We were very pleased to have a good turnout at our Dinner-talk by Dr Kenneth Lasoen at the Cercle Münster on Tuesday 14 October. Dr Lasoen, an alumnus of Pembroke College, spoke on the fascinating and intriguing subjects of espionage, security and intelligence through the ages, from the Egyptians and Assyrians to the present day and looking forward into the future. He holds a Masters in Ancient History and a doctorate in Intelligence and Security. He is also an alumnus of the High Studies in Security and Defence at the Belgian Royal Military Academy .
Dr Lasoen now lectures on Intelligence and Security at the Political Science department of the University of Antwerp. He is not just an academic: he also trains professionals at European intelligence services, which not surprisingly remained unnamed. He is also an author of a best-selling book, Secret Belgium on the Belgian intelligence services, only available in Dutch.
Dr Lasoen took us through the various phases of espionage and intelligence gathering and how they developed during different periods of history and across all the continents. He illustrated his talk with a number of examples that are publicly known, while teasing us that he could not divulge too much. We were very well entertained as Dr Lasoen provided us with morsels of the history between the courses of the dinner. There was lively Q&A session over coffee, people were so engaged that it eventually had to be cut short to enable us to release the staff of the Cercle. An enchanting evening for all concerned.
Dr Lasoen has promised to return to tell us more at a later date.
