Selina Hayes, CEO of Hayes Group International, is an experienced executive with access to strategic partners and networks across Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. She leads a consortium specialising in emerging and frontier markets and is focused on developing solutions involving security, information operations, cultural intelligence, data collection, geospatial and ISR/Space services, and the use of disruptive technologies to deliver comprehensive solutions to unique problem sets. Ms Hayes has extensive experience leading DoD and International business development strategies for emerging and disruptive ISR/PED/geospatial and space technologies and has successfully launched three new technologies in the DoD ecosystem.
Ms Hayes brings experience within the intelligence community, DoD and the commercial business areas of oil and gas, mining, and rare earth/critical minerals supply chain. She has held a variety of positions at strategic, operational, and tactical levels in Africa and Europe, spending a considerable amount of time on the continent, including Nigeria, Niger, DRC, Mali, Somalia and parts of the Middle East, working with SOCOM, EUCOM, AFRICOM, the TSOC’s, and Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa. She has provided technical assistance on counter-terrorism, stabilisation and reconstruction, economic development, governance, humanitarian assistance, influence operations, interagency coordination and other post-conflict “nontraditional security assistance” programming needs.
Outside of the corporate world, Ms Hayes is the Co-founder of the nonprofit project, Helping Other Women, focused in Northern Nigeria, and sits on the boards of SOLIC/NDIA, focusing on women in the Special Operations community. Ms Hayes was also a senior board member and advisor to the non-profit Invisible Children. Over the course of her career, Ms Hayes has participated in numerous civ-mil exercises and programs, providing a unique perspective and blend between the military, State Department and security organizations.
Ms Hayes has travelled extensively and originates from Sydney, Australia. She has a B.A. International Relations from George Washington University, International M.B.A. and an M.A. in International Relations from the University of San Diego.