Director Profiles

Charles has 36 years experience of UK Customs enforcement work at ports, airports and the investigation service. In 1992 he established the first specialist UK CITES unit dedicated to the investigation of illegal trade in endangered species. Under his leadership it became the centre of expertise for enforcement of CITES in the UK. Charles represented the UK Government and Customs internationally as well as providing CITES enforcement training around the world.

After taking early retirement, in 2014, together with Ian Knox, he founded MK Wildlife Consultancy Ltd. It’s purpose to share the skills they had developed with other enforcement officers and NGOs in the fight against wildlife crime.

In the 8 years since launching the company Charles has carried out research into internet enabled crime, countrywide wildlife crime risk assessments and delivered training in CITES and Customs enforcement in North and South America, Africa and the Middle East.

Ian Knox Director

Ian served with the Metropolitan Police for 30 years in various departments, including 18 years investigating wildlife crime. In 2003 he was one of the founders of the first UK police wildlife crime unit at Scotland Yard. In 2009 he took over leadership of the unit, undertaking national and international investigations, and training of police and customs officers and representing the UK internationally.

He retired from the police service in 2013 and joined with Charles MacKay to form MK Wildlife Consultancy Ltd.

To date Ian has engaged in research and training in South America and Africa, and undertaken numerous investigations into internet enabled crime.

Ian specialises in wildlife crime training, investigation and research.

Rob Quest Consultant/Trainer

Rob has been an enforcement officer for the City of London Corporation for over 35 years, ensuring compliance with the import and transit of animals at the Heathrow Animal Reception Centre, the Border Inspection Post at Heathrow Airport, which he managed. He was also responsible for the City of London Corporation’s Animal Health and Welfare team that carry out inspections for the licensing of animal related premises for over 35 local government organisations in London and the UK. He sits on several regional and national government panels dealing with animal health and welfare and the regulations governing them.

Rob has been the training co-ordinator for the EU Commission’s government veterinary officers and customs officers and is a trainer on the Border Control Post course. He has been responsible for the examination of exotic animals for veterinary inspectors and customs including handling, identification, checking for IATA infringements and care of seized animals. He also provides guidance to I.A.T.A. and airlines on the care and handling of live animals traveling by air.

Rob is also a government Wildlife Inspector working mostly with EU CITES regulations, handling of animals, checking ring numbers/markings and the identification of species for customs and police. He also runs animal handling training workshops for police and customs.

Sean O’Regan Consultant/Trainer

Sean is a former South African Police Detective Captain and has 35 years law enforcement, investigative, training and mentoring experience relating to counter organized crime. During his last 10 years in the police he established and led a multi-agency task team mandated to investigate trans-national counter-narcotics crime offences.

For the past fifteen years Sean has conducted training and mentorship for law enforcement agencies throughout Africa and South East Asia. He specialises in trans-national wildlife crime investigations, capacity building and mentorship. Sean developed and was lead author of the Counter Transnational Organized Crime training concept and manuals for the USAID Wildlife Asia program.