NAVIGATE: Recent Episodes
World Travel Protection
Do you love travelling? Enhance the way you explore the world with NAVIGATE – a series of conversations with travel industry experts and experienced everyday adventurers.
Each episode, our guests share their unique travel insights, experiences and advice, empowering you to tackle any potential challenges with confidence.
Whether you’re currently abroad or eagerly awaiting your next trip, join our World Travel Protection hosts as they explore how to travel the world in the best – and the safest – way possible.
The final part of our Safe and Sound Series is with Dr Luke Banks, Regional Chief Medical Officer - EMEA for World Travel Protection (WTP). In this episode, we cover the importance of planning for the 'what ifs' when travelling. From where to go through to who to call - having a plan ahead of an incident is a critical component to managing a situation. Dr Banks also covers complex evacuations as well as likely medical disruptors in the EMEA region.
Part 2 of 3 in the Safe and Sound Series is with Dr Neil Slabbert, Regional Chief Medical Officer - Asia Pacific for World Travel Protection (WTP). In this episode, we cover three ways to coordinate a return flight home for unwell travellers. The last one even surprises many doctors! Dr Slabbert also covers frequent medical risks and common challenges when coordinating care in the Asia Pacific region.
Part 1 of 3 in the Safe and Sound Series is with Dr Joel Lockwood, Regional Chief Medical Officer - Americas for World Travel Protection (WTP). In this episode we discuss multiple healthcare best practice frameworks that have inspired WTP's medical assistance model. From senior doctors continuing to work in hospitals to creating a collaborative environment for "hallway talks" and structuring shifts in a way that minimises human error - we hear what that looks like and why it matters for travellers. At the end of the episode, Dr Lockwood shares one of the most common issues travellers face - and an easy way to prevent it happening to you.
With the FIFA World Cup hosted in Doha, Qatar right around the corner, fans - as well as business travellers - need to prepare themselves for the impact these games will have on the Gulf state. We sit down with Andy James who has more than 10 years' experience living and working in Qatar to discuss the culture and myths travellers need to be aware of before arriving in Qatar. In this episode we cover dress code (2:23), language and behaviour (11:50), what is unique about this World Cup (17:30), alcohol consumption (23:06), the importance of planning ahead - for both fans and business travellers (30:25), sexuality and intimacy in public (40:54), and local law enforcement and policing (46:45). For the transcript and to revisit past episodes, click here.
The Safe Travel Series focuses on popular business and leisure travel destinations. In this episode, we're joined by travel experts with 50+ years of combined experience living in working in Mexico. They discuss several types of kidnapping - and how likely you are to experience them. They also cover tips on traveling safely, understanding cultural nuances, and listening to locals for up-to-date information.
August is a massive travel month around the world - so in this episode we sit down with Travelex Insurance to discuss current travel trends. With policy counts reaching 2019 figures, we hear how traveller sentiment is shifting, how Travelex is responding to new market demands, and what fine print to read around insurance coverage. We also hear from WTP's Regional Security Director Frank Harrison about changing risks in Mexico - one of the top five travel destinations for American travellers.
We interview Kate MacEachern from The Canada Way in Part 2 of our series on firsthand experiences in Ukraine. As a veteran and medical first responder, Kate went to Poland to help. She intended to fight on the frontlines, but quickly realised there was another way to make an impact. Listen to this episode to learn how to fight 'the Canada way' and about the courageous behind-the-scenes support this team is providing to those most in need.
For those wanting to volunteer or going into other high-threat environments, listen for Kate's three pieces of advice and a key mistake many volunteers are making in today's modern-day war.
GM Risk Group deployed teams across Ukraine in January and continue to support clients on the ground today. In this episode, we hear about their experiences keeping clients safe as the conflict escalated into an invasion, the number one mistake people make in high risk situations, and top recommendations for people heading into conflict zones.
Our guest, Liam Ryan, is the CEO of GM Risk Group, a strategic partner and service provider for World Travel Protection. They provide services such as close protection & security advisory, logistics, emergency medical & incident response, and evacuations.
Travellers face a variety of risks on their trip due to their personal risk profile, their destination, and the activities conducted during the trip. On top of that, the environmental risks can change at a daily - and hourly - rate. Joining us to talk about seven different types of risks that travellers need to monitor is Manu Scansani from Riskline, a world-class travel risk intelligence company.
We then hear from former intelligence officer, Paul Trotter on what to do with this information. With 15+ years of experience assessing information in high risk locations, Paul shares three things businesses should check in their intelligence reports. And be sure to listen to the end for two trending risks that Paul plans on monitoring moving forward.
For episode transcripts, visit the NAVIGATE podcast page by World Travel Protection.
What if you could avoid risky or dangerous situations while traveling? In this episode, we discuss how the development of new technology is reshaping the Travel Risk Management industry to more proactively avoid risk.
We hear from leading industry experts as they share where the travel industry's been and where it's heading. Listen to the end as Jason Scott, from leading critical event management tech company Onsolve, shares two key components needed for effective Travel Risk Management.
With travel picking up, we interviewed security risk management expert, Molly Sweeney, to understand the most common mistakes travellers make when it comes to their safety. Have you made any of them?
Listen to learn the different misconceptions made by business and leisure travellers when it comes to research and preparation. At the end of the episode, Molly and host Paul Trotter discuss the importance of destination intelligence and why each traveller needs a tailored risk assessment.
In this episode we hear one woman's story of living in Afghanistan when the Taliban returned to Kabul in August 2021. Conflict and international development expert Jill Kornetsky had lived in Afghanistan for seven years and found herself faced with a tough decision to stay or leave - and a closing window of opportunity to make that choice.
Listen to this episode to hear the incredible story of how she managed to escape as part of the US led evacuation effort with her assistant. At the end of the episode, we hear Jill's three tips for travelling and living in high-risk destinations.
To finish our Mile High Medicine series, this special episode features one traveller's first-hand experience being medically evacuated off the Matterhorn mountain after an intense climbing fall. Adventure enthusiast Chris Shirley shares the complexity of an international evacuation - especially during a pandemic - and what it's like to activate your crisis plan in an emergency.
If you travel to remote places or are an adventure traveller too, listen for Chris's take on having a 'guardian angel' and the lessons learned for future trip planning.
Part 2 of our Mile High Medicine series focuses on travellers being fit to fly. Guest host Will McAleer, President of World Travel Protection (WTP) - Canada, is joined by evacuation experts Dr Joel Lockwood, Chief Medical Officer - Americas for WTP, and Graham Williamson, CEO for LIFESUPPORT Air Medical Services. They cover what it means to be 'fit to fly' from the perspective of travellers, airlines and medical repatriation coordinators.
Listen to this episode for a behind-the-scenes look into complex medical repatriations and to learn why organisations with a plan 'save lives, save limbs, save time and money'.
"Is there a doctor onboard?" The famous question heard overhead when there's an incident or medical emergency on a plane.
In this episode, we interview Chief Medical Advisor for Flightcare Global, Dr Simon May, and Regional Chief Medical Officer - Asia Pacific for World Travel Protection, Dr Neil Slabbert. They share with us what medical equipment is onboard aircrafts, what training and support aircrew have to manage an incident, and what happens if there isn't a doctor on the plane to help.
At the end of the episode, you'll learn how to manage your health during long-haul flights and what types of passengers are expected to increase now that travel is resuming worldwide.
International travel programs have become a popular component of university education, but are they important? Students have continued their studies throughout the pandemic without them. Now that borders are opening up, will travel programs resume?
In this episode, we learn the value of study programs with adult learning expert, Dr Andrea Reid. We also hear from the Travel Manager of Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Liz Newberry.
QUT went from having hundreds of travellers at any one time to hardly five trips a week. Newberry shares how the pandemic has helped them to prioritise traveller safety even more and improve the gaps found in their policies.
Season 2 of NAVIGATE kicks off with an episode focused on worldwide travel insurance. To some, insurance is a vital first step in planning a trip. For others, it's an afterthought at best. Cover-More Travel Insurance's Steven Webster joins host Rodger Cook to share his expert insights on who buys insurance and why, and when is the best time to purchase a travel insurance policy. We also hear from Peta Gilbert about her ill-fated trip, which without travel health insurance, would have left her with massive medical bills and travelling internationally across the world on her own with serious injuries.To hear their full interviews with Rodger and to view the episode's transcript, visit our NAVIGATE Podcast Page.
This is the second half of our interview with AMREF Flying Doctors. We are joined by Stephen Ombuya, Chief Commercial Officer, and Jane Munyua, Medical Assistance Manager.
They cover what a day in the life of AMREF Flying Doctors looks like as well as what organisations need to consider before deploying staff to Central and Eastern Africa.
They also share how COVID-19 challenged them to adapt their processes and gave them an opportunity to support others with their strengths and regional knowledge.
Wondering how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected those in need of emergency help? Listen to the first episode of our two-part interview with AMREF Flying Doctors on the complexity of overseas evacuations.We are joined by Dr Joseph Lelo, Medical Director, and Maggie Kariuki, Operations Manager, who are based in Nairobi, Kenya.With nearly 60 years’ experience in the aeromedical transport industry, AMREF has safely completed over 300 COVID-19 patient transfers to date.Here, Dr Lelo and Maggie share unique insights into how they've navigated the complex pandemic environment in order to continue supporting their clients with evacuations and medical assistance.WHILE YOU'RE HERE...Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to NAVIGATE via https://worldtravelprotection.com/podcast/ now.Want to know more about travel security and risk assistance? Visit https://worldtravelprotection.com today.CREDITSHost: Debra Harvey, World Travel Protection Operations ManagerGuest: Dr Joseph Lelo, Medical Director, and Maggie Kariuki, Operations Manager, AMREF Flying Doctors
The World Health Organisation declared the outbreak of COVID 19 a pandemic in March 2020. One year on, we reflect on the massive changes people and businesses made so quickly.Living in both Portugal and Canada during the pandemic, Regional Security Director Frank Harrison shares his different experiences in the two countries. Now in the second year of COVID-19, he discusses how organisations are able to reflect on their unique experiences and lessons learned to be prepared for the next year of managing the pandemic and the new challenges to face.WHILE YOU'RE HERE...Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to NAVIGATE via https://worldtravelprotection.com/podcast/ now.Want to know more about travel security and risk assistance? Visit https://worldtravelprotection.com today.CREDITSHost: Alex Twiggs, World Travel Protection Business Development ManagerGuest: Frank Harrison, World Travel Protection Regional Security Director – North America and the UK
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a global disrupter in every sense of the word. Today, we dive into how it's changed travel and what international travel might look like as borders start to reopen.World Travel Protection’s General Manager of Global Security Services, Rodger Cook, discusses how the policing of COVID restrictions in certain countries has impacted global security, the impact local laws have had on human rights and marginalised groups, and – of course – how this will impact you, the traveller.WHILE YOU'RE HERE...Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to NAVIGATE via https://worldtravelprotection.com/podcast/ now.Want to know more about travel security and risk assistance? Visit https://worldtravelprotection.com today.CREDITSHost: Claire Johnson, World Travel Protection Communications ManagerGuest: Rodger Cook, World Travel Protection General Manager – Global Security Services
Amy Gildea, managing director of Tetra Tech International Development for the Asia-Pacific Region, joins us on this episode to discuss how the global company adjusted its programs during COVID-19 to support economic recovery and security.Tetra Tech’s programs vary from education and investments to servicing court responses of domestic and family violence, making the continuation of their work essential during the coronavirus pandemic.Listen to hear Amy’s thoughts on what to expect moving forward with funding, programs, international re-deployment, and vaccine equity.WHILE YOU'RE HERE...Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to NAVIGATE via https://worldtravelprotection.com/podcast/ now.Want to know more about travel security and risk assistance? Visit https://worldtravelprotection.com today.CREDITSHost: Rodger Cook, World Travel Protection General Manager – Global Security ServicesGuest: Amy Gildea, Tetra Tech International Development Managing Director, Asia-Pacific
Have you found yourself losing patience or being overwhelmed with situations that normally don't bother you? Has the pandemic brought up feelings of anxiety, isolation, or exhaustion?In this episode, we're joined again by integrative psychotherapist and advanced craniosacral therapist Charlotte Copeland to discuss the importance of mental health as we continue to manage the impacts of COVID-19 on our lives.From the psychological impacts of business trips when travel resumes to tips on how to be more aware of stressors and your responses, listen in for Dr Copeland's insight on managing and supporting your mental health – and how to know when to seek help.WHILE YOU'RE HERE...Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to NAVIGATE via https://worldtravelprotection.com/podcast/ now.Want to know more about travel security and risk assistance? Visit https://worldtravelprotection.com today.CREDITSHost: Ben Cooper, World Travel Protection Head of Business Development – EMEAGuest: Charlotte Copeland, integrative psychotherapist, advanced craniosacral therapist, and Managing Director of SafeHaven CISM and SafeHaven Trauma Centre
Has the global COVID-19 pandemic affected our mental health and wellbeing? Has it changed our ability to deal with everyday stressors? And what physical and emotional signals indicate our stress levels have increased?In this episode, integrative psychotherapist and advanced craniosacral therapist Charlotte Copeland reveals how living in uncertain times can affect our mind’s response to daily stressors.From understanding the difference between positive and negative stressors to learning how to spot stress symptoms in yourself and loved ones, listen in for expert tips and wellbeing advice on how to manage your mental health.WHILE YOU'RE HERE...Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to NAVIGATE via https://worldtravelprotection.com/podcast/ now.Want to know more about travel security and risk assistance? Visit https://worldtravelprotection.com today.CREDITSHost: Ben Cooper, World Travel Protection Head of Business Development – EMEAGuest: Charlotte Copeland, integrative psychotherapist, advanced craniosacral therapist, and Managing Director of SafeHaven CISM and SafeHaven Trauma Centre
When a disaster strikes, most people run as far away from the "danger zone" as possible. Journalists, however, do the opposite. They run towards the disaster, led by fearless determination and the hope of capturing an exclusive story.So, how do journalists stay safe while chasing a story that exposes them to danger? How do reporters know how to spot a potential risk before it poses a real threat? And how do leading news organisations protect their staff on assignment?Join former news producer and Director of HP Risk Management, Colin Pereira, as he shares the role media safety specialists play in exercising the due diligence that helps keep journalists safe while they're on the job.Because it doesn't matter if you're a journalist reporting from an international warzone or a domestic hospital ward, assessing risks and challenges is all part of chasing a good story.WHILE YOU'RE HERE...Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to NAVIGATE via https://worldtravelprotection.com/podcast/ now.Want to know more about travel security and risk assistance? Visit https://worldtravelprotection.com today.CREDITSHost: Ben Cooper, World Travel Protection Head of Business Development – EMEAGuest: Colin Pereira, Director HP Risk Management
Ever wondered how it feels to climb some of the world's tallest mountains (such as Mount Everest or K2)? Or what it's like exploring areas so remote you're a week's walk from any town or medical help?During his time working on the "Tourism in the Death Zone" project for Leeds Beckett University, PhD research student Jase Wilson experienced an incredible adventure - but he also exposed himself to a lot of risks.Beyond the obvious challenges of spending time at 8,000 metres above sea level where oxygen concentration levels are low, it's the simple things - like eating the wrong food or taking a photo - that can actually turn into quite the predicament.Here, Jase shares his unique story with World Travel Protection's Ben Cooper, providing listeners with an insightful sneak peek into his exhilarating world of academic research.WHILE YOU'RE HERE...Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to NAVIGATE via https://worldtravelprotection.com/podcast/ now.Want to know more about travel security and risk assistance? Visit https://worldtravelprotection.com today.CREDITSHost: Ben Cooper, World Travel Protection's Head of Business Development - EMEAGuest: Jase Wilson, PhD research student at Leeds Beckett University, United Kingdom
Travelling the world for work may sound thrilling, but the reality often has its challenges.Join world champion waterski jumper Jacinta Carroll as she speaks with NAVIGATE host and travel security expert Rodger Cook about the highs and lows of having a career that takes you all over the globe.Jacinta's talent for waterski jumping has seen her compete everywhere from Mexico to Russia since she was 15 years of age, and she now knows first-hand how important a mix of street smarts and technology is when it comes to international travel and safety, particularly as a solo female traveller.Because sometimes it doesn't matter how prepared or organised you are, you can still find yourself in unexpected circumstances...WHILE YOU'RE HERE...Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to NAVIGATE via https://worldtravelprotection.com/podcast/ now.Want to know more about travel security and risk assistance? Visit https://worldtravelprotection.com today.CREDITSHost: Rodger Cook, World Travel Protection General Manager – Global Security ServicesGuest: Jacinta Carroll, Waterski Jumping World Champion and 4x Water Ski Jumping World Record Holder
Join host Rodger Cook, World Travel Protection’s global security expert, as he explores the possibility of increased fraud-related activity as a result of the global coronavirus pandemic.Speaking with leading fraud expert Jim Gee – Crowe UK's National Head of the Forensic Services – Rodger's conversation highlights the challenges businesses face as they attempt to return to "business as usual" while also navigating the new COVID fraud risks and scams, particularly when it comes to travel.WHILE YOU'RE HERE...Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to NAVIGATE via https://worldtravelprotection.com/podcast/ now.Want to know more about travel security and risk assistance? Visit https://worldtravelprotection.com today.CREDITSHost: Rodger Cook, World Travel Protection General Manager – Global Security ServicesGuest: Jim Gee, Crowe UK National Head of the Forensic Services