Speaker: Dr Mike King, Organization for the Prevention of Violence
Date: Tuesday 6 October 2026
Time: 16.00–17.00 (UK time)
Venue: Online
Hosted by: Pax Caledonia Network
Abstract
This presentation introduces the OptiMoment, a decision-support tool to help police and security services identify the optimal moment to refer individuals to a psychosocial intervention program aimed at countering violent extremism. The OptiMoment also helps security professionals pitch the idea of programming more persuasively, leveraging life circumstances that are known catalysts for disengagement and deradicalization.
About the speaker
Michael King is Deputy Executive Director of the Organization for the Prevention of Violence (OPV), which counters violent extremism and hate-motivated violence through research, training, and psycho-social intervention. He has been appointed adjunct professor at both the University of Toronto and Ontario Tech University, and adjunct fellow at the Centre for Military, Security, and Strategic Studies of the University of Calgary. Michael previously worked at the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and at Public Safety Canada, where he helped develop the Government of Canada’s National Strategy on Countering Violent Extremism. Michael has a PhD in social psychology from McGill University.