Sue Williams (Past Speaker)

As a Scotland Yard detective Sue was the most senior ranking officer in charge of both the Kidnap and the Hostage Crisis Negotiation Units, a post she held for seven years. She was the strategic negotiation advisor as part of the UK Governments response to kidnap and the overseas detention of British subjects. Many of these cases evolved in the media spotlight whilst others were resolved covertly, all demanded careful innovative negotiation plans, the use of intermediaries and good communication to all stakeholders including the perpetrators. Sue qualified both in the UK and in the USA with the FBI as an accredited Hostage Negotiator 26 years ago, since that time she has contributed to the successful resolution of hundreds of kidnaps, hostage situations on land and the high seas. More recently she has undertaken cyber negotiations as a tactic for combating extortion. Sue was awarded the Queen's Police Medal; in the Queens Birthday Honours in 2003, this was in recognition of her commitment to the fields of kidnap, negotiation and saving of life. Due to her extensive expertise in these areas she is currently called upon to assist and advise many foreign governments, high profile families and companies experiencing similar crimes in action. She is a visiting lecturer at the University of Harvard USA, where she works with the international aid sector. Sue is also a visiting lecturer at the Said Business School, University of Oxford.