API/PNR - Future Systems to Fight a Global Pandemic?

Editor of Border Security Report & World Security Report

Simon Deignan works as a Programme Management Officer in the UN Countering Terrorist Travel Progamme whose mission is to support States in identifying and detecting foreign terrorist fighters and serious criminals through the collection and use of passenger data (API/PNR). Prior to joining the UN, Simon spent 9 years with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, as part of the both the Irish and swiss Chairmanships and within the Transnational Threats Department, where he led the Travel Document Security Programme and managed a team responsible for helping States to establish API/PNR systems. Prior to his involvement with the OSCE, Simon worked in international business/management consultancy.

Christopher Hornek is a consultant for the ICAO Facilitation Section, where he is a Subject Matter Expert for ICAO Annex 9 and a Passenger Data Exchange Expert and Project.

Before becoming a consultant, Mr. Hornek worked for the International Air Transport Association (IATA) as Manager for Aviation Facilitation, working on passenger data, border control and general facilitation issues. With IATA Mr. Hornek was the Secretary of the IATA/Control Authorities Working Group (CAWG) and helped to prepare industry positions at the ICAO Facilitation Panel.

Previously, Mr. Hornek was with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), where he managed the OSCE Travel Document Security (TDS) programme for 10 years, followed by two years as the Project Co-ordinator of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat in Turkmenistan. He also was posted to the OSCE Centre in Tashkent in Uzbekistan from 2004-2005.

Mr. Hornek has contributed to both the ICAO Technical Advisory Group (TAG)/Traveller Identification Programme (TRIP) working groups, the New Technologies Working Group (NTWG) and Implementation and Capacity Building Working Group (ICBWG).

Mr. Hornek also has policy experience having developed two OSCE Ministerial Council decisions, the 2009 decision encouraging OSCE participating States to participate in the ICAO Public Key Directory (PKD) and the 2016 decision on adherence to Advance Passenger Information programmes aligned with ICAO Annex 9.

Mr. Hornek holds a Master of Advanced International Studies from the Diplomatic Academy Vienna and a Bachelor of Arts in Modern European History and International Business from Santa Clara University, Ca, USA.

Since starting his consultancy company, Agile Borders, in 2017, Andrew has worked extensively with the OSCE and IOM across Europe, Central Asia, and Africa. He has assisted these inter-governmental organisations in their capacity building projects, educating and supporting governments to introduce API and PNR projects in line with their UN Security Council obligations. He has worked on short term assignments around the world as well as providing ongoing support to countries such as Kyrgyzstan and Georgia, helping them to move from a situation where they had little knowledge of passenger data and how to use it, to the implementation of an intelligence led approach to border management. Andrew has also worked directly with the governments of Denmark and Iceland to implement their API and PNR projects in the role of advisor and project manager, liaising with airlines, legislators, and suppliers.