Management Team

Dave James

Managing Director

An advocate of pragmatic, benefits-based cyber risk management, Dave’s hands-on experience as an accreditor and information assurance practitioner helped shape Ascentor’s values and principles. A co-founder of Ascentor back in 2004, Dave leads and inspires the team.

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Clare Bourne

Operations Manager

Achieving top-level customer satisfaction and maintaining high standards of delivery are Clare’s passion. With her natural enthusiasm and love of people and processes, she keeps everyone at Ascentor on their toes, making sure the company cogs turn efficiently.

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Simon Jones

Business Development Manager

With over fifteen years’ experience in the information security sector, Simon is a well-known face in the corridors of our defence and security customers. His military roots mean he understands the critical role information risk management and cyber security play in keeping organisations safe. 

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Consultancy Team

Martin Nash

Principal IA Consultant

Expertise: Martin’s broad experience of technical, risk and strategic IA includes military, government, defence, nuclear and financial; he has held senior security lead roles including Director of Information Security for a US bank. His expertise spans across a range of security standards and frameworks.

Badges: MSc (Dist.) Computer Security and Digital Forensics, CISSP, COMPTIA Network+ and Security+, ISO27001 Implementation Practitioner, Certified Security Testing Professional, Certified Wireless Security Associate, Certified Forensics Investigation Practitioner, Certified Forensics Malware Investigator, Certified Security Incident Specialist, Domain Based Security Practitioner

Style: Collaborative, strategic thinker.

Loves: Jogging, travelling and family.

Pete Curran

Principal IA Consultant

Expertise: Peter covers all government-related IA work with an emphasis on HMG IA policy and practices. He is expert in the technical aspects of IP networking technologies such as VPNs, SSL/TLS, secure email and cryptography including PKI.

Badges: MSc in Information Security (Distinction) from Royal Holloway University, BSc (Hons) Nautical Studies, CCP, CISSP, CCNA, ECNE, ITPC, Prince 2.

Style: Good sense of humour and a ‘can-do’ attitude.

Loves: Hiking, reading, theatre, opera and classical music.

 

Bert Curtin

Senior IA Consultant

Expertise: Bert has a strong technical background with military and government experience. He specialises in system analysis, risk identification and mitigation, and security accreditation. He is expert in HMG policy and NCSC standards.

Badges: BSc (Hons) IT and Computing, CCP, BSc Telecomms Systems Engineering, CISSP, A.Inst.ISP, Associate ITPC, Prince 2 Practitioner.

Style: Adaptable and pragmatic.

Loves:  Windsurfing, DIY and weekends!

Paul Trethewey

IA Consultant

Expertise: Ex-Royal Corps of Signals, Paul has intelligence, electronic warfare and information operations experience. He joined Ascentor Ltd in 2009 and specialises in accreditation, risk assessment and risk management, often fulfilling Security Assurance Coordinator roles.

Badges: Master’s Degree (Distinction) Combined Studies, SCCP SIRA, M.Inst.ISP, CISSP, CISM, MoR Practitioner, ISO 27001:2013 Lead Auditor, Business Continuity Management Practitioner, CISMP, CompTIA Network+, MAPM, Prince 2 Practitioner, ITIL V3 Foundation and EU GDPR Practitioner

Style: Personable and focused on getting the job done.

Loves: Walking, DIY and travelling.

Dave Ward

Security Engineer

Expertise: With extensive technical knowledge, Dave designs and implements networks and policies for systems handling sensitive information. He manages all Ascentor’s Cyber Essentials Scheme and IASME audits and assessments.

Badges: BEng (Hons) Computer Systems Engineering, Microsoft Certified Professional (MCPx), Cyber Essentials Scheme and IASME Assessor, MCSA: Windows Server 2012, VMware Certified Professional 5 – Data Center Virtualization, Administering Office 365 for Small Businesses (MS).

Style: Laser-focus on a positive outcome.

Loves: Cycling and gardening.

Dave Wood

IA Consultant

Expertise: Dave a strong procedural background with extensive military and security service experience. He specialises in ISO 27001 gap analysis, risk identification, mitigation and security accreditation. He has extensive knowledge of ISO 27001, HMG policy and NCSC standards.

Badges: BSc (Hons) Communications Management, CISM, ISO 27001 Lead Implementer and Lead Auditor, Prince2 Practitioner, ITIL Foundation, ITIL Service Operations.

Style: Consistent and reliable.

Loves: Football coach for local youth team

Martyn Roberts

Senior Project Manager & IA Consultant​

Expertise: Martyn is an expert in managing projects with a high IA dependency especially, defence and government IT and infrastructure projects conforming to JSP440, JSP480 and TEMPEST standards. He draws on his experience of designing, building, installing, maintaining and repairing static and mobile communication systems.

Badges: BSc Telecomms Engineering, MAPM, Managing Successful Programmes Practitioner,  Prince 2 Practitioner, Management of Risk Practitioner, Change Management Practitioner, AMPG, Agile PM Practitioner, PRINCE2 Agile PM Practitioner, CCP, CISSP, CISM, COMPTIA Network+ and Security+, BCS IA Architect Practitioner, ISO 27001:2013 Lead Auditor, Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), ITIL V3 Foundation

Style: Dogged determination with an adaptive approach.

Loves: Outdoor sports, hiking and orienteering.

Susan Dimond-Brown

IA Consultant

Expertise: Susan fulfils Security Assurance Coordinator and accreditation roles on sensitive government projects. Her expertise includes government infosec policy and strategy guidance including security risk assessments, risk mitigating controls and the application and use of ISO 27001, SPF and IAMM.

Badges: CISSP, CEH, CHFI, ITPC HMG Practitioner and Accreditor.

Style: Dedicated and customer-focused with deep attention to detail.

Loves:  All kind of sports (except darts and snooker), walking, reading and playing golf.

Nigel Griffiths

IA Consultant

Expertise: Nigel has a military comms background and now fulfils lead accreditation roles on sensitive government projects. He is Prince 2 trained and he is expert in government infosec policy and strategy guidance including security risk assessments, risk mitigating controls and the application and use of ISO 27001, SPF and IAMM.

Badges: HND in Electronics and Telecommunications engineering, CISSP, Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), Prince 2 Practitioner, ISO 27001 auditor trained.

Style: Versatile and results-focused; loves a challenge.

Loves:  Rugby, reading, Greek food and computers

Steve Maddison

Director and Principal Consultant

Contact Steve for: HMG risk management and accreditation (CESG standards IS1/IS2, JSP440), ISO27001 audit and consultancy, IAMM, IASME, Cyber Essentials, Cyber Security Model, governance, risk and compliance solutions.

Telephone: 07971 559980
Email: [email protected]
Connect with Steve Maddison on LinkedIn

Specialist expertise: Steve has been an HMG Accreditor for over 12 years and this has given him insight into the need for a business focused approach to risk management. This means giving responsibility for information risk to those organisational roles that have the best understanding of how the enterprise does business and which also have the right level of authority to make risk based decisions. (more…)