Gael Leopold is a security risk management consultant at Open Briefing. Gael worked in country director and programme roles in international NGOs for nearly a decade, including with Première Urgence Internationale, WWF International, and ACTED in Chad, Palestine, Lebanon, Haiti, Afghanistan, and Fiji. He was also previously the executive director of Toilettes du Monde and the Rotary Pacific Water for Life Foundation. After three years in Palestine, Gael returned to France and now provides security consultancy and personal security training (HEAT) to NGOs in the humanitarian, development, and human rights sectors. He is fluent in French, English, and Spanish. 

Renata Oliveira is the associate director of safety and security at Open Briefing. She has over a decade of experience supporting human rights defenders at risk, with a primary focus on Latin America and additional work in Africa and Asia. Renata led Oxfam’s protection and security work in Latin America and the Caribbean for four years and later supported its operations in northern Mozambique. She has also worked with the UN Human Rights Office and Front Line Defenders. Earlier in her career, she provided in-person protective accompaniment to at-risk defenders at the Mexico–US border with Peace Brigades International. Renata is a trained lawyer and holds a master’s degree in international law and international relations. She speaks Portuguese, English, and Spanish.

Shaun Martinez is a security risk management consultant at Open Briefing. Shaun has over 20 years’ experience working on the safety and security of human rights defenders and activists and supporting the victims of human rights violations. He has a keen interest in the rights of marginalised defenders and activists, including LGBTIQ+ activists, sex workers, women’s rights activists, and disability rights activists, and where these discriminations intersect with race and poverty to create even greater challenges. Shaun has worked with organisations across Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. He has worked for the UN, the EU, and the International Commission of Jurists. And he has provided international protective accompaniment to human rights defenders in Colombia and Nepal with Peace Brigades International. Shaun is a volunteer case worker for LGBTIQ+ refugees and asylum seekers with Portsmouth City of Sanctuary.

Shaun is an independent consultant acting on Open Briefing’s behalf.

Molly Rose Freeman Cyr is a security risk management consultant at Open Briefing. Molly focusses on protecting human rights defenders and civil society organisations through risk assessments, trainings, and protection planning. She has previously worked with Front Line Defenders, the International Federation for Human Rights, and the 11th Hour Project to support defenders and organisations at risk, particularly in West and Central Africa. Molly holds a degree in peace and justice studies and a master’s degree in international peace studies. She speaks English and French.

Juan Goyanes is a security risk management consultant at Open Briefing. Juan is a logistics and security professional with nearly 20 year’s experience in the humanitarian sector. He has worked with Médecins Sans Frontières and Action Against Hunger in emergencies and programmes in conflict situations, nutritional emergencies, epidemics, and refugees crises in Africa, Asia, and South America. In recent years, he has provided training and support to indigenous defenders organisations and has led several projects on the integration of mobile technologies and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to improve security follow-up. Originally from Madrid, Juan is a native Spanish speaker and fluent in Portuguese and English.

Dan Williamson is a security risk management consultant at Open Briefing. Dan supports private foundations, international NGOs, individual defenders, and community organisations, particularly those at extreme risk or with complex needs. Dan has completed over 25 security audits, developed over 30 security risk management frameworks, and is a lead contributor to our series of open resources for human rights defenders. Dan served as our safety and security lead between 2017 and 2022. Before joining Open Briefing, Dan worked in the humanitarian and development sector for 10 years. He was the first global security manager for Marie Stopes International, where he previously served as the South Sudan country director. He also worked as interim head of mission, project coordinator, and operations manager in Zimbabwe, Darfur, and Iraq for Médecins Sans Frontières and as a project manager in Swaziland for PSI. Dan currently lives in Southeast Asia.