Armistice Talk with Major General James Cowan CBE DSO, CEO The HALO Trust

‘On the Frontline: Life as a Solider and Humanitarian’

by Major General (Ret’d) James M Cowan CBE DSO

Join us for our annual Armistice Talk at Stansted House which will last approximately 40 minutes followed by a question and answer session.

There will be refreshments on arrival and the chance to speak with James after the Q&A.

Biography

James Cowan is one of only a few leaders to have worked in both the defence and aid sectors. From a military family, he joined The Black Watch after Oxford. His early military career took him to Berlin, Northern Ireland, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Hong Kong. He led the military planning for the 1999 liberation of Kosovo.

The youngest lieutenant colonel in the Army, he was assistant to the Chief of the General Staff from before 9/11 to the invasion of Iraq. He commanded The Black Watch during the battle for Fallujah, served later in Basra, commanded Task Force Helmand, led the military Olympics security operation and commanded the 3rd Division, the UK’s warfighting formation.

Since 2015 he has led The HALO Trust, the world’s largest organisation clearing landmines, IEDs and other weapons. HALO has 10,000 staff in 30 countries. He has led HALO through some of the most significant crises of recent years in Syria, Afghanistan, Ukraine and Gaza.

He is married to Minnie, who is a doctor. They have three children.