25th-27th MARCH 2025
MADRID, SPAIN

Andy Smith

Andy Smith

  • Director, Government & Industry Relations
  • SITA, UK

    Andy has been delivering IT and Telecommunications solutions to the aviation sector for over 25 years. Joining SITA in 2007, Andy has focused on driving innovation and collaboration for airlines, airports, and government bodies. Since 2012 Andy has represented SITA’s Government, Security and Border Management business. In addition to promoting the effective use of passenger data, pre-clearance, risk assessment, border management and biometric solutions, Andy continues to champion the collaboration of all stakeholders within the transport industry, with a focus on the passenger experience. After 5 years of concentrating on the European market, Andy now supports SITA’s global teams as Subject Matter Expert for Border Management, Immigration and Security solutions.

    Andy is also a non-executive Director with the International Border Management and Technologies Association (IBMATA), a not-for-profit organization that promotes collaboration and co-operation between public and private sectors in the border management space. Andy has a Bachelor of Science degree from De Montfort University UK in Physics with Management Science. He is based in London.

    Sessions

    • OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) at the Border

      How do we disrupt or prevent travel of bad actors?
      Information sharing between some governments is good, but any gaps will be exploited. Interpol and ICAO are starting to provide greater access to what were previously government access only systems. But is there a role for non-government actors, including industry, to deter or prevent travel of criminals, victims of modern slavery, traffickers and terrorists.
      The use of OSINT (Open-Source Intelligence) is not new and has been used by the military and national intelligence agencies for many years, but advances in AI, communications technology and the growth in the use of social media and communications apps, means that publicly available data can not only help border law enforcement begin to map out and identify linkages in the wider criminal networks behind smuggling and trafficking. But it can also now provide actionable insights to border agents in real time.
      How can border and intelligence agencies and their partners in industry cooperate in delivering optimum results from OSINT.