Anna Paternnosto is president and co-founder of NCT Consultants LLC. After completing her Masters in International Relations and Diplomacy at the University of Trieste she worked at the Austrian Mission to NATO in 2014. In 2015 she joined IB Consultancy in The Netherlands, an independent defense and security consultancy firm specialized in CBRNe threats where she covers the role of Director of Governmental Affairs. In addition to her overall managerial role within the company, she is leading the relations with public entities worldwide and manages the relations with some of the firm’s key accounts. Anna is also the Vice President of the CBRNe Society, an international non-profit organization dedicated to providing platforms for the stakeholders of the global CBRNe community to share knowledge and promote innovation. In her position she manages the global relations with governmental stakeholders, facilitates government to government efforts and contributes to the alignment between public and industrial interests within the community. In addition to her MA, Anna holds an Executive Certificate Program in Counter-Terrorism Studies, Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism Operations from IDC Herzliya (Israel). In 2020 she was selected by Forbes as one of Italy’s young leaders of the future under 30.

Ilja Bonsen is president and co-founder of NCT Consultants. Before starting IB Consultancy (the predecessor of NCT), he worked for TNO Defence and Security as a CBRN Project Manager. He has worked for almost twenty years in the field of CBRNe in Europe, Asia and America.

Mr. Josep Font is a Sales Consultant at NCT Consultants, where he maintains relations with industry stakeholders within the military and defense sector.

Prior to NCT, he worked at Novartis and Unlimited Thinking, a healthcare startup consulting firm. His international work experience includes roles in Thailand, the USA, and Barcelona.

Mr. Font holds a MSc in Marketing and Sales Management from ESADE Business School.

Mr Alan Smith has been involved with NCT Consultants for over a decade, contributing to the commercial and client-facing activities of the organisation across its consultancy and events operations. 

Throughout this period, he has worked on business development, sales execution, and client engagement for international conferences, exhibitions, and consultancy projects. His involvement has included sponsorship and exhibitor sales, client coordination, and commercial support across the full lifecycle of events and advisory engagements. 

Alongside his work with NCT Consultants, he brings prior experience in the international events industry, having worked on sector-specific conferences and exhibitions within pharmaceuticals, food, pensions, and investment markets. This background has informed his approach to client engagement and commercial development across regulated and specialist industries. 

Across both events and consultancy activity, his role has been hands-on and execution-focused, with long-term continuity in revenue-generating activities, client relationships, and the commercial foundation of NCT Consultants’ consultancy and events business. 

Currently serving as Director of Training at NCT, George leads advanced international training initiatives focused on counter-threat and security operations. With 24 years of distinguished service as a British Army Engineer, he specialized in Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), served as a Paratrooper, and operated as a High Risk Search Advisor, earning recognition for leadership in complex operational environments. A dual UK/US citizen, he holds professional credentials including CCTP and MIExpE, and maintains active membership in IABTI and USBTA. He served as JIEDDO Chief for TSE from 2006–2008, contributing strategic expertise in counter-IED operations, and deployed operationally to Northern Ireland, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Kosovo, and Iraq. Globally recognized as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in CBRN, EOD, CIED, and Counter Terrorism instruction, he brings extensive operational and instructional experience across complex and high-threat environments worldwide. 

Bedyka is a Sales Agent and Executive Sales Assistant at NCT Consultants, where she supports sales activities and client relations. She is currently pursuing a degree in Accounting and Finance and working towards her Certified Accounting Technician (CAT) qualification. She contributes to the team by maintaining client relationships, while strengthening her professional skills.

Adrianna is a Junior Personal Assistant & Event Operations Manager, responsible for supporting the planning and execution of NCT Consultants’ events worldwide. She bridges her administrative expertise with a deep understanding of global affairs, holding a master’s degree in European Law with diplomacy, and a bachelor’s in International Relations.  

Having worked and lived in the USA during two consecutive Work and Travel programs, Adrianna brings a proactive, international mindset to the operations team. Prior to NCT, she developed her organizational skills in administrative roles within the real estate industry. She is fluent in Polish and English. 

Kate Chen, a seasoned creative professional, has spent over a decade navigating the intricacies of the advertising industry. With a strong foundation in design, she has successfully executed design work for a diverse range of local and international brands. In recent years, Kate has shifted her focus to integrating cutting-edge technology and innovative tools to drive her content creation and client service efforts. Her expertise spans automotive, CBRNE, and television networks, and she is committed to leveraging the latest trends to deliver unparalleled value to her clients. 

Polina serves as a Graphic Designer for NCT Consultants, collaborating closely with the design team to develop and maintain the visual identity for all NCT projects.

Polina began her professional journey studying Decorative Arts at the B.M. Grekov Art College in Odesa, Ukraine. Later, she completed professional courses in Graphic Design and worked as a freelance designer, gaining hands-on experience in various projects. Polina started her career at NCT Consultants as a Design Intern, gradually expanding her professional competencies and contributing to the company’s visual communication development.

In 2021, Mr. Jesus “JB” Cuartas was appointed to the New Jersey State Senior Executive Service as the Director for the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities Reliability and Security Division where he oversees the State’s utility emergency management response, natural gas pipelines, underground facilities safety, utility cyber security and several other critical infrastructure responsibility on behalf of the President of the BPU.

Prior to joining NJ BPU Mr. Cuartas served as the Department Head for conEdison’s Emergency Preparedness Exercises, Training, and Interagency Coordination Department. In this role, he oversaw the company’s preparedness, readiness, and ability to coordinate with public and private stakeholders before, during, and after disasters strike. In August 2020, his team coordinated interagency efforts following TS Isaias which resulted in the second largest response in company history. Prior to conEdison, Mr Cuartas served as the Chief of Operational Planning for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Region II covering New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. As the Chief of Operational Planning, Mr. Cuartas managed deliberate catastrophic planning and the Regional Hurricane Program for Region II. Mr. Cuartas was also a member of FEMA’s Field Leadership Apprenticeship Program (Federal Coordinating Officer option) Pilot Cohort. Mr. Cuartas held leadership positions in multiple Presidentially-declared disasters and national and international crisis operations including Branch Director during the response to Hurricane Maria and Infrastructure Directorate Deputy Director responsible for leading Federal infrastructure recovery operations in Puerto Rico. Additionally, Mr. Cuartas served as the Region II Exercise Director for the 2017 National Level Exercise Gotham Shield. Prior to joining FEMA Region II, Mr. Cuartas served as the Chief of Operational Planning for FEMA Region III where he managed catastrophic planning including Improvised Nuclear Device Response Plans for the National Capitol Region and Philadelphia, chaired the Consequence Management Subcommittees for multiple National Special Security Events (NSSE) occurring in the Region to include the World Meeting of Families-Papal Visit, and oversaw the Regional Emergency Communications Program, Regional Geospatial Information Systems Program, and Regional Hurricane Program.

Mr. Cuartas served nine years in the US Army, including two combat tours in Iraq totaling 29 months of combat operations conducting Counter-Improvised Explosive Device (C-IED) operations. He served as a Combat Engineer and Explosives Ordnance Clearance Agent with the 111th Sapper Company, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division and Technical Rescue Operations/Planning Section Chief for the 911th Technical Rescue Engineer Company, Military District of Washington. Following his military service, Mr. Cuartas took on the role of Emergency Preparedness Program Manager for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. Mr. Cuartas then transitioned into the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Operations Coordination serving as a senior continuity policy analyst drafting multiple Department-wide policies and plans. Mr. Cuartas joined FEMA in 2013 as the Regional Continuity Manager where he worked with multiple States and Federal Departments and Agencies to develop plans and policies, execute continuity exercises, and served as course manager and instructor for FEMA emergency management and continuity courses within the Region and at FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute.

Mr. Cuartas holds an Executive Master’s in Emergency and Disaster Management from Georgetown University, Bachelor of Arts in Emergency and Disaster Management, is a graduate of FEMA’s Emergency Management Academy and Master Continuity Practitioner Level II, was awarded the FEMA Administrator’s Award for Excellence in Emergency Management and holds numerous certifications in the fields of emergency management, continuity, technical rescue and fire services.