--- title: "Speakers (Nitazene)" description: "CBRNe World provides those tasked with defending against CBRN and IED threats with the essential practical, scientific and political information. Access the current and previous issues of the magazine by registering as a member." url: "https://cbrneworld.com/events/nitazene-workshop/speakers-nitazene" date: "2026-08-09T04:51:53+00:00" language: "en-GB" --- # Confirmed Speakers (Nitazene) [ ![Helen Podmore](https://cbrneworld.com/templates/yootheme/cache/7c/Podmore%20Helen-7cf50342.jpeg) ](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4048:helen-podmore&catid=108) ### [Helen Podmore](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4048:helen-podmore&catid=108) 02 July 2026 | [Speakers](https://cbrneworld.com/events/cbrne-convergence-canada-2026/speakers-canada-26) Helen Podmore, PhD is a Global Product Manager at Smiths Detection, where she leads the development of advanced trace detection technologies for security and threat screening applications worldwide. With a career spanning scientific research, mass spectrometry, business development, and product management, Helen brings a unique combination of technical expertise and commercial leadership. Helen's interest in drug detection began during her doctoral research at King's College London, where her PhD focused on drug detection in sport. This passion has remained a consistent theme throughout her career. During more than a decade at Thermo Fisher Scientific, she worked with laboratories using mass spectrometry to detect and analyse drugs and other compounds of interest, supporting applications across research, testing, and regulatory environments. She now continues this mission at Smiths Detection, helping to develop and deliver ion mobility spectrometry-based solutions that support the global fight against illegal drugs and other emerging threats. [More from Helen Podmore](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4048:helen-podmore&catid=108) [ ![Wherly Luk](https://cbrneworld.com/templates/yootheme/cache/ed/Wherly_Luk_Headshot-ed74ea10.jpeg) ](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3992:wherly-luk&catid=108) ### [Wherly Luk](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3992:wherly-luk&catid=108) 27 May 2026 | [Speakers](https://cbrneworld.com/events/cbrne-convergence-canada-2026/speakers-canada-26) Wherly Luk is a Toxicology R&D Scientist at Randox Laboratories Ltd, where she specialises in the design and development of rapid forensic test kits for field applications. With a primary focus on assay development and design, Wherly bridges the gap between complex analytical chemistry and practical, real-world detection of analytes of interest. Prior to her current role in toxicology R&D, Wherly served as a Scientific Training Specialist in Clinical Testing. This background in educational translation ensures that her technical work remains grounded in user accessibility and clinical accuracy. Her diverse R&D portfolio includes significant projects in pesticide analysis, therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM), and drugs of abuse, providing a broad perspective on the evolving landscape of synthetic substances. Wherly holds a degree in Forensic and Analytical Science from the University of Huddersfield. By combining a rigorous analytical foundation with hands-on experience in bringing field-ready tests to market, she offers unique insights into the technical challenges posed by emerging synthetic opioids. [More from Wherly Luk](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3992:wherly-luk&catid=108) [ ![Col. David Martinek](https://cbrneworld.com/templates/yootheme/cache/98/Martinek-David-9846d290.jpeg) ](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3980:col-david-martinek&catid=108) ### [Col. David Martinek](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3980:col-david-martinek&catid=108) 13 May 2026 | [Speakers](https://cbrneworld.com/events/cbrne-convergence-canada-2026/speakers-canada-26) Colonel David Martínek (born in 1975) is the Director of the JCBRN Defence Centre of Excellence, Vyškov, The Czech Republic. The Director is a principal advisor to SACT in CBRN defence. In this capacity, he promotes transformation in the field of the CBRN defence in support of ACT, and within an approved Program of Work (PoW), supports Sponsoring Nations (SN) and contributing partners (CP), ACO and other international institutions/organizations in their CBRN defense-related efforts. Colonel David Martínek had joint the Czech army in 1993 after graduating from the Military High School as a Sergeant First Class. He was promoted to lieutenant after graduating from Military university in 1997. His working experience covers CBRN Defence positions from tactical to strategic level. He started his career as a squad leader, and CBRN Defence officer from battalion level to Joint Force Command and the JCBRN Defence COE. His experience includes deployments in NATO operation ISAF in Afghanistan in 2008 and EU operation ALTHEA in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2011. Between 2014 – 2017 he served as the CBRN Defence Policy Staff Officer at SHAPE, Belgium. [More from Col. David Martinek](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3980:col-david-martinek&catid=108) [ ![Shirley Verschoor](https://cbrneworld.com/templates/yootheme/cache/d1/Verschoor%20Shirley-d11d01b0.jpeg) ](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3918:shirley-verschoor&catid=108) ### [Shirley Verschoor](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3918:shirley-verschoor&catid=108) 02 March 2026 | [Speakers](https://cbrneworld.com/events/cbrne-convergence-canada-2026/speakers-canada-26) Shirley Verschoor is a registered drug expert at the Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI), where she works in the Illicit Drugs Department. With a professional background in pharmacy, toxicology, and chemistry, she combines analytical expertise with practical forensic casework. Her work focuses on highly potent synthetic opioids, particularly nitazenes and related analogues emerging across Europe. She is actively involved in their analytical characterization, differentiation of structural isomers, and forensic interpretation in casework. Her daily forensic practice also includes elucidating the synthesis routes of other illicit drugs produced in clandestine laboratories, supporting intelligence gathering and evidential interpretation of complex criminal investigations. As a drug expert, she prepares formal forensic reports for judicial authorities, providing independent and scientifically robust conclusions, and may be called to testify in court when required. [More from Shirley Verschoor](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3918:shirley-verschoor&catid=108) [ ![Dr. Hazem Matar](https://cbrneworld.com/templates/yootheme/cache/86/Matar%20Hazem-868a9236.jpeg) ](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3394:dr-hazem-matar&catid=108) ### [Dr. Hazem Matar](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3394:dr-hazem-matar&catid=108) 09 October 2024 | [Speakers](https://cbrneworld.com/events/cbrne-convergence-canada-2026/speakers-canada-26) Dr Matar is Managing Director of Ereuna Ltd (based at Porton Down), specialising in CBRNe research and development for industrial and governmental sectors. He is also a Visiting Fellow at Cranfield University and a Visiting Associate Professor at the University of Hertfordshire. With nearly 20 years of experience in CBRNe R&D, his PhD research at the University of Surrey focused on reducing dermal absorption of chemical warfare agents and contributed to major UK initiatives including the Initial Operational Response. Dr Matar was a key contributor to the US Federal PRISM guidance and has performed research programmes with DEVCOM CBC on dermal countermeasures. His current work includes evaluating firefighter protective equipment and developing advanced decontamination strategies. Additionally, he is involved in a range of projects supporting CBRN industry from test and evaluation of DIM equipment, niche forensic analysis to assessment of protective materials. [More from Dr. Hazem Matar](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3394:dr-hazem-matar&catid=108) [ ![Kevin Flood](https://cbrneworld.com/templates/yootheme/cache/c2/Flood%20Kevin-c275d8ab.jpeg) ](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3294:kevin-flood&catid=108) ### [Kevin Flood](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3294:kevin-flood&catid=108) 29 February 2024 | [Speakers](https://cbrneworld.com/events/cbrne-convergence-canada-2026/speakers-canada-26) Kevin Flood is a retired Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent. Kevin served as a Special Agent with the DEA for approximately 26 years. He started his career assigned to the DEA Phoenix Divisional Office from 1991 to 2003. From 2003 to 2007, Kevin was assigned to The Hague Country Office. From 2007 to 2014, Kevin was assigned to the Detroit Field Division/Lansing Post of Duty. From 2014 to 2017, Kevin was promoted to Supervisory Special Agent and was assigned to the Phoenix Field Division/Tucson District Office. During his DEA career, Kevin was assigned to the Clandestine Laboratory Enforcement Team and was the Division Clandestine Laboratory Coordinator. He has attended and helped instruct DEA Clandestine Laboratory Basic Class, Site Safety Course, Clandestine Laboratory Tactical Course, the DEA Train the Trainer Course, DEA Authorized Central Storage Program, DEA Methods of Instruction Course, DEA Marijuana Grow School, DEA Domestic Cannabis Eradication and Suppression Program Coordinator, DEA Firearms Instructor Course and DEA Tactical/Defensive Tactics Instructors Course. Additionally, Kevin was a Field Training Agent, and a Certified Trauma Team Member. As a Supervisory Special Agent Kevin supervised/managed a DEA Tactical Diversion Squad and was a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Group Supervisor. Most Recently, Kevin was a senior trainer at Federal Resources and DetectaChem. He instructed classes on Fentanyl safety, club drugs and other clandestinely manufactured controlled substances. Additionally, Kevin instructed classes on the use of drug detection devices to include the Gemini, TruNarc and the MX-908. [More from Kevin Flood](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3294:kevin-flood&catid=108) [ ![Chris Carpita](https://cbrneworld.com/templates/yootheme/cache/42/Carpita%20Chris-42824aed.jpeg) ](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3180:chris-carpita&catid=108) ### [Chris Carpita](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3180:chris-carpita&catid=108) 08 February 2024 | [Speakers](https://cbrneworld.com/events/cbrne-convergence-canada-2026/speakers-canada-26) Chris Carpita has been the Director of Sales at 908 Devices since 2016. He led 908 devices from a true start-up to a publicly held company with thousands of high-pressure mass specs deployed worldwide. An Army Reservist, Chris has over 30 years of continuous military service as a CBRN officer, having served in the Army Guard, Reserve, USCENTCOM, USEUCOM, and USSOCOM. His current rank in the USAR rank is LTC. A world traveller, he has travelled to over 85 countries and resided in 5 countries. He attended San Jose State University with a degree in Political Science and an MBA from the University of Denver. When not traveling, he is happy at home in Annapolis, MD. [More from Chris Carpita](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3180:chris-carpita&catid=108) [ ![Nick Spence](https://cbrneworld.com/templates/yootheme/cache/2d/Spence%20Nick-2d94c53f.jpeg) ](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3288:nick-spence-2&catid=108) ### [Nick Spence](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3288:nick-spence-2&catid=108) 08 January 2024 | [Speakers](https://cbrneworld.com/events/cbrne-convergence-canada-2026/speakers-canada-26) Nick Spence is the Standards Manager for the National Ambulance Resilience Unit (NARU) which works nationally on behalf of each NHS Ambulance Trust in England to provide a coordinated approach to complex or major incidents. This includes NHS Ambulance Command & Control, Hazardous Area Response Teams (HART), Mass Casualties response and the Special Operations Response Teams (SORT) who provide a CBRN clinical decontamination and a Marauding Terrorist Firearms Attack capability. Employed within the ambulance service since 1994, he is a paramedic who has held a wide range of operational and management roles within HART, Air Operations and Emergency Planning, Response & Resilience. In addition, he has previously worked for the UN WHO program to deliver CBRN training to Syrian healthcare professionals and has spent many years as part of an international USAR response team where he attended disasters around the world such as earthquakes. As part of the NARU national on-call cadre, he was actively involved in coordination of national resources to support the NHS ambulance response to the 2018 Salisbury incidents. [More from Nick Spence](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3288:nick-spence-2&catid=108) [ ![Gary Riddle](https://cbrneworld.com/templates/yootheme/cache/f0/Gary-Riddle---Pic-f0b3a661.jpeg) ](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2781:gary-riddle&catid=108) ### [Gary Riddle](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2781:gary-riddle&catid=108) 28 February 2023 | [Speakers](https://cbrneworld.com/events/cbrne-convergence-canada-2026/speakers-canada-26) Gary L. Riddle, MPA, presently serves as the Director of Government and Community Relations for Kaleo (a biopharmaceutical based in Richmond, Virginia). Coming into this position, Gary brings over 12 years of government affairs experience within the health care sector which includes an emphasis on building relationships among key affiliates and policymakers at multiple levels of government (local, state, federal, and international). His educational background includes a Bachelors of Science in Health Policy from James Madison University followed by a Masters in Public Administration from The George Washington University. While Gary was raised in the Washington D.C. area, he has called Richmond, VA home for nearly two decades where he resides with his wife and three boys. [More from Gary Riddle](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2781:gary-riddle&catid=108) [ ![Izabella Kakuja](https://cbrneworld.com/templates/yootheme/cache/c3/Kakuja%20Izabella-c3bc3836.jpeg) ](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2329:izabella-kakuja&catid=108) ### [Izabella Kakuja](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2329:izabella-kakuja&catid=108) 08 March 2022 | [Speakers](https://cbrneworld.com/events/cbrne-convergence-canada-2026/speakers-canada-26) I have been working for the Hungarian National Police as a crime scene investigator for 30 years. Initially, I worked on minor cases, then on high-profile cases, and finally, for the past 8 years, I have been working on developing procedures related to CBRN materials, and I participate in such cases as a crime scene investigator or as an expert. I participated in several foreign peacekeeping operations, I won't go into detail about them. In 2025, I established the Hungarian CBRN crime scene investigator network, which I have been leading and training for since its inception. I am an UN IAEA experts, trainer and training developer in the field of RCSM. In parallel, since 2018 I have been working as the international coordinator of the Hungarian DVI unit, including international exercises and trainings. During this time, I worked as the Hungarian delegate of the EC LEWP DVI network, and then in 2025 I was elected as the chair of the network, so I also hold the position of its chair.In addition to these activities, I have been participating in War Crime Investigation training courses as an instructor for the past 4 years. I am also a member of the ISO TC 272(Forensic Sciences) technical committee as the head of the Hungarian delegation.I have obtained 8 university degrees so far. The first is a doctorate in law. I will obtain my second doctoral degree (PhD), a military in engineering doctorate, if all goes well this year or early spring. The title of the dissertation is: Management of crime scenes contaminated with radioactive/nuclear materials. I speak 3 languages ​​besides my native language. My husband is also a police officer. We have two children, twins, who are now starting high school. [More from Izabella Kakuja](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2329:izabella-kakuja&catid=108)