Mercedes is Director of Exsel Group & Explora Security and a Research Fellow and Trustee of the Explora Foundation. For 20 years, Mercedes has been at forefront of research that affects how soldiers operate in the field, focused on situational awareness, cyber security and physical protection. Mercedes specialises in psychology and in-depth understanding of cultures, and provides unique lectures to NATO on psychological underpinnings of communication in multi-cultural contexts. Mercedes is currently pursuing a Masters in Terrorism and Counter Terrorism at Royal Holloway University of London.