Nick Downie is the Founder and CEO of WillowFlow Group, bringing decades of experience in humanitarian security, risk management, and AI-driven innovation. His career began in the British military and policing in Northern Ireland, before transitioning to global humanitarian operations in Kosovo, Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Ukraine, Somalia, South Sudan, Eritrea, Sudan, Indonesia, Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka.

In Afghanistan, Nick was part of the team of security specialists brought in at the end of 2002 to set up and establish the Afghanistan NGO Safety Office (ANSO), initially an ECHO-funded project of the humanitarian community in Afghanistan, designed to enhance humanitarian security and access. He became ANSO’s lead in 2003, overseeing its expansion and strategic direction until 2005.

Nick has held senior leadership roles in international NGOs, including being part of the start-up and establishment of the International NGO Safety Organisation (INSO). He started up INSO’s inaugural missions in Syria, Iraq, and Ukraine and in 2022, re-established INSO in Ukraine following the emergency and conflict there. His expertise spans programme development, organisational leadership, and crisis management, alongside fundraising and grant management across all major international humanitarian donors.

Beyond security, Nick has worked in business development and risk management globally, always with a focus on the global impact sector. A long-time advocate for AI in humanitarian work, he began customising AI tools in 2013, recognising their power to elevate local expertise and bridge communication gaps. Since 2019, he has actively built and implemented AI-driven solutions to enhance decision-making and localisation.

A core mission of WillowFlow is to ensure that it is truly rooted in the realities of those working on the ground. By building a team of professionals who have operated in the field and continue to do so, WillowFlow remains focused, relevant, and effective—ensuring AI-powered solutions work across organisations at every level.

Now based in Amman, Jordan, Nick continues to support global humanitarian efforts, including recent work in Gaza. As Lead Navigator of WillowFlow, he is pioneering a new era of AI-powered solutions for the humanitarian and development sectors.