Time: 19 November 2026, 14:00 - 17:45
Location: Main Stage
Schools are entrusted with safeguarding what matters most: our children. This responsibility extends further - to staff, equipment, campuses, compliance with regulatory authorities, and increasingly complex physical and digital risks. Threats range from violence and vandalism to natural disasters, and yesterday's approach, a written policy and a guard at the gate, is no longer enough.
Our goal is to create a forum for school leaders and security practitioners to compare notes, benchmark practices, and learn from peers facing the same challenges. The seminar will bring together security professionals, education stakeholders and solution providers to exchange practical knowledge, share real-world experience, and explore approaches to creating safer, more resilient learning environments for private and international schools. Co-organized with ASIS International Thailand Chapter and held during Secutech Thailand, the country's leading platform for security and safety innovation - the seminar is designed to:
- Foster dialogue and knowledge exchange between the education, security and technology sectors.
- Introduce professional security practices grounded in real-world experience.
- Provide practical, applicable insight for schools looking to strengthen safety, security and resilience.
Because school security is a broad topic, the programme is deliberately built around multiple perspectives — risk analysis, mitigation strategy, technology enablement, and lessons learned from real practitioners, rather than a single point of view.
14:10 - 14:40 | Run, Hide, Fight: Building an Active Threat Response Program for International Schools
Speaker:
Edgar H. McConnell III, Owner and CEO, Security Solutions International, Ltd.
Know about the topic:
Active threat incidents at schools are rare, but their consequences are devastating, and the first minutes are decided by the people already on campus, long before police arrive. Recent incidents in Thailand have shown that no school community is immune.
Drawing on a 22-year FBI career and his work designing the "Run, Hide, Fight" active threat training program for Harrow International School Bangkok, Ed McConnell will walk through how an international school can build an effective, age-appropriate active threat response program.
The session balances prevention and mitigation: recognizing warning signs and managing threats before they escalate; adapting the Run, Hide, Fight model for a school environment and open campuses; training teachers and staff without creating fear; lockdown and evacuation drill design; and coordinating with Thai police and emergency services.
Attendees will leave with practical steps, lessons learned from implementation, and a framework they can apply at their own schools.
Know about the Speaker:
Edgar "Ed" McConnell III is the Owner and CEO of Security Solutions International, Ltd. (SSI), a Bangkok-based consultancy dedicated to the safety and security of international schools.
Ed is a retired FBI Special Agent with a 22-year career in federal law enforcement, including an overseas posting as Assistant Legal Attaché (ALAT) at the FBI Legal Attaché Office in Bangkok, where he worked closely with Thai and regional law enforcement partners. Over his career he conducted and supported complex investigations and gained extensive experience in threat assessment, crisis response, and interagency coordination.
Since retiring from the FBI, Ed has applied that experience to protecting school communities. Through SSI he advises international schools in Bangkok on campus security assessments, emergency/crisis planning, and student/staff active threat preparedness. He designed and currently still delivers the "Run, Hide, Fight" active threat training program for Harrow International School Bangkok.
Security Solutions International, Ltd.
Security Solutions International, Ltd. (SSI) is a Bangkok-based security consulting firm specializing in the safety and security of international and private schools in Thailand. Founded and led by a retired FBI Special Agent, SSI brings federal law enforcement experience in threat assessment, crisis response, and investigations to the education sector.
SSI partners with school leadership teams to build practical, sustainable security programs that protect students, staff, and visitors without compromising a welcoming learning environment. Core services include campus security risk and vulnerability assessments, active threat (Run, Hide, Fight) training for faculty and staff, emergency and crisis management planning, lockdown and evacuation drill design, security policy and procedure development, and guidance on integrating people, processes, and technology.
SSI has supported Harrow International School Bangkok with Crisis Response, Active Threat and general security consulting for the past 2 years and we currently still support them. In addition, SSI has previously presented on Active Threat response and Online Student Safety at NIST International School, International School Bangkok, and Bangkok Patana School.
14:40 - 15:25 | Proactive Measures to Prevent Student-perpetrated Violence at School
Speaker:
- Andrew Cunney, Director of Operations and Security, International School Bangkok
- Philip Bowman, Co-founder & CEO, MARIO Education
Know about the topic:
Preventing school violence begins with strong relationships and clear ways to share concerns. This presentation explores how trusted adults, regular student check-ins, and staff and student reporting can help schools identify concerning behavior early. Using examples from International School Bangkok, it shows how teachers, counselors, administrators, and safety personnel can share information, assess concerns, and coordinate appropriate support. The focus is on noticing changes, responding consistently, and helping students before a situation escalates. Participants will leave with practical ideas for strengthening a schoolwide culture in which students feel connected, concerns are taken seriously, and adults know how to act.
Speaker: Andrew Cunney, Director of Operations and Security, International School Bangkok
Know about the Speaker:
Andrew Cunney brings more than 30 years of experience in military intelligence, federal criminal investigations, and organizational leadership. During his 25-year career with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, he investigated complex criminal organizations and went on to lead teams, training programs, and large-scale operations.
In his later DEA roles, Andrew helped lead the DEA Training Academy and served as Director of the International Law Enforcement Academy in Bangkok, working with law enforcement partners across the region. He now serves as Director of Operations and Facilities at International School Bangkok, where he oversees campus operations, security, safety, and emergency preparedness.
His career offers a perspective on leading people and managing risk across government, law enforcement, and education.
International School Bangkok
K thru 12 International school with almost 2000 students in Bangkok, Thailand. Major attendees include US and other Embassies and multinational corps.
Speaker: Philip Bowman, Co-founder & CEO, MARIO Education
Know about the Speaker:
Philip Bowman is the Co-founder and CEO of MARIO Education, which supports schools in more than 30 countries through structured, evidence-based one-to-one conversations between educators and students. Drawing on 18 years as a learning support teacher, he works with schools to strengthen student relationships, understand learners' experiences, and connect insights with practical support. He was named EdTech Digest's School Leader of the Year in 2024. His pedagogical approach to learning conversations, known as the MARIO Approach, has been examined in a six-year retrospective study published by NASEN and co-authored with Dr. Katie Novak. At Safe Campus Bangkok, Philip will co-present with Andrew Cunney of International School Bangkok on how relationships, student check-ins, and coordinated support can contribute to proactive school safety.
MARIO Education
MARIO Education supports schools with structured, evidence-based one-to-one conversations between educators and students. Its MARIO for Me platform helps schools understand students' experiences, strengthen relationships, and turn insights into coordinated support. Combining student check-ins, purposeful conversations, and professional learning, MARIO helps educators build a school culture in which every student is known and concerns can be identified and followed up. The company's work connects student wellbeing, learning, and early intervention, with technology supporting the relationships and professional judgment at the heart of effective school support.
15:35 -16:15 | Moderated Panel Discussion — Lessons Learned & Success Stories
Moderator: Israel Gogol, Group Manager, Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, Taiwan Branch
Panelists:
- Edgar H. McConnell III, Owner and CEO, Security Solutions International, Ltd.
- Andrew Cunney, Director of Operations and Security, International School Bangkok
- Philip Bowman, Co-founder & CEO, MARIO Education