WAPI Governing Council & Overseas representatives

 John A Edwards - Chairman
 

John is a Past Vice Chairman and Chairman of the World Association of Professional Investigators and has been a Member of the Association of British Investigators since 1996 also a member of the Federation of Small Business and the Institute of Leadership and Management. John has been an active Professional Investigator for the last 15 years, he started off life in the Armed Forces where he served for 27 years and rose to the rank of Captain, during which time he saw service in Ulster and the Middle and Far East. John is a founder Member of the World Association of Professional Investigators and is the Principal of the Bedfordshire Investigation Bureau. John has for some time been a strong advocate for Training and Qualifications and has held the National Vocational Qualification level 4 Investigation since 1998 John is also an NVQ Assessor. During 2005 he also gained further Qualifications specifically C&G 7302 C&G 1184 and C&G 1186 (Conflict Management Trainer) Also during the period of that year he became a Director of the Academy of Professional Investigation. John operates from the Bedfordshire village of Henlow where he lives with his wife Carol. John re-joined the GC in October 2005, and was responsible for Training and European matters. John has continued with his own training development and this year successfully completed the BTEC Advanced Diploma of Private Investigation. Despite John’s previous reservations of the Chairmanship being in the hands of an Investigator who is a one man band, John feels that the recent restructuring of the association will give him the necessary support required to fulfil this roll. John believes that he still has much to offer the Association and wishes to stand for the position of Chairman for the ensuing year; John is of the opinion that the Association needs to change and adapt to enter another era of selective growth and training based qualifications in line with a selective membership.

 Stuart Withers - Vice Chairman, Mentor
 

Stuart is a founder member of WAPI and is a member of the Chartered Management Institute. Stuart has been a practicing professional Investigator for over 46 years and holds an NVQ Level 4 in Investigation. He is the founder and CEO of Nationwide Investigations Group, Academy of Professional Investigation and Author of the NIG Process Servers Guide, together with being a contributor to the NVQ syllabus in investigation level 3 and 4. Stuart works in Central London and lives with his family in Handcross, West Sussex.

 Ian D Withers - European Legislation & Licensing
 

Ian is a Founding Member and a Fellow of WAPI, and has completed 6 Terms of Office as Chairman (2000/2005 and 2007). A Professional Investigator since 1960, during which time he served as a Police Officer. Appointed as National Security Advisor to the Seychelles Government from 1979 to 1986. Licensed for over 10 years as a PI in Maryland USA where he is a Member of NCISS, USAPI, NALI, LPIA, PIAM & NAPPS. Chair, of the International Membership Section, of the National Association of Legal Investigators since 2004 and a Past Assistant Editor for International News for PI Magazine.  Ian holds NVQ Level 4 (Investigations), and has represented WAPI on the ISG - Investigator Sector Group. One of the Investigation Sector Consultants for the recently created NOS (National Occupational Standards) The CEO of Priority Investigations Group, travelling frequently between the USA and Europe, Ian lives with his Wife Phyl between their homes in Northern Ireland and Cyprus.

 Beverley Flynn - Treasurer
 

Beverley has been directly involved in the Investigation Industry for 28 years, predominantly on the Sales Marketing & administrative side of the business. Beverley’s career commenced in Business Management and joined the Investigation Industry with her late Husband Patrick. Beverley attained a BA Honours degree in Business Management in the early 1990’s, shortly afterwards forming Insight Investigations with its Head Office based in Birmingham. During Beverley’s career she has worked tirelessly to raise the profile and reputation of the Investigation Industry. Beverley became the Membership Secretary of WAPI in October 2003 and held the post of Lady Vice-Chairman of the Association from October 2004 to October 2006 and October 2007 until October 2008. Beverley became Treasurer the association in October 2007.  Beverley is also a full member of the Institute of Directors and The Association of British Investigators. Beverley lives in Midlands with her partner Tony.

 Tony Smith - eGroup Moderator, Complaints & Discipline
 

Tony commenced full time private investigation with Ferguson Investigations in Liverpool in February of 1977, remaining employed with them until that business was sold in 1981. Tony began working in his own right in October 1981 initially from home and eventually opening offices in Liverpool City Centre and is now based in a former Victorian doctor's surgery close to Aintree Racecourse. In 1986 Tony was a founder member of The Merseyside Association of Investigators & Process Servers (now BAIPS) and was secretary/treasurer of that Association until 2000, becoming an Honorary Life Member in 2007. A member of British Mensa 99%, and Intertel, a Team Member of MissingKin, and The Horserace Writers Association Tony has also been engaged by BBC TV as a Script Consultant. Tony was appointed to the Governing Council in October of 2004. Tony is the moderator of UKinvestigators2 E-Group. Tony is also the Complaints & Discipline Secretary of WAPI. Tony lives with his partner in the Midlands.

 Darren Glover - Membership
 

Darren was appointed as the Association's General Secretary in June 2006, and served as Membership Secretary for 2007/2008 term. Darren has operated DLG Investigations in Oxford since 2005. In 2006 Darren was elected as the Winner of the WAPI International Investigator of the Year 2006 Best Newcomer Award. Darren lives in Oxford with his wife, Imogen and is standing as Membership Secretary for the next Term for the Association.

 Nigel Ross - Marketing
 

Nigel was born in 1973 and started his Investigation career working on fraud Investigations for a well known insurance company. After gaining several years investigating experience, Nigel then went on to work as business development manager for another large Investigation company. After being made redundant in 2002 shortly before he was due to get married (nothing to do with his business development skills). Nigel formed Corporate and legal Investigations Ltd he then utilized not only his business development skills but also his investigation knowledge and experience. Nigel has now gone to be a newly qualified NVQ 4 Investigator is also a member of the Credit Services Association and Enforcement Service Association.  Nigel is a keen Martial Artist and holds various belts in Judo and Jujitsu. Nigel is married with 2 children and lives and works in west London

 Jorge Salgado-Reyes - Electronic Media
 

Jorge was born in Chile and came over to the UK aged 7. Having spent his formative years in the UK and Mozambique, Jorge became tri-lingual, speaking fluent English, Spanish and Portuguese. As a result of his language skills, he went to work in the family business as an interpreter but his true love was that of the private investigator. Not having had a classical private investigator background, Jorge knew that the only way into the industry was to take the corporate route. He started off as a Security Officer and then a Store Detective working for various high street retail stores until he became a Security Manager for a leading high street book seller and then various roles as a Senior Retail Loss Prevention Investigator. Having had 16 years in retail fraud investigations, Jorge had enough of working for other people and in April 2006, started his own private investigator agency specialising in corporate investigations, surveillance, process serving and tracing. Jorge is a founder member of e-LEGAL | Gathering, an online discussion forum for private investigators. Jorge has a Diploma in Private Investigations and Investigative Interviewing. He is currently serving on WAPI's Governing Council in Electronic Media after having served as General Secretary for a year and is a member of the Federation of Small Businesses.

 Emma Rowley - Press, General Secretary
 

Emma has worked within the Private Investigation industry for the past 13 years, starting as an Office Junior and eventually working her way up to Manager – Operational Support.  Emma has been actively involved within WAPI via Beverley Flynn during the past 5 years.  Emma has assisted and attended every past WAPI event also attended the World Investigators Conference in Las Vegas in 2005 working on the WAPI stand. Emma currently provides administration support to both the Membership Secretary & the Treasury. Emma is married with a young daughter and lives in the West Midlands.

 Rick Howatson - European Representative
 

Rick is the MD of Priority Marine Investigations in Spain and is also the WAPI Central European Representative. He has lived in Spain for the past 6 years operating his independent Private Investigation Company out of Murcia. Having spent five years in the British Army he then stayed on in Germany for 12 years and qualified at German Medical School. He then changed direction and became a Master Diver Instructor and for 18 years dived from Australia, USA, South Africa, Maldives, to the Seychelles Islands. He is fluent in German with a good command of Spanish. Rick returned back to Europe in 1993 and worked as a free lance PI in Eire until he got tired or the continual rainfall and moved to the warmer climes of Sunny Spain.

 Warren H Levicoff - USA Representative
 

Warren has been selected as the USA representative of WAPI. His main area of operations is in the Philadelphia area however he is arguably one of the most well known International Investigators, with associates throughout Asia and Europe. He is the CEO of International Detective Services Ltd and an active member of many Associations throughout the world. During his professional career he has also been involved in the field of Bounty Hunting and has extensive training in the use and carriage of firearms.

 Jeffrey A Williams CPP - Asia Representative
 

Jeffrey is the President and Managing Director of OSI. He served at seat of government locations, worldwide, as a Special Agent with the US Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI) until retiring in 1992, having served as the Commander, OSI at the U.S. Embassy, Manila from 1984. Upon retirement, he became the Country Manager for Pinkerton – Philippines, until his promotion to Vice President of Pinkerton (Asia) Ltd. in 1997. His awards include commanding the Worldwide Outstanding OSI Office of the Year in 1986 and selection as Worldwide Department of Defense (DOD) Counterintelligence Collector of the Year in 1987, both awards while assigned to Manila. Additionally, he was selected by Pinkerton as their Worldwide Investigations Managing Director of the Year in 1997, followed by his selection as Pinkerton’s International Managing Director of the Year – Leadership Award in 1998. Jeff was also awarded the Bronze Cross Medal from the Philippine National Police (PNP) in 1991. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and a Masters degree in Management. Jeff is active within the American Chamber of Commerce's Intellectual Property Rights Committee and is Board Certified in Security Management by the American Society for Industrial Security(ASIS). Additionally, he serves on the 15 member Worldwide Investigations Council of ASIS.

 Neil Wood - Australia Representative
 

• Founder, Past Chairman & Group Managing Director - TCM Group International (L) Ltd.
• Institute of Mercantile Agents - Past State President/ National Vice President.
• Associate Fellow - Australian Institute of Management
• Certified Collector - International Fellowship Certified Collectors
• Member - World Association of Detectives, World Investigators Network.
• Associate Senior - Australian Institute of Credit Management
• Past Chairman - International Directors - American Collectors Association (Six years)
• In 1994 and 2000, Neil was awarded ACA International's highest international honor, the "International Paul Bunyan Award"
• Member - International Association Insurance Fraud Agencies
• Member - Australian Insurance Institute
• Justice of the Peace - Victoria, Australia
• In 2001, Neil was certified Master Credit Executive (MCE), the most prestigious certification offered by The Society of Certified Credit Executives (SCCE)

WAPI - the professionals choice

The World Association of Professional Investigators, WAPI, is a professional body, formed by professionals, for professionals. It covers all areas of investigation, public sector and private sector, companies and individuals, corporate and domestic.

WAPI meets the need for a worldwide organisation which can provide a focal point for investigators. It promotes the profession internationally and provides networking opportunities through which members can exchange ideas, knowledge, methods, advice, education and working assignments.

To join your professional association, visit Apply now.