It’s time to celebrate, writes Una Riley.
Professional Security Magazine’s WiS (Women in Security) Awards will be launching a new Academy at the next awards ceremony on Wednesday evening, September 14, 2022. The chair of ASIS UK, Letitia Emeana who is a dynamic woman leading the ASIS UK Chapter, will be central to the launch of the new Academy when it is announced at the awards.
Baroness Ruth Henig who was involved with the WiS Awards from the beginning will co-Chair the first year of the Academy. Roy Cooper, MD of Professional Security Magazine said: “When we were originally approached over a decade ago regarding this project, I had no hesitation in taking it on. The proposal at the time was that we would be the independent founder of the award as it travels around the industry. Nothing like that had ever happened before … it was a great idea at the time … and still is. Others are now emulating the process, which suggests that is because it has worked so well. Since that time, the WiS Awards have become a huge success and a major fixture in the security calendar of events.
“This is due to our amazing sponsors who have supported the awards from the beginning. Without them these awards would not be the same. I remember back in 2011 when we met up with the inaugural judges at the office of the SIA, we were trying to paint the picture of these unique awards and how they would work. Baroness Ruth Henig was an avid supporter and had been a great influence in making this happen; I will never forget her words at the first ASIS hosted awards. Baroness Ruth Henig said. ‘These awards will come to be known as the Oscars of the industry’ … she was right.”
We actually kicked off the inaugural awards with ASIS, and a decade later, we will be launching the Academy with ASIS as the host. What will we be doing when another decade has passed and it it’s time for ASIS to host again?!
When we started WiS all those years ago, it was all a dream now that dream is a reality. The Academy will have a small board and the first year Baroness Henig will co-Chair the Academy to get started. The Academy will comprise all the former WiS winners dating back to the start. Alas, we have lost some of the early winners, Kathy Ridgard of Sodexo and Sue Seaby of Aon Services … but they won’t be forgotten. The Academy will have an honour book with the names of all the winners over the years. Each one will be recognised as a member of the Academy, and it will not only be a networking group but also an opportunity for those women to become ambassadors of the profession.
We already have the foundation of the board, one of whom is Eileen Restall, Senior Security Manager at the Royal Albert Hall. I have interviewed Eileen over the years and followed her career. I asked her how she felt about becoming involved. Eileen said: “I am thrilled and honoured to be part of the new WiS Academy. We will provide an opportunity for WiS to network in a way they have been unable to do thus far. I have been a cheerleader for the awards and supported them at every opportunity. I can’t wait to get started.”
It is very exciting; we have reached out to iconic establishments and business that we want to get involved with the Academy. We have Jayne King, Chair of the Security Commonwealth umbrella group (SyCom) who is already on the case, along with other great ‘Women in Security’. We will announce the home and the Board of the Academy at the 2022S Awards. I am so excited about the Academy and its future for women to network in a unique environment of success … all winners coming together not only for business but to socially network and have some fun. The Academy will be a great platform on behalf of private security … a dream come true. Baroness Henig ended by saying: “When we started, we would never have believed how successful the WiS Awards would become, and now it is the time to celebrate that success by the introduction of the Academy.”
I couldn’t have put it better myself.
Visit https://professionalsecurity.co.uk/wis/.
