INSTITUTIONAL HISTORY
2012 — 2015
Origins and Identity
In 2015, following a request for analytical support on the Sousse attack, HEMEIS established its operational base in Tunisia to conduct the required assessment and to support subsequent capacity‑building activities.
The concept of HEMEIS originated in Europe in 2012 as a framework focused on security, soft target protection and the governance of complex systems.
The name HEMEIS, from ancient Greek meaning “WE”, reflects the collegial and integrated nature of the founding nucleus and represents a shared operational identity rather than an individual one.
2015 — 2018
ASIS International — Maghreb Region
Between 2015 and 2017, HEMEIS provided security analysis and advisory support to several Western companies and organizations operating in, or preparing to enter, North African markets. Many of these entities employed ASIS International members and required structured guidance on regional security risks, infrastructure protection and personnel safety.
Based on this operational exposure, HEMEIS identified a significant gap in the region regarding professional security standards and the need for a recognized institutional platform capable of promoting awareness and competence in non‑military security matters.
This assessment led HEMEIS to promote the establishment of an ASIS International Chapter in the Maghreb region.
The initiative to establish the ASIS Maghreb Chapter was supported by HEMEIS, which facilitated its creation and hosted its operational activities.
By late 2016, the initiative had gained significant interest and the necessary support for the formal petition.
In February 2017, the ASIS International Board unanimously approved the nomination of Anna Corsaro as Chairman of the ASIS Maghreb Chapter, which then became operational.
The ASIS Maghreb Chapter was the first ASIS International Chapter ever established in the Maghreb region, and the only Chapter composed of four countries. Its establishment required majority support from prospective members across Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia, reflecting broad regional confidence in the proposed leadership at the time.
In 2018, ASIS International recognized the work carried out by awarding Anna Corsaro the Meritorious Service Award at GSX Las Vegas.
ASIS MIDDLE EAST 2017 — SOFT TARGET PROTECTION PANEL
During ASIS Middle East 2017 in Manama, Anna Corsaro chaired the Soft Target Protection panel, which included Fahad Bin Mubarak Al Guthami (CEO, AMNCO — a key player in cash handling and cash management services for the Saudi banking sector), Paul Moxness (VP Corporate Safety & Security, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group — a major international hospitality group) and Wilfried Covent (Senior Security Expert, Brussels Airport Company — the operator of one of Europe’s key international transport hubs.
2021
NATO – George Mason University Selection
In 2021, Anna Corsaro and Daniel Djouder were selected by George Mason University and NATO to contribute to the Science for Peace and Security Series – E: Human and Societal Dynamics, Volume 151.
By that time, HEMEIS had developed consolidated analytical expertise on contemporary terrorism, including the assessment conducted in 2015 on the Sousse attack — one of the most significant incidents in North Africa due to the high number of Western, particularly British, victims. The analysis carried out by Anna Corsaro and Daniel Djouder focused on operational dynamics and soft target vulnerabilities in the Mediterranean context.
Their chapter, “Sousse Attacks: A New Perspective on Soft Target Defense and Modern-Day Terrorism Threat”, presents a structured analysis of the Sousse attack and its implications for soft target protection in contemporary terrorism.
The joint selection by a leading U.S. university in the field of counterterrorism and by NATO represents an institutional acknowledgment of the analytical work carried out by HEMEIS.
EVOLUTION
HSSG: Structural Evolution
Over the years, HEMEIS developed internal analytical and methodological structures to support its work in complex environments. Among these, the SASDU framework served as the organization’s internal platform for structuring research processes, organizing complex assessments, and consolidating analytical discipline across multiple domains.
Conceived as a methodological laboratory, SASDU strengthened the analytical capabilities of Anna Corsaro and Daniel Djouder in areas such as counterterrorism, geopolitical dynamics, and systemic interpretation. Its work contributed to the formation of the organization’s current epistemic architecture, which later evolved into the integrated structure now represented by the HSSG & SASDU Division.
This evolution reflects a continuous trajectory of methodological refinement, structural consolidation, and advanced analytical development — a trajectory that today supports the organization’s capacity to design system models, interpret complex environments, and structure high‑density analytical frameworks.