10 Minutes With Rafik Pathan

Rafik Pathan is one of the driving forces behind physical security design across EMEA, ensuring some of the world’s most advanced data centres are built to an uncompromising global standard. As a Physical Security Design TPM, he bridges global strategy and regional engineering, guiding complex projects from concept to construction with precision and a calm, authoritative approach. Outside of work, he’s a lifelong learner, a lover of retro tech, and a devoted Manchester United fan who still makes time for family, fitness, and the occasional nostalgic Minidisc moment.

Read on to learn more about one of our key team members on our rapidly expanding European team. 

Describe your role and what you do in a nutshell.

I’m a Physical Security Design TPM supporting data centre rollout across EMEA. I provide technical oversight of electronic security designs, making sure global standards are correctly implemented by regional AE firms while meeting local regulations. I’m the link between the client’s global security team and regional engineers, resolving design issues and ensuring local adaptations never weaken the global security framework. I guide projects through to IFC, ensuring drawings and specifications are accurate, build‑ready, and consistent across the EMEA portfolio.

What do you enjoy most or find especially interesting about your current project?

I enjoy the challenge of maintaining one gold‑standard security framework across such a diverse region. Every project requires balancing global specifications with local codes and site conditions—without ever lowering the security bar.

How do you maintain a healthy work-life balance in your role?

I’m a big believer in staying active to keep a clear head. I enjoy walking and spending time in the gym—whether running or doing yoga—as it’s the perfect way to reset after a busy day.

Above all, I value spending quality time with my family. They keep me grounded and provide the greatest rewards outside of my professional life.

Tell us about something interesting you've learned recently.

One of the most interesting developments I’ve experienced recently is the shift toward fully remote design governance for physical security across data centres in the EMEA region. Managing this remotely has fundamentally changed how we collaborate with engineering teams. We’re now using far more sophisticated digital capture and visualisation technologies, and it’s fascinating to virtually walk through a facility in Spain or Finland to verify design details without being on site. This approach has made design reviews faster and more precise, allowing me to provide the client with near real-time technical oversight across multiple projects and countries while maintaining the same high standards.

If you could suggest a book for the entire team to read, what would it be and why?

1984 by George Orwell.

We essentially build high‑security vaults for the world’s collective memory. If

Orwell had imagined Big Brother obsessing over ANSI/ISO/EN standards, redundancy, and making sure no one trips over a power cable, that would be my day job. I keep the “Fort Knox of Fiber‑Optics” secure—less thoughtcrime, more biometric integrity and anti‑tailgating. Very “Ministry of Truth,” but with better health and safety.

What's a piece of obsolete technology you still have a soft spot for?

The Minidisc. It is the quintessential digital heirloom, seamlessly marrying the satisfyingly mechanical "clack" of a high-spec cartridge with a retro‑futuristic aesthetic that transforms music from a fleeting, disposable stream into a deliberate and physical treasure. In an era of invisible algorithms, the Minidisc stands as a defiant nod to British "shed‑hobbyist" culture, offering a tactile, hands‑on experience where one actually owns the media rather than merely licensing it, all wrapped in a robust, cyberpunk‑inspired shell that still feels like a prop from a high‑budget sci‑fi film. Mix tapes for the ages.

What's one thing people don't know about you that they would be surprised to discover?

When I was younger, my uncle was an up-and-coming actor appearing in some very well-known British TV shows, and he introduced me to the world of film. Through him, I was lucky enough to spend time on a few major movie sets as an extra. It felt pretty magical at the time, and it also meant I had the chance to meet a few of my heroes along the way. Looking back now, it’s an incredible experience to have had a glimpse behind the scenes of such big productions at such a young age.

What are you passionate about or enjoy outside of work?

Manchester United. Whenever I can, I’ll make the drive up to the Theatre of Dreams. There’s nothing quite like being there in person when the atmosphere is electric.

Manchester United's identity is built on a legacy of youth and resilience, from the tragic Munich air disaster that claimed eight Busby Babes in 1958 to the rise of the "Holy Trinity"—Sir Bobby Charlton, Denis Law, and George Best—who led the club to its first European Cup in 1968.

This tradition was revitalised under Sir Alex Ferguson, whose 26-year tenure yielded 38 trophies and was anchored by the homegrown Class of '92 (Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, and David Beckham). Key transformative figures like Roy Keane and Eric Cantona drove the 1990s dominance, while the explosive partnership of Wayne Rooney, the club's all-time top scorer, and Cristiano Ronaldo, who won his first Ballon d'Or at the club, defined a second golden era of Premier League and Champions League success.