Our Company
An advisory firm built for complex terrain.
We serve as trusted advisors to our partners seeking to navigate and seize opportunities in complex developing and emerging markets.
Who we are
Equatorial Strategies Group was born from crisis. In 2021, a global organisation encountered multiple public revelations of wrongdoing, placing its future in serious jeopardy. Thomas Foley, one of our founders, was appointed to run an independent global investigation and what followed was a multi-year engagement encompassing investigations and advisory services across four continents. Our team members’ effort enabled the organisation’s leadership to reach a clear understanding. This allowed the organisation to effectively address its issues. The effort, leaning on specialised skills and emerging markets expertise, brought together many of the professionals serving on the team.
Mission
We give our partners the confidence to act, transforming complex and opaque environments into ground they can move on with certainty.
We deliver context-aware strategies across governance, investigations, risk and crisis advisory, and security domains, supported by a global network of specialised experts. Our team combines experienced judgement, local insight and operational precision, turning complexity into clear direction and decisive action.
Approach
Equatorial strategies group advises boards, executives and institutions operating in complex, high stakes environments. We combine deep expertise in governance, risk and intelligence, with an understanding of the political, operational and human terrain, enabling our clients to scale to meet their challenges through flexible resourcing.
Values
| Ownership | We take ownership of outcomes, not just recommendations. |
| Integrity | We do and say what is right, guided by a strong ethical compass. |
| Commitment | We are fully invested in our clients' success. |
| Discipline | We hold ourselves to our own high standards and never lose our focus. |
Global Experience
Our team has extensive experience in Africa, the Middle East, Central and South America, and beyond. We have helped organisations understand and manage their risks in their daily operations, and maintain their brand reputation, sustainability and overall operational effectiveness.
Accomplishments
Our international experience includes delivering significant results in highly complex contexts. The following are examples of services our team members have delivered to organisations and businesses during the course of their careers.
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A mid-cap European consumer goods company was experiencing continued targeting of their senior staff by kidnapping gangs in Nigeria. A security acceleration plan was deployed that included a travel safety programme, an intelligence analysis programme, strengthened crisis response protocols and strong relationships with the country's security services. Within 12 months of implementing this strategy, the company no longer experienced kidnapping of their staff. With a strengthened security function, the company saw additional benefits including a 9% reduction of finished goods losses, elimination of employee fatalities associated with distribution operations and 100% execution of the company's travel safety programme.
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A large international NGO with a significant presence in the Middle East was concerned about rising risks of war in the region. A regional security strategy was developed, starting with a scenario analysis which was briefed to key stakeholders. The plan was later aligned and delivered to regional stakeholders, allowing an integrated, whole-of-team approach to the assessment and mitigation of associated risks. Contingency plans were developed in partnership with all programme locations in the region to account for worst-case scenarios. As a result, the organisation was ready for any assessed scenario when the crisis materialised. This allowed for safe employees and programme participants and a more resilient, ready organisation.
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Following allegations of systemic safeguarding failures across multiple continents, SOS Children's Villages International set up a large-scale safeguarding investigation through an independent investigation commission. The mandate required independent oversight across numerous jurisdictions with different legal systems, cultural contexts and stakeholder sensitivities, interview coordination, document reviews and field assessments worldwide. Investigative methodologies, operational workflows and communication protocols were developed to preserve independence, transparency and evidential integrity throughout the process. The investigation resulted in a comprehensive 1,300-page final report that informed global safeguarding reforms, strengthened accountability frameworks and influenced broader sector approaches to survivor support and governance reform.
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Support was provided to two major UK public inquiries examining the conduct of British forces during operations in Iraq: the Al-Sweady Public Inquiry and the Baha Mousa Public Inquiry. Both inquiries involved allegations of detainee mistreatment, unlawful interrogation practices and breaches of international humanitarian law. Complex bodies of evidence were reviewed and investigative processes coordinated, including witness identification, interviews, testimony analysis and the management of sensitive operational materials. Procedures for evidence handling, redactions and anonymity protections were also strengthened to support the integrity of the inquiries. The investigations contributed to authoritative findings on accountability and helped shape reforms to UK military policy relating to detention practices, interrogation methods and compliance with international human rights standards.
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Discreet investigatory support was provided to the legal team involved in the Coroner's Inquests into the deaths of Diana, Princess of Wales and Dodi Al Fayed. The investigation involved complex evidential analysis, coordination with international authorities and strict procedural requirements under intense public scrutiny. Extensive witness evidence was reviewed and summarised, while coordination was maintained between the Metropolitan Police and the judicial team to ensure procedural compliance and effective information management. Particular attention was given to evidential integrity, disclosure processes and inter-agency coordination. The work contributed to the delivery of a coherent evidential record and supported the inquest's ability to address sensitive issues in a transparent and legally rigorous manner.
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A large American energy company was experiencing delays in building a multi-billion-dollar infrastructure project due to disruptions by activists. The delays led to mounting project costs, putting the project in jeopardy. A special intelligence capability was developed to help company leaders understand the source of the most significant risk and build appropriate strategies. The analytical team developed a dashboard that updated senior executives on the tactical threats to the construction agenda. The team also developed and briefed scenario analyses accounting for strategic risks, including legal challenges to the project, that clarified accountabilities across the enterprise including the Legal, Public Affairs and Risk Management functions.
Team
A small, senior team. Engagements are led personally by one of the directors and advisors below.
Thomas Foley
Thomas Foley is Managing Director of Equatorial Strategies Group. He is a dual-qualified UK solicitor and US attorney admitted in New York with more than 20 years of international legal, investigative, and advisory experience across complex and high-risk environments. His work spans the UK, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and the US.
Tom leads cross-border investigations, crisis management initiatives, and legal advisory projects for NGOs, international organizations, governmental bodies, and private clients. His experience includes major public inquiries, safeguarding reviews, international dispute resolution, and accountability frameworks within multinational organizations.
He acted as the Coordinator for the SOS Children’s Villages Independent Special Commission’s international investigation and on the independent investigation by SOS Kinderdörfer Weltwiet in Syria and Lebanon. He has served on the UK Ministry of Defence sponsored public inquiry teams for the Al-Sweady Public Inquiry and Baha Mousa Public Inquiry, and part of a legal team on the UK Covid-19 Inquiry. His early career included serving as Legal Secretary to the UK Ministry of Justice sponsored inquest government investigation into the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.
In 2026, Tom was appointed as a member of the ATP Safeguarding Advisory Panel for the Men’s Tour which is responsible for independently examining abuse cases, reviewing investigative findings, and ensuring impartial decision-making
Tom is also Vice President and a long serving director of the Batey Rehabilitation Project charity in the Dominican Republic that combats trafficking and domestic violence, and empowers survivors.
Mohamed Vadel Cheikh El Hadramy
Mohamed Vadel Cheikh El Hadramy has more than 15 years of experience leading security, crisis response, and risk management operations across Africa and the Middle East, particularly in high-risk and conflict environments.
Vadel previously held regional security leadership roles with SOS Children’s Villages International covering Eastern and Southern Africa and the Sahel, and served as Head of Security for World Vision in Mauritania. His expertise includes crisis management, business continuity, intelligence analysis, hostile environment preparedness, and organisational resilience.
Vadel holds a BSc in Business Administration from Liberty University and speaks English, French, and Arabic.
Daniel Friel
Huda Charbaji
Huda Charbaji has been supporting investigations, humanitarian, and development programmes across the Middle East for almost a decade. She supports governance and safeguarding investigations and organizational reviews, providing a deep understanding of regional and cultural contexts, while providing Arabic–English interpretation and translation.
She also recently held a range of management positions within Syria, including Secours Islamique France, working with humanitarian programmes, strengthening safeguarding initiatives, led grants management and donor compliance, and developed successful proposals and reports for major institutional donors.
Huda brings a unique combination of technical expertise, cultural insight, and practical problem-solving to every assignment. She is committed to supporting organizations strengthening safeguarding, governance, and accountability.
Van Wilberding
Van Wilberding is Equatorial Strategy Group’s Director of Operations and Risk Advisory Services. He has over 25 years of emerging markets risk and crisis management experience with particular focus on the Middle East and Africa, where he lived for over a decade.
Van began his career in government as a Counterintelligence Special Agent in the U.S. Army, serving in Germany with deployments to Central Africa. He later served as a Foreign Service Officer in Nigeria and other West African countries focusing on counterterrorism and regional stability initiatives.
Van held senior leadership roles in the Coca-Cola system, including Chief Security Officer and Chief Risk Officer in Nigeria, and Senior Security Manager at The Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta. He later served as Global Head of Safety and Security for SOS Children’s Villages International, where he established the organisation’s first global safety and security function supporting operations in over 130 countries.
He holds an MBA from Georgia State University, a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from George Washington University. He is presently a part-time PhD candidate at Holy Spirit University of Kaslik, Lebanon, where he is researching NGO risk management practices in the Middle East.
Lina Bitar, Ph.D,
Lina Bitar, Ph.D, is Executive Director of Caritas Lebanon and an advisor with Equatorial Strategies Group. She is a risk management and safeguarding specialist with more than a decade of experience across humanitarian action, institutional governance, and sustainable program development in Lebanon and the region.
Her career includes senior leadership roles with SOS Children’s Villages Lebanon, where she directed national program development, humanitarian operations, MEAL systems, and alternative care workforce development. She also advises NGOs, INGOs, and academic institutions on Total Quality Management, organizational resilience, safeguarding architecture, and program design.
Lina holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and has led safeguarding initiatives and training programmes focused on child and youth protection, family strengthening, and community empowerment.
Marie Ali
Marie Ali brings over a decade of experience in intelligence analysis, organisational resilience, and crisis management across the Middle East, Africa, and post-Soviet states. She began her career in business and operations management before transitioning into maritime and travel security, advising multinational clients at International SOS in Dubai.
Most recently, at SOS Children’s Villages International, she designed and scaled two security programmes across 138 countries, established the organisation’s first analytical function, and contributed to crisis response efforts in Sudan, Syria, the DRC, and Haiti.
Marie holds an MSc in Security Risk Management from University of Copenhagen and a BA in Social and Political Studies from University of Sheffield. She is fluent in French, Russian, English, and Spanish.
Irina Urumova
Irina Urumova is a senior international child protection and safeguarding expert with 20 years of professional experience. She has advised UNICEF, the Council of Europe, OSCE and other international organisations on violence against children, child sexual exploitation and abuse, and survivor-centred responses to sexual and gender-based violence. Her work includes developing law enforcement SOPs and operational guidance, safeguarding and PSEA policies, safe recruitment procedures, reporting mechanisms, as well as strengthening organisational and institutional capacity to prevent and respond to harm. She holds an LL.M. in U.S. Legal Studies from the University of Connecticut School of Law.
Irina is also an experienced investigator with experience in sensitive safeguarding and workplace misconduct cases, among others. Her approach combines confidentiality, procedural fairness and trauma-informed practice with a strong understanding of organisational safeguarding, governance and accountability. She has extensive experience across Central Asia, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and other regions, and works in English, Armenian, and Russian at native level, with working proficiency in Polish and intermediate knowledge of Spanish.
Samah AlMnaee
Samah AlMnaee is a risk, safety and security, safeguarding, and organisational governance professional with more than 14 years of experience supporting humanitarian, development, civil society and institutional actors in the Middle East and internationally.
Based in Jordan, Samah combines strong regional knowledge with multidisciplinary expertise in security and contextual risk analysis, crisis preparedness, incident management, duty of care, organisational resilience, safeguarding and PSEAH, governance strengthening, investigations support, and institutional capacity development.
Throughout her career, she has worked with international organisations, NGOs, universities, government stakeholders and civil society organisations, engaging with executive leadership, governing bodies and operational teams to strengthen organisational systems, accountability, risk management and institutional capacity.
Her multidisciplinary background enables her to assess complex environments through both operational and organisational lenses, considering the interaction between people, governance, security, institutional systems and the wider political and operating environment. Her experience spans Jordan and the wider Middle East, as well as regional work across Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States.
Samah holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, diplomas in Social Services and NGO Management, and is completing a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management. She works professionally in Arabic and English.
Liza Gonzalez
Liza Gonzalez supports Equatorial Strategies Group's investigative, governance, and advisory engagements across Panama and Latin America. She brings more than 15 years of experience working in financial services, government, healthcare, multilateral organisations, and international cooperation environments, with particular expertise in research, institutional analysis, documentation review, stakeholder engagement, and project coordination.
Liza has worked extensively with regional and international institutions, including the United Nations system, the United States Embassy in Panama, the Superintendency of Banks of Panama, the Ministry of Health, the National Customs Authority, and other public and regulatory bodies. Through these engagements, she has developed a strong understanding of governance, compliance, financial systems, public policy, regulatory oversight, and institutional accountability across Panama and the wider region.
Prior to her consulting work, Liza spent more than a decade with Capital Bank, where she served as an Intelligence and Product Development Leader within the private banking sector. Her experience included market analysis, product strategy, operational review, and intelligence functions, providing her with valuable insight into banking, risk management, and regulated business environments.
Liza supports investigations, organisational reviews, and advisory projects through structured research, document analysis, interview coordination, reporting support, and stakeholder management. She brings strong analytical skills, commercial acumen, and extensive experience operating in sensitive, high-stakes environments involving government institutions, international organisations, healthcare systems, and financial services.
Liza holds a degree in Commercial Engineering from the Universidad Interamericana de Panamá, graduating Magna Cum Laude, and has completed additional professional training in risk management, financial analysis, leadership, and organisational development
Jason Howard
Jason Howard is a senior international investigator with more than 15 years of experience leading safeguarding, misconduct, fraud, corruption, and financial crime investigations across the United Nations system, international accountability mechanisms, and national law enforcement agencies. His work has spanned Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and the Pacific, supporting organisations operating in complex and high-risk environments.
Jason has held senior investigative and risk management roles with the United Nations in Somalia, Iraq, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, leading investigations into safeguarding failures, child sexual abuse, workplace misconduct, corruption, and whistleblower retaliation. He has also led multidisciplinary investigative teams, developed accountability frameworks, and advised senior leaders on institutional risk and governance matters.
He previously served as a Senior Investigator with the Independent Special Commission examining historical child sexual abuse and safeguarding failures across multiple countries, and has extensive law enforcement experience with the New Zealand Police and the Metropolitan Police Service in the United Kingdom.
Jason holds an LL.M. in International Human Rights Law from Oxford Brookes University. He brings a combination of investigative expertise, safeguarding knowledge, and survivor-centred practice, helping organisations strengthen accountability, governance, and misconduct prevention systems.
Ariel Ruiz
Ariel Ruiz supports Equatorial Strategies Group's investigative, governance, and advisory engagements across Latin America, bringing more than 15 years of experience working within government, multilateral, regulatory, and private sector environments in Panama and the wider region. His work focuses on research, investigative support, stakeholder engagement, documentation review, institutional analysis, and cross-border project coordination.
Ariel has worked extensively with government institutions, international organisations, and multinational corporations, including long-standing engagements with the United States Embassy in Panama, multiple United Nations agencies, the Presidency of the Republic of Panama, and anti-corruption and regulatory bodies. Through these roles, he has developed deep familiarity with governance, accountability, public sector operations, migration systems, trade and customs frameworks, and regional political and institutional dynamics.
His experience includes supporting sensitive projects involving public health, humanitarian response, compliance, anti-corruption initiatives, regulatory matters, and institutional reform efforts. He brings strong analytical skills, technological fluency, and an understanding of complex operating environments, helping clients navigate challenges across government, development, security, and commercial sectors.
Ariel holds a Bachelor's Degree in English Education from UMECIT and is an Authorized Public Translator and Interpreter licensed by the Ministry of Education of Panama. He is fluent in English and Spanish and has working proficiency in Portuguese.
Daniel Friel is a highly regarded international tax adviser with more than 35 years of experience advising private equity firms, sovereign wealth funds, multinational corporations, investment funds, financial institutions, executives, and ultra-high-net-worth individuals on complex domestic and cross-border tax planning.
A qualified solicitor and chartered accountant, Daniel has held senior partner roles at some of the world's leading international law firms, including Lovells (now Hogan Lovells Cadwalader) Latham & Watkins, and King & Spalding. During his career, he served as Head of Tax and Head of the New York Office at Lovells, Joint Head of Tax at Latham & Watkins, and subsequently as a tax partner at King & Spalding.
Daniel's practice has encompassed international mergers and acquisitions, takeovers, corporate restructurings, acquisition finance, fund structuring, sovereign wealth fund investments, management incentive arrangements, private capital transactions, non-domicile planning, inheritance and capital gains tax planning, and complex tax disputes. His client experience includes advising globally recognized institutions and investors, including Blackstone, Carlyle, Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, multiple Middle East wealth funds, ArcelorMittal, Klarna, and numerous international investment and PE funds and family offices.
At Equatorial Strategies Group, Daniel provides advice on international tax, cross-border investments, transaction structuring, tax regulatory risk, private capital deployments, and complex business operations. His deep experience across multiple jurisdictions enables clients to identify opportunities, manage tax risk, and execute effectively their international tax strategy.
Penny Froggatt
Penny Froggatt is a senior lawyer and regulatory adviser with more than 30 years of experience advising financial institutions, investment managers, corporate clients, nonprofit organizations, and professional services firms on complex legal, regulatory, governance, and strategic matters. Her career spans private practice, in-house leadership roles, industry policy development, and legal consultancy.
Penny has held senior legal positions with leading financial institutions including Legal & General Investment Management, UBS Asset Management, and AMP Asset Management, as well as advisory roles with the Investment Management Association and related industry bodies. She has also practised with international law firms and served as a senior lawyer in the Financial Services and Tax practice at King & Spalding International LLP, advising clients across the UK, Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Asia.
Her expertise encompasses financial services regulation, investment management, fund distribution, cross-border transactions, corporate governance, regulatory change management, tax matters, and institutional risk management. Penny has particular experience advising on ESG and sustainability-related regulatory frameworks, responsible investment initiatives, impact investment structures, and governance strategies that enable organizations to align commercial objectives with evolving stakeholder, regulatory, and societal expectations.
At Equatorial Strategies Group, Penny provides consultation on ESG and sustainability matters, governance, and regulatory strategy, helping organizations achieve their objectives while responding effectively to changing market and regulatory demands.
Craig Phildius
Craig Phildius is a strategic trade controls, export compliance, and national security specialist with more than 25 years of experience across government service, international enforcement, security operations, and regulatory advisory roles. His work focuses on helping organisations navigate export controls, sanctions, regulatory risk, and cross-border compliance challenges in complex international environments.
Craig previously served as a Special Agent with the U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), where he led export enforcement investigations and supported U.S. national security objectives. He also served as a Regional Export Control Officer in Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates, overseeing compliance and enforcement activities across Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia. In these roles, he worked closely with governments, regulators, law enforcement agencies, and industry to strengthen compliance frameworks and address illicit trade risks.
Earlier in his career, Craig served as a Special Agent with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, leading investigations into transnational criminal networks and money laundering. He began his professional career as an officer in the United States Marine Corps, holding operational and leadership roles in training, planning, and organisational management.
At Equatorial Strategies Group, and now London-based, Craig advises clients on export controls, sanctions, regulatory compliance, national security risk, government relations, and complex international investigations. His combination of enforcement experience, strategic judgment, and practical operational insight helps organisations navigate evolving regulatory environments and protect their commercial and operational interests.
Testimonials
Testimonials will be added once approved by clients or partners.
