Roderick Cowan may be the most famous person you have never heard of. His work has appeared in media around the world — from the New York Times and Washington Post to the Sydney Morning Herald and the Australian — and on the desks of presidents, prime ministers (one of whom wanted Cowan's head on a platter), politicians, academics, intellectuals, and corporate leaders. Yet, his name rarely appears in print, online, or on electronic media.
Cowan honed his persuasion skills disarming dangerous criminals or getting them to confess to crimes as a police officer and investigator in two of Britain's toughest districts — the east end of Glasgow and the east end of London. While on a leave of absence from London's Metropolitan Police, he discovered he had a talent for journalism, writing, and public speaking. He later added teaching to his skillset and did so from a practitioner's perspective.
Cowan prefers to remain behind the scenes, speechwriting, advising, and training. He now has over 30 years of experience writing, teaching, speaking at conferences and public events, and assisting in various government and corporate research and communications programs.
Cowan is currently the Executive Director, University of Chicago Center for Security and Threats (CPOST).
He has previously held several senior advisory roles, such as Research Fellow with the Research Network for a Secure Australia; Strategic Advisor to the Dubai-based Emirates Group Security/Edith Cowan University Centre of Aviation and Security Studies (CASS); Advisor to Macquarie University’s Centre for Policing, Intelligence and Counterterrorism (PICT), where he developed and delivered its first Media Studies and Terrorism unit for its master’s course (MPICT).
His research focuses on digital communication issues in the security, intelligence, and law enforcement context, notably illicit trade, cyber security and human factors, social media, open-source risk, and communications skills. He has conducted workshops for and consulted with law enforcement, intelligence agencies, government entities, and corporations in Australia, Middle East, UK, and the EU on how digital technology, although providing many benefits, also represents severe threats to governments, businesses, communities, and individuals.
He regularly teaches communications subjects, such as crisis media management, interviewing, and practical writing skills. His clients include international corporations, such as IAG and Emirates Airlines, and Governments, such as the Georgian Parliament, Tbilisi, and the Australian Federal Attorney-General.
A speechwriter and advisor to public and private individuals, he is a member of the American Professional Speechwriters Association and the UK Speechwriters Guild.
Cowan has written for print media, appeared on national television and radio, and has received two industry awards for excellence for reporting in the security industry.
Before his communications career, Cowan was a police officer in the UK, initially serving in Scotland and then London's Metropolitan Police.