ICA Board of Directors


ICA Executive

Dr. Macarena Rau - Director / President

Chile

Macarena Rau Vargas has a background in architecture and a Master's Degree in Research and Philosophy of Architecture in Chile. She has recently completed her PhD in architecture and urbanism studies. She has a wide experience leading urban and public safety projects and initiatives in Chile, Latin America and the Caribbean. 

In 2008 Macarena founded PBK Consulting; a company that assists governments, companies and NGO’s applying CPTED strategies in countries like Mexico, Honduras, Chile, Brazil among other. In this role she has particularly promoted the 2nd Generation CPTED.

Macarena has been the President of the International CPTED Association since 2017.

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Dr. Manjari Khanna Kapoor - Director / Vice President


India

Manjari is a practising architect with a long list of successfully completed projects to her credit. She is a pioneer for the cause of ‘security through architectural design’, propagating the concepts of CPTED and counter terrorism through main stream architectural design not restricted to her country or region. This is the subject of her doctorate and an ever growing list of papers and blogs that she has authored.

She is lecturing in many of the premium architectural schools of Delhi and participating in many of the national conferences to advocate the universal concepts of CPTED. Her passion has inspired many budding architects to undertake research in this brand new aspect of design in the national capital of India.

Together with her team of likeminded youngsters, she is heading an Indian chapter of the International CPTED Association. This ‘Association for Building Security- India’ is a not-for-profit society with many disparate projects underway. While they delve majorly into research and contextualisation of the CPTED concepts, they are also into public advocacy (with workshops and lectures), projects for the betterment of schools, market places, neighbourhoods and communities.

Manjari was elected as Director on the International CPTED Association Board of Directors in 2019. In February 2024 she was appointed as Vice-president.

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Barry Davidson - Director / Treasurer


Canada

Barry Davidson is one of the founders and former (and first) Executive Director of the ICA and has worked on crime prevention and CPTED initiatives since 1995. 

Barry is the Chairperson of Safe and Caring Schools and Communities as well as the Director of Strategic Operations with the Canadian Crime Prevention Centre. He has been working in the areas of housing and homelessness for the past many years and sits on provincial and local task forces, boards and committees.

Barry continues his professional work in the area of safety consulting, engagement and project risk mitigation for governments, communities and corporate clients.

Barry was appointed as Treasurer of the International CPTED Association in 2019.

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Elisabeth Miller - Director / Secretary

Canada

Elisabeth Miller, MCIP, is a municipal urban planner with a specialty in urban safety and SafeGrowth® .  Currently she is the Neighborhood Safety Coordinator responsible for implementing SafeGrowth® training and working with communities to identify issues, carry out risk assessments and safety audits, public engagement, and the implementation of safety recommendations. She also chairs the City of Saskatoon's CPTED Review Committee which is a partnership of various civic departments. 

Elisabeth is also responsible for organizing and co-teaching SafeGrowth® & CPTED courses to ensure that civic staff is appropriately trained. Over 200 people have been trained since 2000. 

Elisabeth joined the ICA Board of Directors in 2008 and was appointed as a Secretary in 2019.

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International Directors

Dr. Randy Atlas


United States

Dr. Atlas is a nationally recognized trainer and author on Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) for the National Crime Prevention Institute (NCPI), which is part of the University of Louisville. He has conducted over 200 workshops and seminars on CPTED and Critical Infrastructure Protection around the world and has uniquely combined the fields of architecture, security, and criminology. 

Dr. Atlas serves as an adjunct professor in architecture and criminal justice at Florida Atlantic University College of Architecture and teaches one of the few CPTED classes in the world to architecture, urban planning, and criminal justice students. Atlas is a master CPTED instructor trainer with NCPI, AIA, and ASIS International. He is a practitioner and designs functionally integrated security design systems using the CPTED methodology in all building/ facility types including transportation.

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Dr. Randy Atlas, AIA, CPP - Regional Director (USA)

John Beatson

Canada

John is a former police officer retiring in 2020 after 33 years of service with the Toronto Police Service (TPS) and Edmonton Police Service (EPS). John worked in a variety of areas including Uniform Patrol, Criminal Investigations Branch (CIB), Youth Bureau (YB), Training and Education (T&E), Special Weapons Tactical Unit (SWAT), Explosive Disposal Unit (EDU) and Crime Prevention Unit (CPU).

During his time in the Crime Prevention Unit, John was introduced to CPTED in 2014. He immediately saw the benefits of CPTED and became the subject matter expert for the Edmonton Police Service. John took part in numerous CPTED assessments and overlooked assessments conducted by Edmonton Police Officers as well as facilitated CPTED courses. John embraced CPTED because he recognized that CPTED helped reduce or prevent crime unlike traditional policing methods that had officers responding to calls that were in progress, or already happened. Retiring gave John the opportunity to pursue his passion with CPTED and he created CPTED Alberta (cptedalberta.com).

John is working towards establishing a Canadian Chapter of the ICA. He feels privileged to be elected on the ICA Board and looks forward to sharing knowledge with and learning from a diverse group of brilliant people in efforts to improve safety and quality of life for as many people as possible in his country and around the world.

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Rene Berndt


United States

Rene Berndt, AIA LEED AP, Associate Principal at Mahlum Architects, has 25 years of architectural experience and extensive knowledge of learning environments tailored to the specific social-emotional needs of each age group. Rene is an active member of the “Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) SW Washington / Oregon – USA Chapter and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) – Portland Chapter.  He served in the past on the board of Directors of the AIA Monterey Bay Chapter and the A4LE SW Washington / Oregon Chapter. 

Rene is very interested in the specific needs of the learner at each developmental stage and how these needs differ between early childcare, elementary, middle or high school students.  In the last decade he has become concerned that strategies with the goal of providing safety in schools have instead increased anxiety, fear and conditions that could foster bullying, vandalism and social isolation.  To counter this trend, Rene is promoting the CPTED Defensible Space tenets and aims to provide learning environments that foster positive social relationships.

Rene enjoys sharing his work and research at conferences and workshops, both locally and internationally. His work has been featured in numerous design publications, including Architectural Record, and has been recognized with diverse regional, national and international design awards. 

Rene was elected as Director on the International CPTED Association Board of Directors in 2019.

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Dr. Mercedes Escudero


Mexico

In 2017 and 2018 Mercedes was recognized as one of Mexico’s 300 Most Influential Leaders. Mercedes holds a degree in Communication Sciences from the FCPyS of the UNAM and a Master's Degree in Communication from the Universidad Iberoamericana where she specialized in political and institutional communication. She currently serves as a President of CPTED Mexico, an ICA-affiliated organization. In 2018 Mercedes was also appointed an ICA Regional Director for Latin America and is a member of the Communication Committee at México Libre de Corrupción AC.

Mercedes’ previous positions include: Coordinator of Advisors to the Deputy Secretary of the Surveillance Committee of the Superior Audit Office at the Federation and the Radio and Television Commission; working on citizen participation in the Executive Secretariat of the National Public Security System; serving as a Secretary of the First Vice Province in the National Commission of Human Rights (CNDH); and diverse positions at the Center of Investigation and National Security (CISEN) where she coordinated matters relating to national security.

Mercedes also shares her wealth of experience teaching. She has worked at the Universidad Iberoamericana since 2001 where she’s been teaching students in program of Communication, Marketing and Administration. She has also taught at the Technological University of Mexico (UNITEC) South Campus and at the Universidad del Tepeyac where she teaches Masters students in Advertising and Image. Mercedes has also presented at international conventions such as the International Security Fair (FISEG) in Santiago, Chile, in 2015; at the International Conference "Prevention and Safe Public Spaces" in Honduras in 2017; and at the 1st Encounter of Wills and Tables of Citizen Security and Social Cohesion co-organized by the European Union, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Secretariat for the Prevention of Crime with Citizen Participation of the Ministry of the Interior in 2017.

Mercedes was appointed as Regional Director for Latin America in 2018.

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Carlos Alfredo Gutiérrez Vera


Ecuador

Carlos is an architect, psychotherapist, specialist in complementary medicine and Bioneuroemoción specialist. He obtained his degree in architecture from University of Chile.

He has participated in the promotion of the CPTED methodology in Latin America since its inception in the region. He is also a co-author of the first CPTED manual in Latin America.

Over the past years Carlos has lived and worked in South, Central and North America where he familiarized himself very closely with local cultural aspects and social challenges especially those relating to violence and its prevention. In Central America, especially in Honduras, he has effectively promoted and implemented application of bioclimatic design strategies applicable to school infrastructure. Under this work he also developed guidelines for application of CPTED methodology in the planning of school spaces. His professional knowledge and interest in various self-development topics has allowed him to integrate psychosocial approaches to CPTED methodology.

He has extensive experience in community development, promoting citizen engagement and integration, and strengthening community and institutional participation. He is currently a Senior Technical Advisor (Consortium of three German companies) for the CONVIVIR Program in Honduras executed by the government of this country with funds from Bank KfW of Germany.

Carlos was elected as Director on the International CPTED Association Board of Directors in 2017.

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Emma McGill

New Zealand

Emma McGill has a background in Teaching, and latterly community safety and wellbeing. She has a Batchelor of Education and a Diploma of Teaching in New Zealand. She has been working in the area of Crime Prevention and CPTED for over 12 years. She is the Director of Crime Prevention Solutions NZ, which trains urban designers, Police, Landscape architects, security professionals and public servants around New Zealand in CPTED best practice.

She has worked with local authorities, transport organisations and community groups to help improve safety. She is also currently a regional coordinator for Neighbourhood Support – an organisation which aims to help connect neighbours and communities to improve safety and wellbeing. Her aim is to increase the awareness of CPTED around New Zealand and see more policies implemented that ensure CPTED principles and planning are included in all new designs of spaces, be them public or private.

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Mateja Mihinjac

Slovenia

Mateja Mihinjac is a criminologist and researcher from Slovenia currently completing doctoral research at Griffith University, Australia. Her thesis looks into the implementation of crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED). ​Mateja has studied criminal justice issues in Europe and Australia since 2009. She worked at the Constitutional Court in Slovenia, and has held positions as tutor and research assistant at Griffith University, and Criminology/CPTED Professional in her private consulting practice. In these positions she has conducted research in CPTED, crime prevention, fear of crime, and other topics, and conducted extensive analyses using GIS and other tools. Mateja is also certified in SafeGrowth®  program and has co-taught SafeGrowth® workshops in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Sweden, and across the United States. 

Mateja was elected as a Director on the International CPTED Association Board of Directors in 2017. In the same year she was appointed as Secretary. Between 2019 and 2024 she was the Executive Director of the ICA. Mateja is the ICCP Coordinator of the ICA Certification Program.

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Dr. Tim Pascoe


United Kingdom

Dr Tim Pascoe has been a Community Safety Researcher for over 25 years carrying out qualitative and quantitative research and evaluation. He has a particular interest in Designing and Managing Out Crime. His work has resulted in a publication record that has added to the understanding of community safety problems and solutions. 

  • Director of Catalyst In Communities
  • Director of Community Coaching Academy 
  • Director of Griffin Research and Consultancy 
  • Director of the ICA
  • Chairman of the UK Design Out Crime Association
  • Fellow of the RSA 
  • Advisor to an all-Party Parliamentary Child and Youth Crime Group
  • Trustee for 2 charities Through Unity and Luton Rape Crisis Centre

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Dr. Shamir Rajadurai


Malaysia

Shamir Rajadurai has a Masters of Criminal Justice from University Malaya (UM) and is also a Certified CPTED Practitioner from Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and ICCP Certified Practitioner at the International CPTED Association. Shamir works at the grassroots of crime which gives him a great understanding of crime and offers him opportunities to assist with CPTED efforts. Shamir is one of the panel Judges for the Star Property Award 2017 and 2018, he is the Co-Producer of the crime prevention online mini-series “kuasa wanita di sini” & “Crime, Crooks & Criminology” which has Millions of views. He is an International Speaker and consultant on CPTED in Malaysia, Thailand and Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries. Shamir has also been featured in various TV and Radio talk shows, Newspapers and magazines both locally and internationally.

He has experience working on CPTED and crime prevention strategies and designs with property developers, municipal councils, town planners, architects, engineering firms, Police, Customs and individual home owners.

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Paul van Soomeren


The Netherlands

Paul (1952) studied Social Geography at the University of Amsterdam and Urban and Regional Planning at the same University. He worked at the Ministries of Justice and Interior (National Crime Prevention Institute) and in 1984 founded a private consultancy and research bureau under the name DSP-groep that he continues to lead today.

Paul was the Chair of a CEN working group that made an official European Standard on CPTED (CEN standard 14382-2) and he initiated the Dutch and European ICA Chapter (see the website of the European Designing Out Crime Association). Paul was also in the management committee of the EU COST action on Crime Prevention through Urban Design, Planning and Management.

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Executive Director

Executive Director

Tinus Kruger


South Africa

Tinus is the Research Group Leader of the Housing and Urban Studies Group at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in Pretoria, South Africa. He is a registered architect specialising in Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED). He focuses in particular on crime prevention within the context of developing countries, and has been involved in various studies regarding the relationship between crime and the planning, design and management of the physical environment since 1998. He has participated in a range of projects, including community-based crime analysis initiatives, training workshops and developing CPTED and general crime prevention guidelines and strategies at national, provincial, municipal and community level. 

Tinus was elected Vice-president of the ICA in 2017. In January 2024 he became the Executive Director of the ICA.

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Immediate Past President

Tony Lake


Australia

Tony Lake is General Manager of the International Security Management & Crime Prevention Institute (ISMCPI), and a former President of the International Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) Association (ICA). He is an Immediate Past president of the ICA board on which he served for almost 20 years. 

Tony retired as an Inspector with the Queensland Police Service in 2007 after a career lasting 36 years.  At the time of retirement he was attached to the Office of the Commissioner where he was the project manager for the development and implementation of CPTED Guidelines for Queensland and provided professional input into the National CPTED Guidelines for New Zealand. 

Tony was employed as a crime prevention and security advisor for Amtac Professional Services, based in Brisbane Queensland, for 11 years after retiring from policing and now provides CPTED training with the ISMCPI in Australia and New Zealand. 

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ICA Founders (1996)

  • Gregory Saville
  • Barry Davidson
  • Paul Wong


Past International Chairs (Presidents)

  • Gregory Saville, 1997-2000 (Inaugural Chair)
  • Sherry Carter, 2000-2002
  • Jonathon Lusher, 2002-2005
  • Diane Zahm, 2005-2010
  • Tony Lake, 2010-2017


    ICA Lifetime Achievement Award

    • Patricia Brantingham (Calgary, Canada, 1996)
    • C. Ray Jeffery (Mississuauga, Canada, 1999)
    • Ronald V. Clarke (Amsterdam, Netherlands, 2003)
    • Wendy Sarkissian (Brisbane, Australia, 2001)
    • Gregory Saville (Calgary, Canada, 2002)  
    • Ray van Dusen (Calgary, Canada, 2010)
    • Barry Davidson (Calgary, Canada, 2017)


    Have a look at our Board member composition through ICA's history here.

    ICA Mission Statement

    To create safer environments and improve the quality of life through the use of CPTED principles and strategies