EP 126 'Built for the Worst Day': A Life in Crisis Leadership with Craig Foster Chairman of The Asia Crisis & Security Group

The Security Circle

Send us a text

BIO

Craig Foster : Head of Corporate Real Estate, Safety & Security, Crisis Management & Resilience at Grab

Craig is a member of Grab’s senior management team and leads real estate & facilities, safety & security, and business continuity teams that help keep Grabbers safe and productive. Craig has lived and worked in Asia since 1986 and has over thirty years of leadership experience across law enforcement, security risk consulting and corporate roles in the manufacturing, finance and technology sectors .

LinkedIn Profile: www.linkedin.com/in/craig-foster-0b85524

About this episode:

🎯 Key Highlights & Insights:

• A Life-Changing 'Punt' into Policing:
  
  • Craig's spontaneous decision to join the Royal Hong Kong Police in 1986 became a 13-year adventure in cultural immersion, leadership, and transformation.
• • His early doubts quickly gave way to deep purpose and a new home base in Asia.

• Firsthand Witness to History:
  
  • He played a key role during the 1997 Hong Kong handover, managing security for global leaders including the now King Charles and Tony Blair.
• • He described juggling “three ceremonies” (British, Hong Kong, Chinese) amid diplomatic tensions and massive logistical challenges.

• From Badge to Boardroom:
  
  • Transitioning from police superintendent to corporate risk consultant was a humbling and eye-opening shift.
• • Navigating crises in foreign cities like Manila and Bangkok required real-time problem-solving without authority or backup.

• 2004 Tsunami: A Catalyst for Change:
  
  • Craig’s deeply personal experience searching for missing persons in Thailand inspired the founding of ACSG.
• • The tragedy revealed the power of collaborative intelligence—airline data, credit card tracking, and hotel coordination—to save lives.

• Building a Resilient Security Network:
  
  • Today, ACSG connects 450 members across 260 organizations, with live crisis chats in 21 countries.
• • Its mentoring program and peer support model have shaped the region’s risk culture for two decades.

• Technology + Humanity = Resilience:
  
  • At Grab, Craig is helping integrate AI into crisis management: early warning, automated crisis activation, and post-incident lessons learned.
• • But tech is just a tool—resilience still demands leadership, training, and trust.

• Embedding Risk Thinking into Business DNA:
  
  • He emphasizes that preparedness isn’t just a compliance checkbox—it’s a business value and a cultural shift.
• • Many companies still operate in silos, resisting the convergence of cyber, physical, and operational resilience.

• Giving Back:
  
  • Now at a stage where "giving back" feels right, Craig wants to mentor the next generation of security professionals.

Security Circle ⭕️ is an IFPOD production for IFPO the International Foundation of Protection Officers