Dr. Ian Ralby is founder and CEO of I.R. Consilium, a family firm that provides leading advice and assistance on international affairs with particular emphasis on securing, governing and developing maritime spaces, and on protecting natural resources. He is a globally recognized expert in five main areas: 1) maritime law and security, especially identifying and addressing evolving and emerging threats; 2) maritime strategy, integrating security, governance and the maritime economy; 3) recognizing and countering resource-related crimes; 4) regulating, governing, and overseeing private security companies—both land and maritime;  and 5) certain aspects of international law including the legal regimes around floating armories, protection of submarine cables and the use of force by armed contractors. He is a Senior Fellow at the Global Energy Center of the Atlantic Council, and previously spent three years as a Maritime Crime Expert for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s Global Maritime Crime Program, and four years as an Adjunct Professor at the U.S. Department of Defense’s Africa Center for Strategic Studies. 

Having worked in and with more than 80 different countries, Dr. Ralby maintains close working relationships with leading professionals around the world and is known not just for his projects, but for building communities of motivated individuals who can ensure lasting impact and continual improvement.  He continues to serve as an expert advisor to and consultant for various government agencies, international organizations, and private sector entities. He earned a B.A. in Modern Languages and Linguistics and an M.A. in Intercultural Communication from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County; a J.D. at William and Mary; and both an M.Phil. in International Relations and a Ph.D. in Politics and International Studies at the University of Cambridge.