Don’t be fooled by Christi Maherry’s appearance. She’s a pretty blonde with a slightly self-effacing manner. But if the need arises, she could inflict serious injury that would leave you reeling – if you ever recovered enough to reel.

Maherry, 46, used to be an expert in unarmed combat in a special VIP protection unit, guarding the likes of Nelson Mandela and Prince Philip, or taking tea at the White House. She’s still in security, but now concentrates on the cyber kind as the MD of her own company, LAWtrust.