information. He also led strategy and policy changes within the Service itself.
Jonathan then moved into counter-terrorism, worked at the Home Office, and was closely involved in the development and implementation of VIP security policy. From the late 90s he was directly involved in countering the threat from international terrorism and was appointed to the Security Service's Management Board as Director of international counter terrorism - ten days before the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Centre.
After serving as Deputy Director-General he headed the organisation and gave particular focus to the digital threat. Having seen the rise of cybercrime and cyberterrorism, he was key in forcing the development of measures to counter direct threats, and also to analyse digital communications between individuals and groups with malign intent.
Having left MI5, Jonathan now focuses his work on risk and cybersecurity. Dealing in the corporate and wider world he looks at the nature and severity of potential threats from terrorism, commercial rivals, activists and everyday trouble-makers. He asks key questions any organisation should be able to answer regarding what they’re trying to protect, how, what the threat is, and what provisions are in place. He also urges businesses to look beyond the technical in terms of strategy and responsibility and to look at unexpected weaknesses from human error to supplier security and the internet of things.
Away from the digital world Jonathan analyses wider geopolitical risks to businesses working or investing in sensitive or unstable parts of the world. He also looks at how these risks are dealt with.
Amongst a number of positions Jonathan now holds he has non-executive roles at HSBC, the National Crime Agency, and Ark Data Centres. He is also an Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute.