Behaviour Detection 101: From Airport Security to Ports and Critical Infrastructure

A Pre-Conference Practitioner Workshop powered by CoESS & ASSA-i

Objective
To introduce and contextualise Behaviour Detection as a foundational professional competency for security practitioners in ports, transport hubs and critical infrastructure, and to demonstrate how operational lessons learned in airport security can be transposed to maritime, port and comparable environments.

The workshop is designed as a gateway to the in-depth methodologies, research and operational practices explored during the Behavioural Analysis Conference.

Time & Location

The workshop will take place at the Qubus Hotel from 1300-1700 on Tuesday 15 September 2026.

Who can attend?

Participation is open to all.

A preferential rate is available for Behavioural Analysis 2026 participants.

Programme

13:00 – 13:15

Welcome and Opening Remarks

• Catherine Piana, CoESS and ASSA-i Director General
  Framing Behaviour Detection as a cross-sectoral competency for security staff

13:15 – 14:00

Session 1 – “Behaviour Detection: What It Is, What It Is Not, and Why It Matters”

Led by: Philip Baum, Behavioural Analysis Conference Chair

• Fundamentals of Behaviour Detection
• Benefits, limitations, do’s and don’ts
• Differences from profiling or risk-based questioning
• Application in ports, transport hubs, critical infrastructure
• Q&A

14:00 – 14:30

Networking Coffee Break

14:30 – 15:50

Session 2 – From Airports to Ports to everything else: Transposing Behaviour Detection Across Environments

A moderated panel bringing together practitioners from:

• Aviation and Airport security – Maria Carmen Feijoo Fernández, Guardia Civil, Spain
• Behaviour Detection training – Enno Geissler, Director of the Product Quality Control and Training Department, ICTS Group
• Port and maritime security – Johan Ohlsson-Malm, Chairman of the CoESS Maritime Security Committee,
• An Gaiser, Managing Director, An Gaiser Company, the Netherlands

Key discussion themes

• What airport security teaches us about embedding Behaviour Detection into daily operations
• Similarities and differences between aviation, port and maritime environments
• Early indicators of a broad threat spectrum: terrorism, organised crime, trafficking, coercion and insider risk
• The role of Behaviour Detection alongside technology (CCTV, AI-supported analytics, access control)
• What translates well across sectors — and what requires adaptation

15:50 – 16:50

Session 3 – Interactive session: Behaviour Detection, Decision-Making and Insider Threat Detection and Mitigation

An interactive session designed to explore observation, interpretation and decision-making in complex operational environments.

Using short scenario-based cases inspired by port and maritime realities, participants will examine how Behaviour Detection can:

• Support the implementation of Insider Threat policies
• Help identify behavioural indicators linked to compromised, coerced or manipulated personnel
• Contribute to early detection of organised crime infiltration 
• Improve escalation decisions and coordination between human judgement, procedures and technology

The session will focus on reasoning and decision pathways, rather than “right or wrong” answers, and will serve as a practical bridge to the more advanced concepts addressed during the main conference.