How we work
Stakeholder Understanding
Understanding communities is critical to project success and long-term sustainability. We go beyond superficial engagement to foster genuine collaboration and understanding, leveraging robust on-the-ground research and ongoing dialogue to build meaningful, lasting connections.
Cutting Edge Tools
Using advances in behavioural science, geospatial analysis and artificial intelligence, we provide clients with robust accuracy and clarity about their operating environments.
Fieldwork Commitment
We believe that true understanding comes from firsthand experience. That’s why every member of our team has field experience, gathering insights directly with robust verification methods. We are able to mobilise rapidly.
From Insight to Foresight
Our networks and methods in data and analyses provide early insight. Over time patterns emerge to allow us to give clients foresight and thus mitigate risk and ensure project success. Through our extensive networks and advanced data analysis methods, we deliver early insights that reveal emerging patterns over time. This enables us to provide clients with valuable foresight, helping them mitigate risks and enable project success
Client partnership
Clients choose us because we prioritise building trust and handling sensitive issues with discretion. We are committed to supporting our clients throughout the lifetime of complex Projects.
Complexas origin story
Complexas is a team dedicated to generating sustainable revenue for our clients while driving meaningful change in local communities. The roots of the company come from the founder’s experience in Africa witnessing the impact of large foreign investments on local communities as well as their previous military experience which recognised the direct relationship between understanding the needs of the local population and long term security.
Working alongside communications experts and data scientists, many of whom continue to work with Complexas, the design of bespoke methods and tools to collect relevant information was rooted in many years’ experience gathering data from conflict zones. The undeniable link between project and development investment and security as well as improving local livelihoods is self evident. Achieving successful outcomes in these complex environments is not just hard its a test of resilience and impact.
Since formation, Andrew and David have been joined by a multidisciplinary team with expertise in technology, law, intelligence, communications, and academia. They all share a common belief: gathering high-quality first-party data is the foundation for creating long-term, successful investments in unfamiliar countries.
Leadership Team
Andrew Mackay CBE
Co-Founder and CEO
Andrew Mackay is co-founder of Complexas and is responsible for the development and implementation of Complexas' strategy and narrative. He has been involved in the stabilisation of fragile and conflict-afflicted states throughout his career. These have included NI, Lebanon, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Andrew has worked extensively across sub-Saharan Africa. His principal focus has been on providing decision support to the resolution of complex political and social problems that delay the progress of a range of projects. This also includes the tools required to understand communities, the resolution of social conflict and the implementation of sound and realistic ESG practise. Andrew has written and co-authored a number of papers and books that address the challenge of understanding politics and communities in complex environments, including Behavioural Conflict: Why Understanding People and Their Motivations Will Prove Decisive in Future Conflict.
David Wombell
Co-Founder
David Wombell is co-founder of Complexas and is responsible for the delivery of all operational tasks and senior consultancy relationships. He has worked extensively in sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and Asia over the last twenty-five years, developing a wide network of business, government and institutional contacts. David has been especially active in Africa since 2010, completing projects in Mozambique, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Libya, Zambia, Madagascar, South Africa and Sierra Leone. Before co-founding Complexas, David held a senior Business Development position at Baobab Investments and prior to this served as an Officer in the British Armed Forces. David holds an MA in International Defence Studies from King's College London, as well as an MBA.
Wider Team
Our team includes experienced intelligence analysts, data scientists and country specialists - meet a few members here
Emma Madden
Head of Data Science
Emma is responsible for overseeing data collection methodology, implementation, and complex analysis. She is a computational social scientist with an MSc in Sociology and is finalising her PhD in Politics, both from the University of Oxford. She has worked at the United Nations, as well as in research labs at Columbia University and the University of Chicago.
Richard Warren
Geoscientist
As a military intelligence veteran and Edinburgh University postgraduate, Richard specialises in political and social geospatial data collection and analysis. He creates insightful mapping and visualisations that effectively communicate complex trends. Using cutting-edge technology to drive impactful decision-making, he has supported successful international development projects in Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America. Andrew has worked extensively across sub-Saharan Africa. His principal focus has been on providing decision support to the resolution of complex political and social problems that delay the progress of a range of projects. This also includes the tools required to understand communities, the resolution of social conflict and the implementation of sound ESG practise. Andrew has written and co-authored a number of papers and books that address the challenge of understanding politics and communities in complex environments, including Behavioural Conflict: Why Understanding People and Their Motivations Will Prove Decisive in Future Conflict.
Klara Slater
Team Lead
Klara manages a multinational team conducting extensive community surveys and interviews across remote regions, pioneering real-time reporting systems and delivering data-driven insights. She was previously a barrister, specialising in Family Law, and has lived and worked in China. She holds a BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the University of Oxford.
Zoe Lambert
Data Analyst
Zoe focusses on data processing, analysis, and research methodology. Alongside, she is pursuing an MPhil in International Relations at the University of Oxford, with a research focus on local dynamics of conflict, and international development. She has significant fieldwork experience in the MENA region, particularly in Morocco and Jordan, and has functioned in a range of qualitative and quantitative research roles.
Jonathan Tostevin
Country Analyst
Jonathan synthesises diverse data sources from unserved environments into actionable insights for decision-makers. Prior to joining Complexas, he conducted microfinance field work across rural and urban Nigeria, and analysed frontier market sovereign debt from investment management firms in London and Lagos. He holds a First Class degree in History and Politics from the University of Oxford, where he specialised in economic development, state-building, and political dynamics across the African continent.
