ABOUT US

Jessica Davis

Jessica Davis, PhD is the President and principal consultant at Insight Threat Intelligence. Drawing on her extensive experience in the security and intelligence world, Dr. Davis provides her clients with accurate, relevant, and timely intelligence, helping them navigate uncertainty and complexity. She is an internationally recognized expert on terrorism, illicit financing, and intelligence analysis, and also serves as the President of the Canadian Association for Intelligence and Security Studies.

Dr. Davis spent the first 17 years of her career in the Canadian security and intelligence community, beginning with the Canadian Forces and later holding roles at Global Affairs Canada, FINTRAC (Canada’s financial intelligence unit), and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS). She left CSIS in 2018 to share her knowledge more broadly, enhance the Canadian dialogue on security issues, and offer new perspectives on countering illicit financing. Dr. Davis is an associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies, a visiting senior fellow with the Soufan Centre, and a senior associate with the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.

Dr. Davis specializes in research methodologies, training, and intelligence and policy analysis. She completed her PhD in 2024 at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University and was the 2023 recipient of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council’s Impact Talent award.

IN THE MEDIA

OUR TEAM

  • Elena Martynova

    Research Analyst

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    Elena Martynova is a research analyst for Insight Threat Intelligence since 2022 where she develops financial profiles on terrorist organizations and terrorist attacks. Previously, she was an officer with the Egmont Group of Financial Intelligence Units. She has experience developing anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing initiatives, as well as organizing capacity building programs for financial intelligence units, banking supervisors, and reporting entities around the world. Elena has worked on several unique projects to help combat the illicit financial flows associated with the illegal wildlife trade, online child sexual exploitation, and other international crimes. Most recently, she has become certified in the essentials of cryptocurrency assets.

  • Lisa N

    Research Analyst

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    Lisa has been with Insight Threat Intelligence as a research analyst since 2022, and has over fifteen years of experience in the law enforcement field. Lisa started her career as a peace officer with Carleton University, and then with The Ottawa Police Service(OPS). Later, wanting to combine her passion for helping others and her love of research, Lisa finished out her time with OPS as a Crime Intelligence Analyst, and has been working as a research analyst ever since. Armed with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and specialized training from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) college, Lisa expertly supports research initiatives and ensures the smooth flow of research operations.

  • Dan Collen

    Researcher

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    Dan Collen is a researcher at Insight Threat Intelligence since 2023, and is an affiliate member of the Canadian Institute for Far-Right Studies. Dan has worked as an educator and as a researcher of hate speech and hate movements in Canada. He has written bylines for Vice World News and the Canadian Anti-Hate Network. Dan is a co-creator of Hatepedia.ca, a renowned educational resource on hate speech managed by the Toronto Holocaust Museum. At Insight, Dan brings his research skills, knowledge of the extremist landscape, and graphics background to support engaging research, analysis, and investigations.

  • Brett W

    Research Analyst and Systems Librarian

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    Brett is a research analyst and systems librarian and joined Insight in 2023. He specializes in optimizing workflows related to data analysis, academic research, software planning, and brings unique approaches to searching unstructured sources of information. His research interests include applying bibliometrics to specific research topics, detecting patterns in academic misconduct, and automated topic-based monitoring.

    Brett has extensive experience in teaching how to use academic resources across Information Technology, GIS, Psychology, and a variety of health care specialties. He has worked in academic and special libraries in Canada and Qatar. He completed the Bellingcat Open Source Investigation training in 2021 and has been a certified Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator since 2013. At Insight, Brett focuses on research and research methods, helping the team focus their strategies and optimize research outcomes.