Henry Severs

Henry Severs is an accomplished strategic advisor and program leader with 15 years' experience delivering high-impact technical solutions in response to exigent global challenges on behalf of public, private, intergovernmental, and not-for-profit clients

He brings a unique perspective from working both client- and supplier-side on major bilateral and multilateral initiatives, with demonstrable expertise designing, implementing, and evaluating multimillion-dollar programs.

He has a proven track record leading globally dispersed teams and building strategic partnerships to drive systems-level change, particularly in fragile, conflict-affected, and low-capacity environments.

Henry's technical expertise spans a range of transnational security challenges, including national security, countering violent extremism, human trafficking, modern slavery, child protection, and broader security sector, policing and justice system reform. Recent wider sectoral experience includes transformative programs in climate change resilience, adaptation and finance; sustainable infrastructure; trade and investment; private sector and market systems development; economic and human capital development; healthcare; national and subnational governance; aviation; and gender equality and social inclusion.

Henry is a Principal Manager at Adam Smith International (ASI) within the firm's Governance Practice, seconded to the company's Asia-Pacific division as Head of Southeast Asia where he is responsible for strategic partnerships, business growth, and oversight of ASI's Southeast Asia hub in Bangkok, Thailand, and chairs ASI's Indo-Pacific Working Group.

Between 2021-2025, in his capacity as ASI Asia-Pacific regional lead for business development, Henry is responsible for securing over USD 90 million in new business for ASI Asia-Pacific.

Before ASI, Henry was the Technical Adviser for the UK's £19m Cross-border Conflict Evidence, Policy and Trends (XCEPT) program, supporting a cross-faculty research team from King's College London to deliver operational research to government audiences, and the P/CVE Practice Manager for a boutique consultancy firm, with technical and programmatic oversight of a USD 7 million global portfolio spanning MENA, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Eastern Europe

UNODC x GCTF Workshop

Effective Counterterrorism Practice in Southeast Asia Whilst Respecting Human Rights and the Rule of Law

UNODC x FCO Workshop:

Advanced Analysis of Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants Networks

Prior to consulting, Henry worked for the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (née FCO) in Southeast Asia, supporting multiagency efforts to combat human trafficking, migrant smuggling, child exploitation and other organised crime networks in the region. He was later responsible for co-authoring business cases to secure a USD 23 million development portfolio allocations in Thailand in a diverse range of sectors, from anti-corruptions through to low carbon energy.

Henry has also worked for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Counterterrorism Programme for Southeast Asia, building the capacity of ASEAN member states to more effectively criminalise, investigate, prosecute and adjudicate terrorism offenses. He has also conducted research and analysis for the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation (ICSR).

Currently, Henry is a PhD Candidate and a UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) Future Leaders scholarship recipient within the Transformation of Transatlantic Counter-Terrorism programme at the University of Bath. His research examines various notions of 'trust' in the pursuit of national security objectives via international development programming, and the closer integration of the UK’s international aid, trade, and security agendas overseas.

Henry holds a Masters with Distinction in Terrorism Security and Society from King's College London, receiving the Kings-WCOSP Postgraduate Essay Prize for his analysis of al-Qaeda's Western online media strategy. Henry also holds First Class Honours bachelors degree in Criminology and Social Policy from the University of Sheffield, receiving the Vaughan Bevan Prize for academic excellence for his research into secondary victimisation of Somali refugee sex workers.

King's College London Postgraduate Prize Winner