GR

Hi there. My name is Grant Rayner.

I'm a multidisciplinary professional of sorts.

Originally from Australia, I've been living and working in Asia for 23 years.

Here's a snapshot of what I do.

Consulting

I am a crisis management and travel security specialist with over 23 years of hands-on experience in the field.

13 years ago, I founded Spartan9, where I’ve had the privilege of working with leading global companies and non-government organisations to strengthen their crisis preparedness and operational resilience.

My work is centred on equipping organisations to navigate uncertainty with confidence. I focus on two key areas:

1. Empowering organisational resilience

I design and deliver practical training and realistic crisis simulation exercises that enhance team performance and crisis response capabilities. I have developed proprietary frameworks to assess crisis management maturity and measure crisis team performance, providing structured, actionable insights for continuous improvement.

2. Enabling organisations to operate safely in complex environments

I help organisations develop robust travel risk management policies and procedures, including the development of contingency plans for higher-risk locations. A key focus right now is Taiwan and the Korean Peninsula. I also provide direct support to assist travellers impacted by critical incidents. When the need arises, I assist organisations to plan and execute discreet evacuation or exfiltration operations.

Beyond this, I conduct training workshops for security managers, crisis teams, and senior executives, ensuring they are prepared to lead effectively in times of crisis.

Writing

I share my knowledge and experience in the fields of crisis management and travel security through books and articles.

You can find the full range of my books on the Spartan9 website.

I'm working on a few new books, including a novel.

I've also written a lot about travel security at Dangerous Travels and about security consulting at The Business of Security.

From time to time, I also write on Medium.

Bag Design

In 2023, I started a new project to design and manufacture bags under the brand Station XV. My first collection of bags went on sale in April 2024.

Station XV bags have been purposefully designed for individuals looking for discreet and hard wearing gear for urban environments and travel.

You can follow our progress on Instagram.

Applications

I build useful applications relating to my professional expertise and interests. In recent years, I've built the following applications:

Tenacio. A project management tool designed for obsessive individuals.

Whistler. A simple and secure whistleblowing application for organisations.

Incident Manager. The first application for incident management teams focused on team performance.

Exercise Manager. Currently under development...

Photography

Photography is an integral part of my travels, capturing people and things I find interesting in the moment.

I share a selection of these on my Instagram account, where every image follows a simple rule—monochrome, 1:1 and shot on my phone. These constraints force me to focus on composition, light, and storytelling.

For my 'proper' photography, you can explore a curated selection here. I'm still in the process of adding photos to this new site.

In 2022, my photos from Syria were exhibited in the Leica gallery in Singapore. I also deliver a 'Photography in Challenging Environments' workshop for Leica.

Misc

My work takes me across the world, and I regularly travel for short breaks. At last count, I’ve visited 57 countries, with some—especially in Asia—becoming regular destinations.

I'm passionate about product design, and run 'One of Things', a site where I highlight one beautiful and useful thing in each category of things.

When I’m home, I unwind by listening to records, reading books, and playing the guitar and piano. I’m not particularly great at either instrument, but it's engaging and fun.

I used to climb mountains, with ascents in New Zealand, Peru, and Russia. These days, I prefer the slower pace of trekking, with recent trips taking me through Japan and Switzerland.

Thanks for stopping by.